USF grad assistant Davis to run Gibbs defense

Jared Davis, who has been part of the coaching staff at USF since the Bulls joined the Big East, including the past two seasons as defensive graduate assistant, is leaving to become defensive coordinator at Gibbs High School in St. Petersburg.

Davis will work under newly hired coach Donnie Abraham, the former Bucs and Jets safety who was hired three weeks ago. He had coached at Countryside as an assistant for three seasons before coming to USF in 2005.

Having Davis at Gibbs could help USF with defensive end Tim Jackson, the talented recruit who we told you about after USF's SuperBull camp last month.

-- Greg Auman, Times staff writer

Lakewood grad Louis Murphy impressing Raiders

It hasn't taken former Lakewood and Florida Gator standout Louis Murphy long to make a positive impression with the Oakland Raiders.

In fact, the fourth-round draft pick might end up starting.

New Raiders coach Tom Cable recently had this to say about Murphy, who won two national titles with the Gators, to NFL.com:

“He’s probably the surprise of our (rookie) class. He has all the makings to be a very special football player at this level — mainly because he was impressive on a daily basis. We really think we found one.”

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Palm Harbor University athlete among nation's elite

As a high school cross country performer, Lucas Caron is pretty good.

As a triathlete, the Palm Harbor University senior is one of the country's best.

USA Triathlon currently ranks Caron as the fifth-best triathlete nationally in his age group and has given him All-American status. What makes this all the more impressive is that he only started competing in triathlons two years ago.

"He's done very well in a short space of time," said Caron's coach, two-time International Triathlon Union world champion Spencer Smith, who lives in Palm Harbor.

You can read more about Caron, who is competing in Sunday's Morton Plant Mease Triathlon in Clearwater Beach, HERE.

--KEITH NIEBUHR 

A surge for Dunedin alum Brian Dopirak

Last July, the Times' Bob Putnam chronicled the struggles former Dunedin baseball great Brian Dopirak, a second-round draft pick in 2002, had in the minor leagues.

Once a big-time prospect with the Cubs organization (he was its minor leaguer of the year in 2004), Dopirak had fallen on hard times after being derailed by injuries and poor on-field performances. After the Cubs released him in March 2008, the Blue Jays signed Dopirak and gave him the opportunity to rejuvenate his career with the team's Class A squad in Dunedin.

It's safe to say he has made the most of his second chance.

A year ago, he played in the Florida State League All-Star Game.

Today, Dopirak, a first baseman, is batting a robust .308 with 19 homers and 68 RBIs for the Jays' Double-A team in New Hampshire.

The other good news: He's still only 25.

You can track Dopirak's progress HERE.

--KEITH NIEBUHR

Bill Barnett steps down at Seminole

Seminole boys basketball coach Bill Barnett has resigned as coach.

Barnett coached the Warhawks for six seasons. Last season, the Warhawks went 12-13 and took south county powers Lakewood and Boca Ciega to overtime before losing close games to both in the regular season.

He will continue to teach at Seminole and said he is “semi-retired” from coaching.
Taking over at Seminole is Josh Walker, who previously coached at Osceola and Dunedin. Walker inherits a Warhawks team that returns 10 of 14 players from last season.

-- BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer

IRC's John Hogan, SPC's Matthew O'Donnell transfer to Clearwater

Clearwater's boys basketball team bolstered its lineup with the addition of two transfers from Pinellas County private schools.

John Hogan, an incoming junior, transferred from Indian Rocks Christian. The 6-foot-5 forward was the Golden Eagles' second-leading scorer last season, averaging 14.6 points per game. He will help fill the void in the post created by the departure of Julian Sargent, who graduated.

"John's family lived in the zone and they were trying to put four kids through private school," Tornadoes coach Allen Carden said.

The other transfer was Matthew O'Donnell, an incoming senior who played at St. Petersburg Catholic. The 6-foot-2 point guard led the Barons in scoring last season, averaging 14.9 points per game. He also was among the area's leaders in 3-pointers with more than 70.

O'Donnell gives Clearwater depth among its guards and another scoring option to compenstate for the loss of Regan O'Rourke, who graduated.

"It's been a pleasant surprise to have both of those guys come here," Carden said.

-- BOB PUTNAM, Times Staff Writer

Seminole High hosting alumni soccer tournament

The Seminole High boys soccer program will host the first-ever Seminole Alumni Soccer tournament August 8 beginning at 10 a.m.

All former Seminole managers and players are invited to participate in the tournament, which will pit teams of past Seminole greats against one another in a six-a-side format (ten players per team).

Proceeds from the tournament will be used to pay for state championship signs honoring the 1982 and 2003 state champions. The signs will be unveiled following the tournament, which Seminole boys soccer head coach Rick Masi hopes to make an annual event.

Registration is $20 per player and includes a t-shirt and party for parents, players and all families involved. To sign up, visit www.seminolesocceralumni.com.

-- BRYAN BURNS

PHU's Mark Hansson receives second D-I offer

Palm Harbor University left tackle Mark Hansson picked up his second scholarship offer from a Division I school this week when Indiana University offered the 6-foot-6, 245 pound senior lineman.

In June, Hansson received a scholarship offer from Florida International University.

-- BRYAN BURNS

Football: Former Armwood star Justin Cabbagestalk faces felony charge

Former Armwood star Justin Cabbagestalk was arrested Tuesday night and charged with a felony count of burglary of an unoccupied dwelling and a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief. He was released on a bond early Wednesday morning.

According to Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office spokeswoman Debbie Carter, Cabbagestalk, 18, and three juveniles entered a home Tuesday night on Parkcrest Drive in Tampa at about 7 p.m. They gained entry through an unlocked screen porch door, then broke a kitchen window to enter the home. They exited through the front door and were observed by a witness, who called police.

"It appears as though nothing was taken," Carter said.

Cabbagestalk, a 6-foot-4, 275 pound lineman, signed a letter of intent in February to play football at Vanderbilt this fall. He becomes the second of Armwood's nine signees to face burglary charges.

In April, former teammate Angelo Hadley was charged with third-degree grand theft, grand theft of a firearm and armed burglary of a dwelling with firearm possession, all third-degree felonies. Soon afterward his scholarship to North Carolina was pulled.

Hadley has entered a plea of not guilty with his next hearing scheduled for September.

"(Vanderbilt) coach (Bobby) Johnson and the staff have been notified of the case and will withhold official comment until more facts are known," Vanderbilt spokesman Larry Leathers said Wednesday morning.

-- IZZY GOULD and JOEY KNIGHT

All-state boys basketball teams

Here are the all-state boys basketball teams for the 2008-09 season, as selected by Florida sportswriters and members of the Florida Association of Basketball Coaches. Bay area players in bold.

CLASS 6A
First team
Charles Hankerson, Coral Reef (Miami), 6-5, Jr.
John Henson, Sickles (Tampa), 6-10, Sr.
Martavious Irving, Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes), 6-2, Sr.
Khyle Marshall, Flanagan (Pembroke Pines), 6-6, Jr.
Austin Rivers, Winter Park, 6-3, So.

Second team
Martell Buie, Olympia (Orlando), 5-11, Sr.
Andy Diaz, Hialeah Miami Lakes, 6-8, Sr.
Dexter Fields, Olympia (Orlando), 6-2, Sr.
Jerron Granberry, Coral Reef (Miami), 6-5, Sr.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Palmetto (Miami), 6-5, Jr.

Third team
Bryce Clark, Ely (Pompano Beach), 6-5, Sr.
Richie Edwards, Lakeland, 6-7, Sr.
Antonio Johnson, Melbourne, 5-11, Sr.
Angel Rodriguez, Dr. Krop (Miami), 5-10, So.
Tony Watson II, Palm Beach Gardens, 6-2, Sr.

Fourth team
Julian Vasquez, Miami Senior, 6-1, Sr.
Bryan Bynes, Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes), 6-3, Sr.
Jayson Guerrier, Oviedo, 6-4, Sr.
Kevin Paxson, Jupiter, 5-11, Jr.
Shemiye McLendon, Vero Beach, 6-3, Sr.