Alumni Updates and More…

Before I get to the football updates, a quick tidbit that I found interesting. I mentioned in an earlier post how it just looked a little strange that Arron Zimmerman participated for the gold medal-winning U.S. basketball team in the Maccabiah Games this summer in Israel (essentially the Jewish Olympics) yet she plays for a Catholic school (St. John Vianney). Apparently that is par for the course, as I’ve been informed that five players on Zimmerman’s team in the Maccabiah Games either currently attend or had recently graduated from Catholic schools. Goes to show that many times it’s more about the sports and academics than the religious aspect of it for top players, which seems to make sense because I get the feeling that religion has become more of an aspect that is private among families.

Anyway, congrats again to Zimmerman on what I’m sure was a fun experience this summer, and now on to some tidbits.

Knowshon Moreno (Middletown South) may be listed as fourth on the depth chart at running back for the Broncos, but he’s already getting first-team snaps and will play in Denver’s preseason game on Friday night.

Wait, T.O. isn’t on the Cowboys any more? I hadn’t heard much about that. That leaves a sizeable opportunity for Miles Austin (Monmouth University) to step up and take his career to the next level.

If Wisconsin is going to have a big season, one of the top tight ends in the country, Garrett Graham (Brick Memorial), is going to have to have a standout year.

Rutgers offensive lineman Art Forst (Manasquan) may only be a sophomore, but he’s already one of the leaders in organizing team-bonding activities. No shock that a kid from Manasquan would organize a fishing trip. I also forgot that Mike Teel’s potential replacement at QB, Dom Natale, is from Sea Girt. Natale played for the Hun School and went to Michigan State before transferring to Rutgers.

The regular season might not be here yet, but Bowling Green linebacker/strong safety Jerett Sanderson (Long Branch) is ready to hit somebody.

If Lou Eliades (Ocean Twp.) is going to get that starting spot on the offensive line at Penn State, he’s going to have to fight through some injuries to secure it.

After handling his business in the classroom, Marshall defensive end Vinny Curry (Neptune) is hoping to now make an impact on the field.

On the basketball side, Denver Nuggets guard J.R. Smith (Lakewood/St. Benedict’s Prep) was recently back in his old territory and vowing to grow up after serving 24 days in the Monmouth County jail for reckless driving that led to an accident that killed one of his good friends. I hope this time it sets in because I remember writing the “I’m more mature now” J.R. Smith story when he transferred from Lakewood to St. Benedict’s Prep, and that was about seven years ago. He has all the talent in the world, so hopefully this is the final wake-up call. He is still only 23 years old and is definitely the most naturally talented player I have ever covered. He also has Chauncey Billups helping him out, which can’t hurt.

One interesting tidbit in that story – his father saying, “He grew up in the woods of Millstone…” Uh, then how exactly was he attending Lakewood when Millstone is part of the Upper Freehold Regional School District? You gotta love it.

Transfer Rule Clarification/Knowshon Era Begins in Denver/Eliades Looks to Start at Penn State and More…

Just to clarify an earlier post, I spoke to a local athletic director to try to ascertain whether a player whose family transfers legal guardianship to a relative who lives in the sending district of the school the player wants to attend would allow that player to be immediately eligible. That answer is no, according to the AD. In other words, I was wondering if girls basketball standout Chyna Golden would be able to leave Red Bank Catholic and become immediately eligible at Neptune if she moved in with a relative who lives in the Neptune sending district if that relative became her legal guardian, and the answer is that she would still have to sit out the mandated one year by NJSIAA rule. (Golden’s family currently lives in the Asbury Park sending district). Golden would have to sit out unless she lives with her parents, or at least one parent, in a bona fide Neptune address.

The other loophole I thought might be used would be transferring to a non-NJSIAA prep school like a Hun or Peddie or Lawrenceville and then transferring to the public school from there. That also would not be allowed. Basically, the family has to move into the sending district of that school or the player will not be eligible, plain and simple. The only other way to get around that is if a player moves in with an aunt, uncle or relative in the sending district as the result of a court-ordered situation where it might not be safe at home or if the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS) has the child moved to a relative’s house. So, we’ll see what Golden will do, as she currently is in complete limbo, having not officially transferred out of RBC by filing any paperwork, but not enrolled in any other school yet, either. The reason this is so high-profile is because Neptune is a loaded team that features Shakena Richardson, Syessence Davis and Sehmonyeh Allen, and by adding Golden, that could put the Scarlet Fliers over the top as the team to beat in the entire state.

Now, on to more pleasant topics. The Knowshon Era began in Denver as first-round pick Knowshon Moreno (Middletown South) went through his first day of practice after an eight-day contract holdout. It’s unclear right now as to whether Moreno will play in Friday’s preseason game. He is part of a crowded backfield group that includes every retread, injury risk and no-name you can think of, including ex-Eagle Correll Buckhalter and my personal favorite, ex-Jet LaMont Jordan, who spurned the Jets years ago to sign a deal with the Oakland Raiders and his career promptly took a nose dive. While Moreno might not be the opening day starter, the opportunity is certainly ripe to become the feature back because it’s not exactly like Barry Sanders is playing in front of him.

Another former Shore Conference player, Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Dan Klecko (Marlboro), could possibly see time at tight end as well this year in an emergency.

It looks like redshirt junior Lou Eliades (Ocean Township) is the leader to become the new starter at right guard for my brother’s alma mater, Penn State. If Eliades wouldn’t mind letting a few Northwestern pass rushers, like Don Bosco Prep product and NFL prospect Corey Wooton, beat him for a sack or two, I would be much obliged because I am tired of losing bets and having to endure the trash talk on a yearly basis.

Alex LaMagdelaine (Rumson) looks like he will be starting at guard for UConn, although he won’t have Donnie Brown to block for any more. LaMagdelaine, a senior, missed last season with a shoulder injury that required surgery and has moved from center to guard this year. If he and Eliades get the nod, that would give the Shore Conference three starting O-linemen at the Division I-A level (the other is Rutgers sophomore Art Forst from Manasquan, who started the Scarlet Knights’ final eight games as a true freshman last year).

As the Shore Conference preseason looms closer, here’s a quick scouting report on Barnegat tight end Jarrett Darmstatter, who already has double-digit Division I-A offers. The only seniors from the Class of 2010 in the Shore who have committed so far are Raritan WR Bennett Jackson (verbal to Notre Dame) and Manasquan DE Dan Sullivan (verbal to Monmouth University).

I’ll be getting into more preseason stuff later in the week as we gear up for training camp madness and ultimately the 2009 season.