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Notebook: Pylon 7v7 Tournament

LAS VEGAS -- The 180-team Pylon 7v7 Tournament kicked off on Saturday with many top prospects from the West and other regions in attendance. Here are some of the latest big recruiting news and notes from the first day of the loaded event.

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HOLMES GIVES UPDATE

Five-star cornerback Darnay Holmes will return to Nebraska for its junior day and then he’s also planning trips to Arizona (where his brother plays) and Arizona State as well in the coming weeks. After that, a trip for Stanford’s junior day -- and taking in a Golden State Warriors game -- is in the works.

The Calabasas prospect, who’s rated second in the California state rankings, said it’s not necessarily true that Stanford and UCLA stand out most in his recruitment and that on his visits he wants to take a really in-depth look of the academic and athletic side of things so he could make the most-informed decision.

There’s no question those two programs are up there, though. Holmes has shown a tremendous interest in Stanford for a long time, he has friends on the team and has loved his trips there. UCLA defensive backs coach Demetrice Martin is a family friend and that’s one reason why the Bruins are so prominent in his recruitment.

But Holmes has also liked Nebraska and he’s going back there. He said he’ll look closely at Texas A&M after it offered in the last few days and he plans to visit College Station. Tennessee also seems to be coming on strong.

LINDSEY PLANNING TOP LIST

The next step for Tyjon Lindsey, who recently transferred to Corona (Calif.) Centennial, will be releasing a top 10. The four-star receiver said the recruiting process is getting a little hectic, but not something he can’t handle.

Lindsey, who played last season at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman, said he’s trying to make a decision before National Signing Day and doesn’t want to toy with any coaches.

Lindsey said Auburn, Washington, USC, Texas A&M and Ohio State will definitely make the cut when he posts his top list.

USC and UCLA remain the two frontrunners for four-star dual-threat quarterback Tua Tagovailoa but the Honolulu (Hawaii) St. Louis star said he plans to take official visits before making a decision.

That postpones a commitment until at least the start of his senior season or even later. While he acknowledged that the Trojans and Bruins stand out most, he said other Pac-12 and SEC schools are also in the running.

USC might have a slight edge for Tagovailoa but UCLA quarterbacks coach Marques Tuiasosopo is playing a major role in the four-star’s recruitment; Tagovailoa refers to the Bruins assistant as “family” and noted that having him on staff “makes a big difference.”

Alabama, Notre Dame, LSU and Michigan are showing continued interest.

GEBBIA BACK FROM TRIPS

Tristan Gebbia recently took a bunch of unofficial visits as he works through his top five and the Calabasas recruit is headed to Nebraska on Monday to check out the Huskers again.

Nebraska, Ole Miss, Washington, Washington State and West Virginia make up Gebbia’s top five and he said that list will probably stick. He won’t narrow down any further before making a commitment.

There has been some chatter that the Ole Miss trip absolutely blew him away -- plus his dad, Rich, played for the Rebels -- but Gebbia isn’t giving any clear hints that the SEC team is the one to beat. On Saturday, the four-star was highly complimentary of each program in his top five.

Over spring break, Gebbia plans to visit Ole Miss again and he’ll also head to South Carolina, which recently offered. Cal is showing some interest and Michigan State and Wisconsin have reached out. He’d like to have a decision done before June 1 but Gebbia also said he won’t rush it.

DELPIT STAYING BUSY

USC is the newest offer for four-star safety Grant Delpit, who has seen his recruitment become fast and furious in the last few months with major offers from all over the country.

The Houston (Texas) Lamar standout said he doesn’t have a confirmed top six but he likes LSU, USC, Oklahoma, Baylor, Texas and Texas A&M a little more at this juncture.

Visits should be coming up for Delpit and those could be crucial in his decision-making process as the four-star said a commitment could come at any time he feels comfortable.

Delpit said he’s hoping for more West Coast offers and he hopes the USC one opens up more doors in that part of the country.

JOHNSON JR. TO DECIDE

Committing in March is still the plan for four-star wide receiver Keyshawn Johnson Jr. although no definite date is set. The Calabasas prospect has a top five of Nebraska, USC, Alabama, Clemson and Ohio State and he’s planning to return to Lincoln for the Huskers’ upcoming junior day.

The four-star actually hopes to revisit all five of his front-runners before making a decision -- if that’s feasible in the next few weeks -- and he said once his decision is made his recruitment is finished.

Texas could still receive a trip but Johnson said the Longhorns haven’t really been in active contact in recent weeks and Tennessee is also reaching out more so he could visit there.

CARR SEES MAJOR INTEREST

Four-star all-purpose back Stephen Carr said many of the schools who have recently offered continue to heavily recruit him and that list includes Michigan, Cal, Miami, Nebraska and Louisville.

The soft USC commit from Fontana (Calif.) Summit said the Trojans continue to consistently recruit him and that he will definitely take an official visit there in the fall before making any final decisions.

It still looks like the Trojans are strong in his recruitment but now many others are all seriously involved.

TUCKER HAS SOME FAVORITES

Four-star safety Derrick Tucker said he had a top five but named four schools that are really standing out in his recruitment in UCLA, Houston, TCU and Texas.

The Manvel, Texas, recruit said he’s really open to all schools but those four have been talking to him the most and continually recruit him, so he’s taken a much-closer look.

For Tucker, he said next season is crucial for Texas and he thinks the Longhorns did a phenomenal job closing with their last recruiting class so a corner might have been turned. He also talked highly of the two other in-state programs, and he has a former Manvel teammate, Will Lockett, who speaks highly of his time with the Bruins.

GRAHAM GAINING SCHOOLS

Oklahoma, Utah and some other schools that have recently offered four-star cornerback Thomas Graham are starting to get way more involved but he remains a soft USC commit.

The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif., standout said Oregon is mainly showing the most interest of schools that haven’t offered yet and Nebraska had also reached out but not much at this point.

According to Graham, the USC coaches have told him their recruitment of him will get much more focused and serious in the coming weeks to make it clear he’s a priority in this class.

“They said I’m top on their board and they want to make sure they get me to USC,” Graham said.

AHMED PLANNING TRIPS

Kirkland (Wash.) Juanita four-star athlete Salvon Ahmed is planning to visit Stanford -- which has already offered -- this summer to get a better feel for that program and environment. He’s also looking at a trip to Notre Dame, which hasn’t offered yet.

Ahmed was well-versed on Stanford’s success and made it clear it’s definitely a serious option for him. With Notre Dame, Ahmed said he stays in contact with the team's defensive backs coach and the coaches want him to visit so he’s going to take a trip to South Bend.

The four-star hasn’t made a top five yet and he said that will probably happen after his summer trips. UCLA has been showing a whole lot of interest recently.

TWO STAND OUT FOR HAWAII LB

Washington and Arizona stand out the most for four-star linebacker Isaac Slade-Matautia who said he’s really looking for a place “that feels like home.”

One reason the Wildcats are so strong with Honolulu St. Louis linebacker is that his relation, Kahi Neves, has spoken positively about the program and the coaching staff. Slade-Matautia had a great visit to Washington and really bonded with the coaches during the trip.

Washington State and Notre Dame have been aggressively recruiting the four-star linebacker as well. Oklahoma State, Missouri and Vanderbilt are taking a much-closer look recently.

OFFER SURPRISES LANG

Not much is known yet about Terrance Lang from Pasadena (Calif.) Maranatha, who burst on the scene recently by landing his first offer from USC. Washington State has since offered as well.

The 6-foot-7, 265-pound prospect is probably a long-term defensive end but he also plays tight end.

Lang recently met with the USC coaches and the Trojans decided to offer afterward. It was his first offer and it’s also a huge one for him since he said the Trojans are way out in front early on.

Arizona State, Cal and UCLA have reached out recently.

OTHER NEWS AND NOTES

Four-star Isaiah Pola-Mao is really not too focused on the recruiting process this early and has no early frontrunners although he said Arizona, Arizona State, Washington and Oregon State have been the most aggressive at this point.

Jaylon Redd said Oregon’s coaches have been doing their due diligence at his school, gathering transcripts and information, and he then talked with assistant coach John Neal who offered him. The four-star from Rancho Cucamonga does not have any clear favorites yet but envisions himself as a Charles Nelson-type in Oregon’s scheme. Oklahoma, Michigan, USC, UCLA and Cal have been reaching out most and he said Washington State always stays in contact.

T.J. Pledger plans to visit Washington in March and the 2018 running back from West Hills (Calif.) Chaminade said he’s also trying to visit Miami in April. This summer, Pledger said he’s for sure visiting Ohio State and other trips could happen as well. The Buckeyes’ offer was definitely a pleasant surprise as have been others as well like Georgia as Pledger’s recruitment continues to stay busy.

UCLA has emerged as the top school for 2018 tight end Brevin Jordan after a recent trip to Westwood seemed to absolutely blow him away. The Las Vegas Gorman recruit said “it felt like home” and even though he feels the USC campus is nicer than UCLA, he said UCLA felt more like home and that’s a big reason why it stands out.

Persistence paid off for 2018 ATH Brendan Radley-Hiles. The Calabasas recruit said he planned to call Michigan State assistant coach Harlon Barnett every day to build a relationship and after a recent conversation Barnett decided to not wait any longer and offer. It’s definitely a huge early offer for the 2018 prospect and one he’ll seriously consider. Oregon State, BYU, Mississippi State and Tennessee continue to show interest.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is the backup quarterback at Las Vegas Bishop Gorman but the 2018 prospect is a tremendous talent who could be a national-level recruit. So far, Colorado State and UNLV have offered and he said Oregon told him he’s high on their board and UCLA has been in regular contact, too. Early word is that Thompson-Robinson likes the Bruins a lot especially after a recent visit and an offer would mean a lot.

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