Five-Star event hosts next wave of Va. stars
CHESAPEAKE, Va. - For the second weekend in a row, the Rivals.com Five-Star Academy touched down in Virginia, this time in the Hampton Roads area at Oscar Smith High School in Chesapeake. Highlighted by a talk to prospects from Oscar Smith head coach Richard Morgan, top players such as Virginia Beach (Va.) Bayside defensive back Demetrious Nicholson appeared at the popular event.
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Nicholson, who checked in at 5 feet 11 and 167 pounds, has more than 20 offers from programs such as North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Michigan, Stanford, NC State, Clemson and others. He is considered to be one of the top lockdown cornerbacks on the East Coast. Right now the Tar Heels have a slight edge over Virginia in an intense recruiting battle.
Virginia Beach (Va.) Kempsville linebacker Travis Hughes was another big name on hand. Hughes, who measured 6-1 and 228 pounds, has more than 30 offers including tenders from Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Maryland, LSU, Southern Cal, Michigan, Penn State, Tennessee and others. His brother, Trenton Hughes, plays at Maryland but the Terps have strong competition from North Carolina, Virginia Tech, Clemson and others.
Oscar Smith had its own star power on hand led by wide receiver Quinta Funderburke, who checked in at 6-5 and 204 pounds. Funderburke has offers from Alabama, Florida, Clemson, Maryland, North Carolina, Penn State, Virginia, Virginia Tech and others. Alabama signed his quarterback, Phillip Sims, in February but Funderburke also has teammates at numerous other programs. His teammates, linebacker Raysean Richardson and cornerback Jaston George, both have offers from Syracuse. Richardson measured in at 6-1 and 189 pounds while George was 5-10 and 158 pounds.
Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes athlete Lafonte Thourogood also has a lot going on when it comes to recruiting. The quarterback who could also play other positions in college, measured in at 6-3 and 224 pounds. He has offers from Virginia, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Stanford and others. His top target last year, wide receiver Justin Hunter, signed with the Vols in February.
Norfolk (Va.) Booker T. Washington defensive back Donte Capers checked in at 5-8 and 171 pounds and has an early offer from Louisville as well as interest from East Carolina, Marshall, Virginia Tech and others.
There were plenty of talented quarterbacks on hand at the event led by Chesapeake (Va.) Grassfield signal-caller Tyler Clark who measured 6-5 and 201 pounds. Joe Cibrin from Yorktown (Va.) Grafton also looked the part at 6-4 and 180 pounds as did Rex Harrison (6-3/202) from Yorktown (Va.) Tabb and Domonique Lennon (6-2/189) from Suffolk (Va.) Nansemond Suffolk Academy. And an underclassmen signal-caller to keep an eye on is Virginia Beach (Va.) Salem rising sophomore Bucky Hodges who measured 6-5 and 196 pounds.
Two prospects made the trip from North Carolina for the event. Brandon Pittman, a linebacker from Raleigh (N.C.) Leesville Road checked in at 6-3 and 200 pounds while wide receiver Chris Lampkins from Raleigh (N.C.) Sanderson measured 6-2 and 172 pounds.
Virginia Beach (Va.) Salem has two physically impressive prospects in wide receivers Jonathan Avant and Ronald Dailey. Avant checked in at 6-3 and 218 pounds and likely projects as a tight end at the next level while Dailey was 6-4 and 194 pounds. Newport News (Va.) Denbigh wide out Rodriguez Jones was also physically impressive at 6-3 and 202 pounds.
A few other athletes who have some recruiting buzz going on include Greenbelt (Md.) Eleanor Roosevelt athlete Jairus Cook (6-2/194), defensive back James Faircloth (6-1/197) from Chesapeake (Va.) Grassfield, defensive back Neal-Anthony Hale (5-10, 179) from Norfolk (Va.) Maury and linebacker Terrence Mack (6-0/200) from Hampton, Va.
There were also many impressive-looking big men at the event. Oscar Smith offensive/defensive lineman Michael Wyche was mammoth at 6-4 and 303 pounds and will have offers by the end of May. Virginia Beach (Va.) Cox offensive lineman Ross Burbank checked in at 6-5 and 299 pounds and lists Virginia and Virginia Tech on top while Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes center/guard Josh Mann added size at 6-4 and 279 pounds. Virginia Beach (Va.) First Colonial offensive lineman Connor Mewbourne also had good size at 6-4 and 279 pounds.
Two linemen that recently emerged and were physically impressive at the event were Windsor, Va., offensive guard Justin Daniels who measured 6-5 and 316 pounds and Forestville (Md.) Forestville Military Academy defensive tackle Bryan Egolum who was 6-2 and 324 pounds.
Finally, a few other underclassmen stood out at the event. Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes 2012 defensive end Eli Harold stood 6-4 and weighed 215 pounds and already has verbal offers from Virginia Tech and others. Virginia Beach (Va.) Salem 2012 linebacker Joshua Lawson looked good at 6-2 and 210 pounds while 2012 Oscar Smith running back J.C. Coleman is only 5-7 and 169 pounds but he put up huge numbers as a sophomore. And Virginia Beach (Va.) Ocean Lakes defensive tackle Demetri McGill is massive for a 2013 prospect at 6-2 and 297 pounds.
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