Stokes taking prep route
While most who follow recruiting have shifted their focus to the Class of 2011, one prospect from the Class of 2010 will still be in the spotlight over the next year.
Malik Stokes of Philadelphia (Pa.) Northeast will be taking the prep school route for the next year.
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While Stokes had an offer from Kent State he was advised that it would greatly help his stock if he attended prep school for a year. He believes he has found a school that is the perfect fit for him.
"He's going to Taft School in Connecticut," his father, Ron Stokes, confirmed. "They really love him. They want him to be the guy. Their offense is conducive to what he's trying to accomplish, running a no huddle spread.
"I believe the quarterback prior to him threw for over 2,000 and ran for about (500)."
The elder Stokes said his son and the coaching staff at Taft have built a good relationship based on trust and mutual understanding.
"They're wonderful," Stokes' father said of the Taft staff. "We went up there and had a tour of the facilities. We met with members of the faculty and administration and had an interview. It seemed to be the perfect fit."
Stokes does not need to take the prep school route for academic reasons but his father said it should help him build good study habits that will pay off down the road.
Stokes' father, who runs Top Prospects Sports, a talent agency that helps high school football recruits, said that coaches from South Carolina, Pitt, NC State, Tennessee and others will be following him throughout the year and believe the year at prep school will be to his benefit.