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PREP SPORTS

Ravenel To Make Early Decision

Published: Aug 7, 2007

Brandon High boys basketball forward Evan Ravenel has a huge decision to make in the next few months. After competing in various tournaments over the summer (Las Vegas, Orlando and Akron), the senior has been offered scholarships by numerous Division I schools.

The 6-foot-8, 260-pound Ravenel said he wants to commit by November, during the early signing period.

Ravenel, who averaged 7.8 points and 5.3 rebounds per game last season and is considered a one-star recruit by Scout.com, said he has received offers from Virginia Tech, the University of South Florida, Miami, Alabama-Birmingham, Tennessee Tech, Florida Atlantic, Wichita State, Winthrop, Northeastern, Penn State and Tulane. As of Monday, he said his top three choices are Wichita State, Virginia Tech and Penn State.

"I'm going to take some visits during the season to see some practices," Ravenel said.

HAWKS STAFF NO. 1: Armwood's coaching staff was named the best in the state by Varsity Sports Media's Florida Football Magazine, an honor Hawks coach Sean Callahan enjoyed but also one he planned to have a little fun with.

"I'm going to tease [running backs coach] T.J Laflamboy that he's the reason why we got it, considering he's the only new coach I brought in this year," joked Callahan, adding his staff was ranked No. 3 in the state by the magazine last year. "I've always thought we had a great staff. … I'm only as good as people around me."

The accompanying print with the ranking stated: "The proof is in what Sean Callahan and his staff do every year. This is a program that not only wins and brings home championships, but they also develop talent."

In other Armwood news, standout lineman Matt Patchan was rated the nation's No. 19 prospect in the updated

Rivals100, which was released Monday by Rivals.com. Patchan, who also was tabbed with the prestigious 5-star ranking, was the only local player listed in the recruiting service's new national prospect rankings.

WILDCAT INJURED: Wesley Chapel football player Colista Bettis was injured in a car accident over the weekend, Wildcats coach John Castelamare said Monday.

Bettis, a 5-9, 200-pound lineman, was not in attendance for the first day of practice. He was still in the hospital following surgery to remove glass from his eye.

Castelamare said he was not sure if or when Bettis would return to the football field.

CLOWER TO PASCO: Pasco has another quarterback to work with now that sophomore D.J. Clower has transferred from Zephyrhills.

The Pirates expect Clower, 6-1, 175 pounds, to take some snaps at quarterback this season while using incumbent QB Josh Johnson at running back. Last season, Johnson spent some time at running back but was pegged to play all of his offensive time at QB this season.

WASTING NO TIME: In an ode to college basketball's Midnight Madness, in which basketball teams begin practice the moment the clock hits midnight, Seminole coach Sam Roper had his team at the school's pool at the stroke of midnight to work out with the swim team.

"We've been doing this for a few years now," Roper said.

Once, when his players were complaining about conditioning during two-a-days, Roper told the players to meet at the pool the next day. The players thought the gathering at the pool was going to be a fun, refreshing activity.

They were wrong. After trying to complete a second lap in the pool, some players wished they were doing sprints.

"We had to jump in and save some of them," Roper said, jokingly.

COX STEPS DOWN: Cambridge baseball coach Jack Cox resigned Monday after four years with the Lancers.

Cox compiled a 75-35 record and led Cambridge to the state playoffs the past three seasons, winning a district title in 2005.

Cox said in an e-mail that he wants to have time to watch his son Garrett play at the University of Tampa.

A staff report