Carolina showcase

SPARTANBURG, S.C.-The season for postseason high school all-star games is upon us. First up is the 69th annual Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas will feature the top prospects from both North and South Carolina.

The game, which pits the top prospects from both states against one another, will kick off at 1 p.m. Dec. 17 at Gibbs Stadium. The teams will hold their first practices at 9:30 a.m. EST Monday at Dorman High School.

Rivals.com will bring you complete coverage from every practice session this week.

The South Carolina squad, which won last year's contest 35-21, will feature three Rivals100 selections. Defensive tackle Adam Patterson, defensive end Ricky Sapp and offensive tackle Clifton Geathers all will get a chance to test their skills against top talent from the Palmetto State during the week and then against North Carolina next Saturday.

Patterson and Geathers both are uncommitted prospects and two of the most coveted linemen in the South. Sapp is committed to Clemson.

Another Tigers commit, Rivals250 safety Darius Gaither will anchor the South Carolina secondary. He's sure to get a lot of work in pass coverage this week as the Sandlappers are expected to put the ball in the air as Duncan Byrnes head coach Bobby Bentley will be working with the offense. The Rebels just won their fourth straight state championship using a high-octane attack powered by Clemson commit Willy Korn, one of the top quarterback prospects in the class of 2007.

For the North Carolina squad, future Notre Dame defensive back Raeshon McNeil surely will work on defending the South Carolina passing game during the week as will Virginia-bound safety Rico Bell.

Another Byrnes product, Georgia verbal commitment Prince Miller, will show off his electrifying skills this week for the South Carolina squad. Miller is rated as a high three-star prospect right now, but had a great senior year and has a chance to move up with a strong showing.

North Carolina also features Rivals100 offensive lineman Carl Johnson, a Florida commit and one of the nation's best prospects regardless of position. Linebacker Brandon Spikes also is a Rivals100 selection. He has narrowed his list to Alabama, Florida and Virginia Tech.

North Carolina Rivals250 defensive tackle Aleric Mullins has seen his value shoot through the roof after a strong senior season and could pick up even more momentum toward a possible berth in the Rivals100 with a strong showing this week.

The players are expected to report beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday. Stay tuned to Rivals.com for complete coverage of this event.