 | Football and basketball star Terrelle Pryor will have college coaches from both sports flocking to the Pittsburgh area in 2007-08. Charles LeClaire/WireImage.com |
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By Jon Mahoney, Special to SI.com, RISE
One of the biggest stories from the 2006-07 school year will get even more attention this fall as more state high school associations from the likes of Texas, Florida and New Jersey are looking to implement random steroid testing for their high school athletes.
And in what will dramatically change high school recruiting, college coaches can no longer send text messages to prospective recruits thanks to legislation passed by the NCAA. The rule will go into effect on Aug. 1.
This summer, the landscape for high school summer hoops will be much different. In the past, all-star showcases such the Nike All-American Camp and the ABCD Camp were seen as highlight shows that were more like pickup or AAU games. In their place will be the LeBron James Skills Academy run by Nike and RBK U run by Reebok that will feature more emphasis on fundamentals and skills development than at previous camps. In high school baseball, the watch will be on to see if other cities and states follow New York City's lead to ban metal bats in high school competition. In addition, there are plenty of athletes and games to keep an eye on.
• Jeannette (Pa.) quarterback Terrelle Pryor is the nation's top football recruit in the Class of 2008. He's also a standout basketball player and is looking to play both sports in college. Also in football, Miami (Fla.) Northwestern will travel to Southlake (Texas) Carroll on Sept. 15 in what is considered the high school game of the year.
• In hoops, Helen Cox (Harvey, La.) senior power forward Greg Monroe and Artesia (Lakewood, Calif.) junior power forward Renardo Sidney are rated by RISE as the top two boys' basketball players in their respective classes.
• Ursuline Academy (Wilmington, Del.) senior guard Elena Delle Donne will be the one to watch in girls' basketball. Known as the female LeBron James, Delle Donne is considered the best girls' basketball recruit since Candace Parker.
| Westlake (Austin, Texas) junior Mary Beck will look to break more records in the pool. AP |
• In girls' swimming, Westlake (Austin, Texas) junior Mary Beck and Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.) senior Michelle McKeehan combined to break Olympian Natalie Coughlin's high school national record in the 200-yard individual medley (1:58.45) four times this year and are again expected to be two of the nation's best. Beck, who broke the mark three times, holds the current record of (1:57.41).
• On the diamond, Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) outfielder Isaac Galloway and Long Beach (Calif.) Wilson outfielder Aaron Hicks are considered the nation's top baseball players in the Class of 2008.
• This year's Gatorade National Player of the Year for girls' soccer, senior forward Melissa Henderson of Berkner (Richardson, Texas), is the best of a talented group of national recruits on the pitch this year. Traverse City West (Traverse City, Mich.) senior forward Casey Townsend is one to watch in boys' soccer.
