Every time a local athlete in the graduating class of 2009 commits to a college, his/her name will be added to this blog. (If someone is missing, email us at kniebuhr@sptimes.com)
FOOTBALL COMMITMENTS
Gerard Atkins, Dixie Hollins, TE, 6-5, 215: Committed to USF (7/14/08). Had 15 catches for 300 yards and four touchdowns in '07.
Darius Bellamy, Dunedin, RB, 5-9, 214: Committed to USF (3/9/08) over Clemson, Florida, Iowa State, Ole Miss. Considered one of the South's top tailbacks.
Josh Brown, Dixie Hollins, CB, 5-11, 205: Committed to Troy (11/12/08). Picked the Trojans over offers from Iowa and Wake Forest.
Justin Cabbagestalk, Armwood, OL, 6-4, 270: Committed to Vanderbilt (6/09/2008) over Ball State, Florida International, Miami (Ohio). Two-year starter for powerful Hawks at right tackle.
Casey Callahan, Armwood, LB, 6-1, 210: Committed to Stony Brook (10/23/08). Also considered Liberty, Western Michigan and Central Michigan.
Paul Freedman, CCC, WR: Committed to Virginia (6/15/08). The 6-foot-6 standout also had offers from Duke, Florida International, Indiana and Vanderbilt.
Jon Halapio, St. Petersburg Catholic, OL, 6-4, 302: Committed to Florida (5/9/08) over offers from Florida International, Indiana and Southern Mississippi. Rivals.com three-star recruit.
P.J. Hobson, Jesuit, LB, 6-1, 215: Committed to Penn (08/19/08). Two-year captain and third-year starter for the Tigers.
Sir Chauncey Holloway, Armwood, RB, 5-9, 185: Committed to Liberty (6/17/08) over Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Troy and Wake Forest.
Jacquez Jenkins, Lakewood, DB, 6-2, 177: Committed to USF (6/23/08) over Indiana, South Carolina and Wake Forest. Had 50 tackles as a junior.
Josh Johnson, Pasco, ATH: Committed to Purdue (9/17/08) over Vanderbilt. Arguably the top player in Pasco County.
Kamran Joyer, Wesley Chapel, OL, 6-3, 317: Committed to USF (6/16/08). He also considered Florida, Tennessee, Georgia and Illinois.
Justin Lattimore, Iowa, TE, 6-3, 215: Committed to Iowa (10/26/08). He also Ball State, FAU, FIU, Middle Tennessee and Miami of Ohio.
Demonte McAllister, Alonso, DL, 6-3, 263: Committed to FSU over Georgia, LSU, Southern California and Tennessee. Still plans to take visits this fall.
Aaron Murray, Plant, QB, 6-0, 200: Committed to Georgia (4/24/2008) over Florida and UCLA. Arguably the state's top quarterback; had offers from 50-plus schools.
BOYS BASKETBALL COMMITMENTS
Sheldon Cooley, Plant, G, 6-2, 185: Committed to East Tennessee State (10/24/08). 2007 Times Hillsborough Player of the Year.
Toarlyn Fitzpatrick, King, F, 6-7, 210: Committed to Georgia Southern (10/08/08). Also considered, FSU, Miami and Tulane.
John Henson, Sickles, F, 6-10, 210: Committed to North Carolina (01/03/08). Texas transfer averaged double-double as a junior.
Lukas Poderis, Ridgewood , C: Committed to East Tennessee State (10/24/08). Also considered Niagara, Kent and Youngstown State.
Eric Segert, Oldsmar Christian, G, 6-2, 175: Committed to Idaho State (10/26/08). Averaged 29.4 points a game as a junior.
GIRLS BASKETBALL COMMITMENTS
Allison Corbett, Tarpon Springs, G/F: Committed to the University of Tampa (11/02/08). Has 1,000-plus career points.
Katie Davis, AHN, G: Committed to Penn (10/20/08). Also considered Cornell, Emory, Harvard, MIT, Washington University and West Point.
BASEBALL COMMITMENTS
Austin Adams, Zephyrhills, P: Committed to USF. Posted a 1.99 ERA in 24.2 innings as a junior with 35 K's.
R.J. Brown, Bloomingdale, P: Committed to Florida Gulf Coast. Went 5-2 with a 2.9 ERA as a junior.
Ray Delphey, Alonso, P: Committed to USF (2/4/08): Expected to be one of region's top right-handed hurlers.
James Dowdell, CCC, OF: Committed to Boston College: Hit .450 while producing nine homers and 28 RBIs.
Greg Dupell, Jesuit, Util: Committed to the Naval Academy (09/26/08). Hit .313 with five homers and 21 RBI in '08.
Jimmy Falla, Jesuit, OF: Committed to USF (2/5/08): Batted .293, with eight doubles and 31 RBIs.
Joe Hudson, Jesuit, C-3B: Committed to Notre Dame: Led Tigers with a .397 average and drove in 21 runs.
Jay Laurienzo, Hillsborough, OF: Committed to Florida Gulf Coast. Led Terriers with a .441 average in 2008.
Nick Lockwood, Jesuit, IF: Committed to USF (2/5/08): Hit .288 this spring with seven extra-base hits.
Marlon Mitchell, Hillsborough, C: Committed to N.C. State (8/08/08) over LSU, North Carolina, Virginia, Miami, Florida, Georgia Tech.
Tommy Organ, Tarpon Springs, P: Committed to North Florida (11/09/09). Lefty posted 1.94 ERA in 2008.
Adam Pendleton , Alonso, C: Committed to Tampa (9/17/08). He will be a four-year letterwinner for the Ravens.
Patrick Schuster, Mitchell, P: Committed to Florida (6/24/08). Left-hander went 5-2 as a junior with 1.07 ERA.
Trent Tagliarini, Cambridge, SS: Committed to Quincy (10/31/08). Hit team-high .506 and had four homers in '08.
Chad Taylor, Jefferson, IF: Committed to USF: Hit .350 as a junior and posted a .420 on-base percentage.
Reggie Williams, Brooks-DeBartolo, OF: Committed to Miami. Also received interest from Southern Cal, USF and Southern.
SOFTBALL COMMITMENTS
Samantha Holle, Chamberlain, IF: Committed to Florida. Hit .481 as a junior while driving in team-high 35 runs.
Kelsey Horton, Durant, IF: Committed to Florida. Leading hitter for Cougars team that reached Class 6A final four.
Colena Lazar, Pasco, P: Committed to Florida Atlantic (6/18/08). In '08, went 20-4 with a 0.83 ERA and 188 k's.
Colesa Lazar, Pasco, OF: Committed to Florida Atlantic (6/18/08). Hit .364 with 12 RBIs and 27 runs.
Marissa Menendez, Chamberlain, IF: Committed to USF. .397 batting average and 22 RBIs as a junior.
Sarah Simon, River Ridge, C: Committed to Jacksonville (6/20/08). Hit .514 and with 5 homers and 48 RBIs.
Kayla Suskauer, Plant, P: Committed to Furman (10/29/08). Posted a 0.93 ERA in 2008 for 5A region finalist.
VOLLEYBALL COMMITMENTS
Danielle Erb, Plant, OH: Committed to James Madison (10/23/08). Also considered LSU, Syracuse and Southern Mississippi.
Ariel Ley, Plant, S/OH: Committed to Davidson (10/09/08). Starter for nationally ranked Panthers.
Christina Theofilos, Berkeley Prep, L/S: Committed to Notre Dame (10/14/08). First-team all-county as a junior.
GIRLS SOCCER COMMITMENTS
Ana Cate, Newsome, MF: Committed to Auburn. First-team all-county for region finalist as a junior.
Christina Coca, Bloomingdale, K: Committed to Saint Leo. First-team all county in '08; 7 shutouts last season.
Jo Dragotta, Gaither, F: Committed to Florida (3/4/08). Dragotta, a three-year starter, led the Cowboys during the 2007-08 season with 14 goals.
Ashley Evers, Newsome, MF: Committed to USF. First-team all-county pick in '08 for region finalist.
Leah Fisher, East Lake, F: Committed to Notre Dame. Earned first-team all-county honors in 2008.
Paige Goodwin, Tampa Prep, F: Committed to UCF. Recorded 29 goals and 23 assists for the Class 2A champs in '08.
Kendall Graham, Newsome, GK: Committed to the Naval Academy. 2008 honorable mention all-county selection.
Tifani Mullen, Alonso, MF: Committed to Florida State. Was second-team all-county pick as a junior.
Alicia Nalley, East Lake, MF: Committed to Florida. Pinellas player of the year as a junior. Twenty-seven goals.
Tara Petzoldt, East Lake, D: Committed to USF. Was a second-team Times all-county pick in 2008.
Morgan Sammons, Newsome, D: Committed to Florida Southern. Honorable mention all-county as junior.
Courtney Zwetsch, Tampa Prep, GK: Committed to FAU. Allowed only six goals in 690 minutes as a junior.
BOYS SOCCER COMMITMENTS
Joe Layton, Wharton, F: Committed to UNC-Greensboro. MVP of the 2008 Class 5A state soccer final four.
Keith Sierra, Jesuit, MF: Committed to Marquette (10/17/08). Also considered Loyola (Illi.), La Salle and the University of Tampa.
GIRLS SWIMMING COMMITMENTS
Meg Anderson, Plant: Committed to Clemson (10/09/08). Also considered Ohio State, Louisville and Virginia.
Megan Romano, Northeast: Committed to Georgia. Also considered Arizona and Florida among others.
BOYS SWIMMING COMMITMENTS
Vinny Donnelly, Jesuit: Committed to Purdue (11/03/08). Also considered Florida State, Indiana and LSU.
WRESTLING COMMITMENTS
Eric Grajales, Brandon: Committed to Michigan (10/13/08). Also considered Columbia, Cornell and Penn.
TRACK & FIELD COMMITMENTS
Dentarius Locke, Chamberlain, sprinter: Committed to Tennessee (10/27/08): Won 100-meter dash at 2008 4A final.
GIRLS GOLF COMMITMENTS
Amy West, Durant: Committed to Seminole Community College (10/20/08). Also considered Stetson.
GYMNASTICS COMMITMENTS
Kaleigh Dickson, Holy Names: Committed to LSU (5/6/08): Won the Level 10 Senior A all-around title at the Region 8 Gymnastics Championships
Berkeley Prep seniors Kyleen and Kim Carpenter (front row) signed their letters of intent Thursday to play golf at Presbyterian College. In the back row (L to R) is Berkeley athletic director Bobby Reinhart, mother Dee Carpenter, golf coach Tom Shea, father Bob Carpenter and headmaster Joseph Merluzzi (Photo courtesy of Janet Caldwell/Berkeley Prep).
The St. Petersburg Times High School Sports blog is written and compiled by the Times preps sports staff from Pinellas, Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. We invite your participation in the comments area.
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