With Earl Austin Jr.
A pair of St. Louis’ top high school basketball players have given verbal commitments recently.
McCluer North boys standout B.J. Young gave a commitment to the University of Arkansas over the weekend. The 6’3″ Young is currently ranked the No. 17 player in the nation by the recruiting website Rivals.com. The 6’3″ Young chose Arkansas over schools such as Indiana, Louisville, Marquette, Baylor and Illinois State.
Young enjoyed a tremendous summer as he played for the St. Louis Gameface 17U team, which was coached by former Saint Louis University star Roland Gray. Young led Gameface to a fifth-place finish in the Amateur Athletic Union 17U National Tournament in Orlando in July. Young averaged more than 30 points a game throughout the summer. He also sparkled in several high-exposure summer camps.
On the girls side, junior center Taylor Manuel of Incarnate Word Academy has given a commitment to coach Shimmy Gray-Miller and the Saint Louis University Billikens.Manuel is currently ranked No. 36 nationally in the Class of 2012 in the latest ESPNU HoopGirlz Super 60 rankings.
The 6’3″ Manuel is a versatile post player who can score inside with power moves and pass the ball like a point guard. Getting an early verbal from Manuel is a tremendous accomplishment for Gray-Miller and her SLU program. She is a big-time local product who has elected to stay home.
Super 26
Congratulations to Cardinal Ritter College Prep junior basketball standout Cameron Biedscheid, who is currently ranked No. 26 in the latest ESPNU Boys Super 60 rankings for the Class of 2012. The 6’7” Biedscheid enjoyed an excellent summer playing for the St. Louis Eagles’ 16U team after helping Ritter to the Class 3 state championship as a sophomore in 2010.
Black softball
The Black America Softball Association will be holding its World Tournament in St. Louis this weekend at three different locations. More than 250 teams from around the country are expected to be in town. The ages will range from 18 to 70.
The Recreation Division, in which there are 145 teams, will be playing at Fountain Lake Sports Complex (9549 Bellefontaine Rd.). The Seniors, Women’s and Competitive Divisions will be played at the Bridgeton Municipal Athletic Complex (13161 Taussig Rd.).
The B.A.S.A. held their World Championships in St. Louis in 2004. It should be a festive weekend of softball in the Lou. I hope you all enjoy it. As someone who spent much of his childhood at the park watching my father play competitive softball, it is truly a blast.
The action begins on Friday at 2 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 8 a.m. The championship games are scheduled for Sunday at the Fountain Lake Sports Complex, beginning at 2 p.m.
East Side of Champions
Congratulations to former East St. Louis football standouts Dana Howard and Julyon Brown on the success of last Sunday’s inaugural Dave Sinclair “City of Champions” tripleheader at Clyde C. Jordan Stadium in East St. Louis.
In the featured game, the host Flyers really put it on Fort Lauderdale Dillard (Fla.) 51-7. Coach Darren Sunkett has another powerful crew on the East Side.
In the other two games, Chicago Catholic power St. Rita defeated Jefferson City 35-14 while Chicago Simeon defeated Imagine Prep 50-0.
In an era where these big football extravaganas are popping up all over the country, it’s cool to have such an event right here in town, especially at such a beautiful place as Jordan Stadium.
I watched a ton of high school football on national television in the last few weeks, and I would love to see this event showcased on one of the ESPN channels in the future. I hope the guys can keep it going because they are on the verge of building something big.
(You can follow Earl Austin Jr. daily on his basketball website, www.earlaustinjr.com. You can also follow him on Facebook and Twitter).
