The THSCA All-Star Football game will have lots of marquee players when the North meets the South in the annual summer game next Tuesday, but the potential headliner won't be there.
Lake Travis quarterback and Texas signee Garrett Gilbert has withdrawn. Gilbert isn't injured but apparently has a schedule conflict. The record-setting Gilbert led Lake Travis to back-to-back Class 4A state titles _ defeating highly regarded foes Highland Park and Longview in consecutive championship games.
Gilbert's spot has been taken by Eric Soza of Beeville and West Hardin's Tyler Copeland will be quarterback for South coach Gary Joseph. The South has Texas signees _ Aldine Ike receiver Greg Timmons and Madisonville running back Chris Whaley _ teamming with Texas A&M signees Dustin Harris, Sean Porter, Brandal Jackson, Rhontae Scales and Spencer Nealy.
Texas will get its own No. 81 as Timmons will wear No. 81 at Texas to honor his favorite player... Buffalo Bills WR Terrell Owens.
No Texas QBs make Elite 11
A traditional Texas quarterback showcase, the Elite 11 competition this July in Southern California won't include a quarterback from Texas. Houston Second Baptist's Connor Wood[/db} _ a Texas commit for 2010 _ was one of the top considerations but he didn't make the final cut.
McKinney quarterback Zach Lee would have been a strong consideration, but the 6-4 Lee didn't participate in Elite 11 competitions while concentrating on play baseball for various U.S. national teams.
Among the dozen Elite 11 quarterbacks are Oklahoma commit Blake Bell, a 6-5 gunslinger from Wichita, Kan. and Washington commit Nick Montana, who looks very similar (especially with accuracy) to his dad, Pro Football Hall of Fame QB Joe Montana.
Killeen Ellison sprinter shines internationally
A star of the state track meet as a junior in June, Killeen Ellison's Prezel Hardy
won a gold medal in the 100-meter dash at the IAAF World Youth Championships in Italy last week. Hardy ran a 10.57.
"Something like this, a great event like this, this is not something many people can say they've done in their lifetime," Hardy told the Killeen Daily Herald. "This win represents the start of great things to come. It's an incredible feeling."
Hardy was all the buzz state meet when he clocked a 10.08 at Mike A. Myers Stadium to win the Class 5A title. The time would have been a national record but strong winds negated all times from qualifying as records, but just keeping your feet under yourself at 10.08 is pretty amazing.
Plano West QB transfers
Quarterback John Pelosa is having a strong summer at college camps but the hard-throwing 6-6 right-hander was slated to be a wide receiver at Plano West with Michael Pruneau getting the nod at quarterback. Pelosa has transferred to play quarterback at Greenhill and will receive major college quarterback offers even though this will be his first season as a starter.
Pelosa was a freshman on the varsity at ESD when Brock Mansion was a starter. Pelosa transferred to Plano West in January 2008.
Texas baseball finalist for McKinney star
McKinney shortstop Matt Lipka has narrowed his baseball choices to Texas, Alabama and Georgia Tech. Lipka and McKinney teammate Zach Lee have been dual-sport stars in football and baseball since they were freshmen.
Lipka also is considered a major college receiver prospect, but he plans to concentrate on football in college. Lipka and Lee have had late starts to McKinney football throughout their careers because of U.S. national baseball commitments. But the duo were among the stars of last year's 65-64 thriller against Denison.
A quarterback and pitcher, the 6-4 Lee has committed to LSU and will continue to play baseball and football in the SEC.
