Recruiting’s fast lane nears the finish line
By AL FEATHERSTON : The Herald-Sun
afeatherston@heraldsun.com
Jan 27, 2003 : 11:29 pm ET

RALEIGH -- Chuck Amato loves life in the fast lane.

And it doesn’t get any faster than this week — the final seven days leading up to national signing day in football.

"I know one thing, without recruiting, you can’t survive in any sport," Amato said. "I like it. That probably sounds stupid. Everybody will say, ‘Coach, you’re full of baloney,’ but I do enjoy it. I like people. I like meeting and dealing with them."

Amato learned the ins and outs of big-time recruiting during his 18 years at Florida State, when he cruised the Miami area in search of the talent that made the Seminoles college football’s most consistent winner. He took that recruiting knowledge — and an undeniable zest for the process — with him to Raleigh.

That was evident a year ago on signing day, when Amato was positively giddy about his recruiting success, especially his last-second theft of Northern High defensive back A.J. Davis from rival North Carolina.

It was in discussing Davis’ defection from the Tar Heels that Amato said: "That’s life in the fast lane. That’s recruiting. It’s not over until they sign their name on the line. Next year, they’ll steal somebody from us."

This is next year and the Wolfpack coach, poised to sign the best class — on paper — in N.C. State history, is working his butt off to make sure that none of his prize recruits are stolen as he stole Davis.

"There are a lot of them you’re concerned about because they’re still visiting," Amato said. "Theoretically, they’ve said they’re coming and this or that, so you’re biting your fingernails because, as I said last year, commitments are nothing more than a bull’s eye."

Amato can’t talk about his recruits until they sign, but outsiders have tracked 19 public commitments as of Monday night. He expects to sign at least 29 prospects, perhaps as many as 31. If he holds his committed players and adds just a few of the top prospects he’s still pursuing, it will be a nationally ranked class.

As of late last week, Tom Lemming, who has been rating prep football talent for 23 years, currently ranks the Wolfpack class in his top 10, although he warns that the Pack will have to sign several of its remaining targets to finish that high. He also notes that ACC rivals UNC, Virginia and Maryland also are having significant recruiting success.

"I think it’s a renaissance period for the ACC," he said. "I’ve never seen it that good. Florida State has always been up there, but I see Maryland, Virginia, UNC and N.C. State line up plums."

The Terps recently won a head-to-head battle with national champion Miami for Wesley Jefferson, rated by some services as the nation’s best linebacker. Virginia, which had a top-10 class a year ago, recently received a commitment from Jordy Lipsey, rated the top offensive lineman in Florida. UNC beat Tennessee head-to-head for wide receiver Adarius Bowman and linebacker Fred Sparkman, two of the top four prospects in the Volunteer state.

And N.C. State?

The Pack class is headlined by defensive end Mario Williams, rated the No. 8 prospect in the nation by SuperPrep Magazine. That is, unless you count Derek Morris, who was rated one of the nation’s top five offensive line prospects when he came out of North Mecklenburg High School a year ago. Then are two Parade All-Americans from Pennsylvania, quarterback Marcus Stone and running back Darrell Blackman. Throw in Lemming’s All-American picks, such as linebackers Raymond Brooks and Stephen Tulloch, safety LeRue Rumph and quarterback/athlete Chris Hawkins. And don’t forget SuperPrep All-Americans Demarcus "Tank" Tyler, a defensive tackle from Fayetteville, and Chad Green, a linebacker/defensive end from Rocky Mount.

"I don’t look at the ratings," Amato said. "When I say national, I’m not saying that because of recruiting analysts, ... I’m saying that because of who we’re recruiting against."

That’s one reason the Wolfpack coach won’t rest easy until the day after signing day. When a school like Florida continues pushing to steal a recruit such as offensive lineman Luke Lathan and Miami continues to pursue Tulloch, that means Amato still has work to do. Here are some of the issues to consider heading into signing day:

‘The Magnificent Seven’

For all of Amato’s concerns about losing recruits, he’s got seven prize recruits already locked up, including Williams, Morris and Tyler.

Amato was able to enroll seven major prospects at midseason. That’s not unheard of — Philip Rivers, for example, graduated from his Athens, Ala., high school in December and went to N.C. State for the spring semester before his freshman year. However, even a veteran recruiting expert such as Lemming can’t recall any school getting as many as seven players and that much quality as mid-year enrollees.

Amato said he merely was taking advantage of changes in high school academic systems.

"With what they call block systems of education, where instead of youngsters taking six or seven classes a day they’re taking four classes and doubling the time, ... it’s almost like a college semester," he said. "So they start in August and by December, they’ve got four courses out of the way."

Whatever the reason, the seven early enrollees — dubbed "The Magnificent Seven" by Wolfpack fans — are enough by themselves to guarantee Amato a successful class. And best of all, they are already locked up ... no last-second defections are possible in that group.

Wrapping up the state

A year ago, Amato got two of the top 10 and three of the top 20 prospects in North Carolina, which was as good a job in-state as the Pack had ever done. Fayetteville sports writer Sammy Batten, who covers North Carolina for SuperPrep Magazine, reported that 13 of the top 20 in-state prospects signed with out-of-state schools.

Amato bemoaned the loss of so much local talent and suggested that the in-state schools needed to build a fence around the state.

That’s just what has happened this year. Amato has commitments from four of North Carolina’s top 10 players and five of the top 12. That doesn’t count Morris, a top 10 in-state prospect last year, or Isaiah "Puff" Thomas, a prep All-American lineman from Winston-Salem who is expected to choose between N.C. State and North Carolina.

With the Tar Heels locking up three of the top 10, that means that eight of North Carolina’s top 10 prospects will play in either Raleigh or Chapel Hill. Neither Batten, who has been writing for SuperPrep for the last decade, nor Eddy Landreth, who covered the state in the decade before that, can remember that many top prospects staying in-state.

Batten especially is impressed by Amato’s in-state success.

"There have been years when N.C. State has done pretty well in-state," Batten said. "But on a consistent basis, the top 10 ... that’s been North Carolina’s domain. I can’t remember [N.C. State] getting as many impact players."

Amato still is successful in his old Florida stomping grounds. But he’s delighted to do so well in North Carolina.

"All the in-state schools need to be applauded; ... that’s great," he said. "We’re all working hard to do that."

Making the grade

It’s a fact of life in big-time recruiting — not every prospect signed will qualify to play.

"That’s the major factor," Lemming said. "I try not to rate guys who don’t look like they’ll qualify. But it’s getting to be if you’re a great player, even if you don’t go to class, they find a way to get you on the field."

It might take some time. Two of Amato’s "Magnificent Seven" are players he signed last year. Both Tampa safety Garland Heath and Miami wide receiver LeMart Barrett just missed qualifying in the summer of 2002. They passed up prep school and junior college and kept trying to make their test score, finally succeeding last fall. Richard Washington, a prep All-American wide receiver from last year, entered school last fall as a partial qualifier and had to sit out his freshman year.

Kennie Covington, on the other hand, signed with N.C. State two years ago and enrolled in junior college when he failed to qualify. Covington, who became a star defensive end at Jones County (Miss.) Community College, has recommitted to the Pack.

Lemming said there are academic questions about Blackman, the heralded running back from Williamsport, Pa., but notes that this time last year there were similar questions about Wolfpack recruit T.A. McLendon, who qualified and made a huge impact.

In and out

Coming down the stretch, who will Amato lose and who will he steal?

"For most kids, once they make a commitment, they stay committed," Lemming said. "There are always one or two nationally who change their minds on signing day, but not as many as you’d think. Most of the switches come when guys commit early without taking visits."

But Amato’s experience is different — not only with A.J. Davis.

"Last year, we lost three [commitments] from 11 o’clock Tuesday night to 10 Wednesday morning," he said. "That’s the way it goes. I’ll bet you we’ll lose somebody we’ve got committed; ... people just aren’t going to just back off."

And Amato doesn’t rule out stealing somebody else’s prize at the last minute.

"Maybe; ... there are a couple of them out there," he said. "I wouldn’t say that will definitely happen, but we’re out there because nobody’s backing off the ones that we’ve got. I’m not going to back off, either."

By their very nature, such last-minute switches are unpredictable. Over the last few weeks, there’s been some speculation that Rumph, the heralded safety from Clearwater, Fla., might be interested in staying closer to home. And the big Florida schools are making runs at Lathan and Tulloch. Brooks reportedly made at least one visit after committing to the Pack.

Rumors that N.C. State might steal East Wake defensive end Terry Hunter, a key UNC recruit, have died down recently, but there are reports (so far unconfirmed) that James Martin, a linebacker from Pompano Beach, Fla., has switched his commitment from Wake Forest to the Pack. And Virgil Black, an early ECU recruit, re-opened his recruiting after Steve Logan’s dismissal and could be Raleigh-bound.

Those mysteries will all be cleared up Feb. 5 — signing day.

"It’s down to that point where you’re starting to count numbers and trying to figure out what’s going to happen," Amato said.

For the Wolfpack coach, it’s hectic. But it also is the best time of the year.

 

James cleared in state SUV inquiry
Monday, January 27, 2003
By TOM WITHERS
ASSOCIATED PRESS

CLEVELAND (AP) - LeBron James did not violate state amateur bylaws by accepting a sports utility vehicle as a gift.

The Ohio High School Athletic Association concluded its two-week investigation Monday by clearing James, the nation's top prep player, of any wrongdoing.

OHSAA commissioner Clair Muscaro spent the past two weeks gathering information and documentation to determine how James got a Hummer H2 vehicle, which has a base retail price of $50,000.

Muscaro said no violations of the OHSAA amateur bylaws "as currently written" have been found and that James is still eligible to play.

Gloria James said she obtained a bank loan to buy the SUV for her son's 18th birthday and provided financial information to the OHSAA for its inquiry.

Muscaro was shown the business records from the bank and dealership, and was satisfied that the financing and acquisition of the vehicle were acquired by James' mother alone.

"Accordingly, this type of transaction is not a violation of the OHSAA bylaws on amateurism," Muscaro said in a statement.

Muscaro's concern was that James had accepted the automobile from an agent or outside source and had violated an OHSAA bylaw that states amateur status is forfeited if an athlete capitalizes on athletic fame by receiving money or gifts of monetary value.

If the OHSAA had stripped James of his amateur status, he would have been ineligible to play for the rest of the season, and St. Vincent-St. Mary, the nation's No. 1 team, would have forfeited its games from the time James accepted the SUV.

"We're glad it's behind us," said Grant Innocenzi, the school's athletic director. "We can now move on with the season. We want as few distractions as possible. These kids want to win the state championship."

Muscaro said the OHSAA will review its bylaws on amateurism and could make changes if recommended to do so by its member schools.

James has had the SUV for several weeks. On Friday night, he parked the platinum-colored Hummer just outside the school's gym doors, giving fans arriving for his final home game on campus a chance to see it.

Gloria James would not comment on the inquiry Sunday following her son's game as the Fighting Irish beat Akron Buchtel 82-71.

LeBron James, who had 25 points, 15 rebounds and eight assists, was not available to reporters.

James and his teammates appeared flat from the outset in Sunday's game _ their only regular-season matchup against an Akron-area school.

St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dru Joyce said the investigation had been a distraction.

"We're glad it's finally official," Joyce said. "We believed fully that LeBron and his family did nothing wrong. We're happy and he's happy that we can move on."