Elite prospects travel to Alabama
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Junior quarterback John David Booty lead Evangel Christian to the Championship over Hoover 41-40 in overtime.
HOOVER, Ala. - Several of the top high school teams in the nation traveled to Hoover to compete in the inaugural HealthSouth Southeast Select Seven-on-Seven camp.
The camp began Thursday and wrapped up play with a single game elimination tournament on Saturday.
The event, which began with round-robin action on Thursday and Friday, featured such big name national schools as Louisiana powerhouse Evangel Christian, Woodland Hills from Pittsburgh, and Camden High School in South Carolina.
Thursday and Friday's round robin action determined the seeding for Saturdays single game elimination championship. The top four teams, Evangel Christian, Seabreeze, Central-Dauphin, and Gautier all received byes.
First Round Results: Pace (FL) 29 Niceville (FL) 19, Camden (SC) 22 Woodland Hills (PA) 15, Daphne (AL) 29 Huguenot (VA) 7, Hoover (AL) 18 Prattville (AL) 13
Second Round: Evangel Christian (LA) 27 Pace 18, Seabreeze (FL) 37 Camden 29, Daphne 15 Central-Dauphin (PA) 14, Hoover 28 Gautier (MS) 21
Semifinals: Evangel Christian 34 Seabreeze 19 and Hoover 38 Daphne 20
The Championship: Evangel Christian 41 Hoover 40 (2OT)
Hoover quarterback John Parker Wilson entered the championship game with a hot hand, and equally as effective had been Evangel Christian’s quarterback John David Booty.
Hoover High School's Chad Jackson, rated a perfect five-stars by Rivals.com, was sensational during the tournament
Booty displayed throughout the tournament exactly why most recruiting analysts are considering him one of the top junior prospects in the nation.
After falling behind by two scores early, Hoover came back to take the lead with a strong showing from Buccaneer running back B.T. Hartloge, who hauled in four touchdown passes in the championship game.
Evangel’s rising sophomore receiver Denny Duron returned the favor with four touchdown receptions of his own. After Hoover took a seven-point lead, Booty led Evangel back down the field and threw for the tying score with time having expired.
Duron, who caught the tying touchdown, also hauled in the point after try, which sent the game into the first overtime.
Evangel quickly scored on its first possession in overtime, but Hoover scored on it’s as well and perhaps the highlight of the camp came on the extra point attempt.
With Wilson running dangerously close to being flagged for the four second rule, he lobbed a pass up into the back of the endzone. Hoover receiver Chad Jackson leaped over three defenders and two of his own players to pull down the pass to tie the game.
In the second overtime Hoover had possession of the ball first and scored but missed the important point after attempt. Booty quickly threw a touchdown into the corner of the endzone, and when Duron caught the point after, Evangel had won the championship.
The Players:
Last year Camden (S.C.) High School went 15-0 and won the 3A state championship. This year quarterback prospect Eric McCollom hopes to lead them to a second. During Camden’s 3A championship run McCollom, 6-feet, 170-pounds, passed for 2,776 yards and 29 touchdowns. After camping at Penn State, McCollom received his first offer. Penn State, along with Clemson, South Carolina, LSU and Maryland lead for his signature.
Evangel Christian super wideout is an Oklahoma commitment
Central Dauphin High School in Harrisburg, Pa., is led by the talented due of quarterback prospect Michael Probst and running back Ardon Bransford. While scoring 25 touchdowns last season, Bransford, 5-foot-10, 180-pounds, quickly made a name for himself among college recruiters in the East. Maryland, Purdue, Nebraska, Pittsburgh, and Penn State have shown early interest.
Probst, 6-foot-3, 215-pounds, was the highest rated quarterback in the Dauphin area. He is receiving interest from Tennessee, Penn State, Purdue, Maryland and Connecticut. Another player to watch is Brent Wise, 6-foot, 195-pounds, wide receiver/ defensive back prospect.
Daphne High School wide receiver Mark Forrest, 6-foot-3, 185-pounds and tailback Adrian Yeldon were two players to keep and eye on. Both are rising seniors who saw little playing time due to Daphne’s depth at their respective positions.
Evangel Christian High School from Shreveport, La., who finished 14-1 and won the 5A state Championship, was led by rising junior Booty.
Last year as a sophomore, Booty passed for 4,330 yard and an amazing 50 touchdowns. He is considered one of the top junior quarterback prospects in the nation and has an early list of Miami, Tennessee, Oklahoma, UCLA, Texas, and LSU.
On the opposite end of Booty's passes is super wide out and Oklahoma commitment Tristen Ross.
Last year Ross, 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, hauled in 34 passes for 502 yards. He is rated a 4-star prospect by Rivals.com.
On the defensive side of the ball, Chad Johnson manned the cornerback position. Johnson, 5-foot-10, 180-pounds, recorded 113 total tackles last season and picked off five passes.
He has offers from Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee, Clemson, Texas Tech, Baylor, Arkansas and Colorado.
Wide receiver Conner Campbell, and running back Detrik James are entering their junior seasons and played well.
With a student population base of 800 Gautier, Miss., was the smallest school in the camp. Wide receiver Fred Miller and quarterback/ athlete Carro Rudolph are both receiving small school interest from teams in the South.
Seabreeze star Kenny Scott, rated four-stars by Rivals.com, was the top cornerback at the Tournament
All-american wide receiver candidate Chad Jackson led host Hoover (AL) High School. After a less than spectacular first day, Jackson, 6-foot-1, 200-pounds, played up to his billing during the final two days. During Hoover’s run to the camp’s championship game and once single game elimination began, Jackson was virtually unstoppable.
Last season Jackson led the Hoover offense with 1,200 yards receiving and 16 touchdowns.
Lined up against some of the nations top wide receiver prospects Labrose Hedgeman enjoyed a solid tournament. Last season Hedgeman, 5-foot-9, 180-pounds, recorded 32 tackles, 19 pass break-ups and eight interceptions.
Hedgeman is currently considering Auburn, LSU, Arkansas, Georgia Tech, among a host of others. Junior to watch: John Parker Wilson, 6-foot, 170-pounds played well through the tournament.
Ervin Battle, a 6-foot-1, 205-pound running back Huguenot High School in Richmond, Va., was one of the Tournament’s best performers. Tennessee, Penn State, and Michigan are the schools that Battle is most interested in at this time. Also playing well for Huguenot, were Montell Jones, a defensive back who favors Penn State, and Carlin Gibson, a defensive back who is receiving interest from Tennessee, Virginia Tech and Virginia.
Niceville, Fla., quarterback prospect Tommy Whedon was impressive.
Whedon displayed nice arm strength and accuracy. He currently has no scholarship offers but is receiving interest from schools in the South.
Pace (Fla.) High School tight end prospect, D.J. Norris has a top four of FSU, Tennessee, Georgia Tech, and Central Florida.
Last year, the 6-foot-3, 240-pound Norris earned all-area honors while hauling in 12 passes for 250 yards. Other senior college prospects for Pace included wide receiver Nathan George and running back Aaron Nicholson.
Two juniors to keep an eye on: Jay Sheritt, a 6-foot-2, 240-pound fullback, and Bobby Cassevah, a 6-foot-2, 185-pound quarterback.
Woodland Hills' Ryan Mundy is one of the top overall athletes in the nation.
Prattville, Ala., was without the services of rising junior tight end Travis McCall.
One of the top rising juniors in the state of Alabama, McCall dehydrated during the first day and stayed on the sideline for the Lions remaining games.
Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, Fla., brought with them one of the nations top junior quarterback prospects. Xavier Lee, 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, last year led the Sunshine State in yards passing.
Lee will have his choice of schools to choose from. Defensive back prospect Kenny Scott, 6-foot-1,176-pounds, is considering Florida, Florida State, Georgia, and Georgia Tech.
Scott, who is a rated a 4-star prospect, rushed for 800 yards, had 700 receiving and scored 14 touchdowns.
Woodland Hills High School from Pittsburgh, Pa., brought along perhaps the nations top two-way player in Ryan Mundy. Last season Mundy, 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, recorded 84 tackles, 6 interceptions, and led Woodland in receiving yards.
With over 25 scholarship offers on the table, Mundy favors Michigan and the hometown Panthers over the rest of the pack.
Junior wide receiver and defensive back prospect Devins Lyons will be one to keep an eye on.