JOURNAL OF A COACH: Centennial’s Carlberg meets his players

Courtesy of Centennial High School

High School: Centennial

JOURNAL OF A COACH: Centennial’s Carlberg meets his players

By Fletcher Proctor — January 27, 2012, 12:29 pm

New Centennial football coach Jeffrey Carlberg is quickly putting his fingerprints all over the Knights program, meeting with new and potential coaches and getting the players seen at school events. Carlberg began last week by restructuring the equipment room. Read more >

HOOPS PREVIEW: Region seeding on the line in AAAAA games

Courtesy of DJ Galbiati

High School Feature Stories

HOOPS PREVIEW: Region seeding on the line in AAAAA games

By Fletcher Proctor — January 27, 2012, 12:18 pm

Teams are positioning themselves for various region tournaments, and this weekend will be crucial for several teams hoping to improve seeding. Luella will host Region 2-AAAAA leader Westlake as the Lions look to force a tie for the fourth seed. Read more >

CHOP SHOP: Braves bring back the gang for 2012

Courtesy of Curtis Compton/AJC

Beat Blogs

CHOP SHOP: Braves bring back the gang for 2012

By Fletcher Proctor — January 27, 2012, 10:59 am

The Atlanta Braves made several moves last week, locking in all of their arbitration-eligible players for another crack at the playoffs. After agreeing to terms with Martin Prado and Jack Wilson on one-year deals, the team inked Eric O’Flaherty, Jair Jurrjens and Michael Bourn. The team also signed reliever Peter Moylan to a one-year, incentive-laden deal to avoid arbitration. Read more >

RECRUITING BUZZ: Plenty goes into being committed

Courtesy of Erin Sheppard

High School Feature Stories

RECRUITING BUZZ: Plenty goes into being committed

By Fletcher Proctor — January 27, 2012, 10:32 am

As much as we don’t like to admit it, stereotypes are based on a large sampling of repeated behavior by a certain group. One popular stereotype is that guys have a hard time committing, whether it is to plans on a Friday night with a lady friend, a marriage engagement or which sports bar they will watch the game at on Saturday.

Anyone upset with the generalization that some men just cannot commit need look no further than the recruiting drama playing out across the state of Georgia as we near National Signing Day this Wednesday. Desperate teams start flooding the cell phones of waffling recruits, courting them harder than ever before in the attempt to get a switched pledge and a letter of intent.

Read more >

GOODBYE, COACH: Paterno leaves a positive legacy despite negative ending

Courtesy of Mark Selders/Penn State Athletic Communications

College Sports

GOODBYE, COACH: Paterno leaves a positive legacy despite negative ending

By Stephen Black — January 26, 2012, 12:42 pm

What a shame.

The humble, bespectacled man who guided Penn State football almost flawlessly for 46 seasons is gone after being forced out of a University he made his own. Read more >

SCORE 44 HOOPS: Week 8

Courtesy of Walter Pinion

High School Feature Stories

SCORE 44 HOOPS: Week 8

By Fletcher Proctor — January 26, 2012, 9:04 am

The Score 44 is a fluid list that aims to honor the best 44 seniors in Georgia high school basketball on a week-to-week basis. The members of the 44 are some of the most highly-recruited and talented players in the state. The list will weigh high school performances, but also project how they will do at the next level. Unlike the football list, however, the basketball list is divided into boys and girls groups. Each week we will honor 22 boys and 22 girls, all seniors.

Boys

Shaq Goodwin, Southwest DeKalb, PF

Robert Carter, Shiloh, PF

Tony Parker, Miller Grove PF

Jordan Price, Southwest DeKalb, SG

Brandon Morris, Miller Grove, SF

Kenny Gaines, Whitefield Academy, PG

Read more >

WRESTLING NOTEBOOK: Pope wrestling rolling through Cobb

Courtesy of Charles Posey

High School Feature Stories

WRESTLING NOTEBOOK: Pope wrestling rolling through Cobb

By Fletcher Proctor and Stephen Black — January 25, 2012, 11:03 pm

Class 4A Duals champion Pope won an event for the second straight week, claiming the Cobb County Invitational. The win was the fifth straight Cobb County crown. Pope placed 14 wrestlers and won four individual classes en route to 294.5 points. Read more >

RECRUITING BUZZ: Walton’s McLeod racking up offers

Courtesy of Walter Pinion

High School: Walton

RECRUITING BUZZ: Walton’s McLeod racking up offers

By Fletcher Proctor — January 25, 2012, 3:34 pm

Walton advanced to the Class AAAAA state championship game in 2011 on the strength of an opportunistic defense, a powerful running game and a quarterback who quietly put together a strong junior year. Parker McLeod drew the eyes and ears of recruiting services after Louisville came through with an offer last June, but the 6-foot-3 signal-caller has been a hot commodity of late, racking up offers and accolades as he prepares for the spring practice before his senior year.

Boston College recently came forth with an offer and Oklahoma State has also offered the pro-style prospect. Alabama has also listed him as one of three quarterbacks head coach Nick Saban will target for National Signing Day 2013.

“It was really exciting,” said McLeod of getting the recent offer from Oklahoma State. Read more >