Preps.com Finest 25

by Karlo Zovko

Posted December 3, 2013 9:03 pm

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DravonHenry

 

Preps.com decided to put their own spin on the “Fab 22” with the “Finest 25.”  Enjoy.

 

Dravon Henry (Aliquippa):  The top prospect in the WPIAL this year, Henry made history with Terry Swanson as they both rushed for 4,000 career yards.  His recruitment is down to Pitt and WVU.  He will be deciding Monday.

Shai Mckenzie (Wash High): Shai’s season was cut short with a torn ACL after 2.5 games.  He still put up over 600 rushing yards and was clearly the top rusher in the WPIAL before injury.

Clintell Gillaspie (Monnesen):  Clintell led the WPIAL in total touchdowns and dominated in every aspect of the game this year.  He put on his best performance when he went to Clairton when they were riding a 63 game win streak.  He had over 260 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs to break the most historic streak in WPIAL history.

Jordan Whitehead (Central Valley): Whitehead is the top cover corner in the state in 2015.  OSU, Pitt, Rutgers, and others have offered, he looks to trim his list soon.

PJ Fulmore (North Catholic):  Fulmore was injured most of the regular season, but he made up for it by winning a WPIAL Championship.

Delvon Randall (Gateway):  Randall led Gateway to an 8-3 season, where they had the WPIAL Champions against the ropes.  He’s a talented athlete heading to Temple next year.

Montae Nicholson (Gateway):  Montae has the speed, size, strength, and athleticism to be a special college player.  It’s rumored Pitt is the leader, we’ll see how his recruitment ends.

Malik Hooker (New Castle):  The best athlete in the WPIAL, Hooker will go on to play safety at Ohio State.

Lenny Williams (Sto-Rox): Williams is the most prolific passer in WPIAL history.  Though he came up short at Heinz 3 times, he will still go down in WPIAL history.  Lenny is now taking his talents to Temple.

Niko Thorpe (Central Catholic): Thorpe needed a strong senior campaign to gain more college attention and he had one and then some.  Thorpe is the heart of the #1 defense in the state and best WPIAL defense since 1997.  Look for Thorpe to get some late scholarships.

Luigi Lista Brinza (Central Catholic):  Luigi was the leading rusher in Central’s run-heavy offense that looks to be Hershey bound.  His recruitment is somewhat slow as of now, but look for him to go 1-AA or D2.

Jim Wheeler (West Mifflin):  Wheeler fell a few yards shy of Rushel Shell’s WPIAL record for yards in a season.  If he had 1 more playoff game he probably would have broken it.

Terry Swanson (Aliquippa):  Swanson was part of the first tandem with Dravon Henry to have two players in a graduating class rush for 4,000 yards.  Swanson was a huge reason the Quips have been down Heinz 5 years in a row.
Chase Winovich (Thomas Jefferson): Winovich did it all for the Jaguars.  Though they came up short against Central Valley, TJ showed they’re back trying to be atop the AAA Mountain.

Brett Brumbaugh (South Fayette): Only a junior, Brumbaugh led the South Fayette offense to upset the heavily favored Aliquippa Quips.  Already with two offers, Brumbaugh looks to be a blue-chipper next year.

Alex Bookser (Mt. Lebanon):  Bookser was one of the most dominant linemen in the WPIAL this year.  Though the record wasn’t where Mt. Lebanon wanted it, Bookser still put together a great year.

Mike Grimm (Bethel Park): Grimm was probably the most dominant lineman in the WPIAL this year.  He has a bright future at Pitt.

Nico Law (Ringgold): Law put together 1,000 yards rushing and passing this year in the regular season.  That is a feat itself.  I’m sure we’ll be hearing his name come up in recruitment next year as a top WPIAL recruit.

Tory Delmonico (West Allegheny): Delmonico led West A to a repeat.  He has offers from Army, Navy, and Toledo and looks to pick up more offers.

Jaleel Fields (Aliquippa):  Fields was dominant this year for Aliquippa.  His recruitment is down to Purdue, Cincy, and WVU.  Wherever he lands, they’ll have a great player.

Tre Tipton (Apollo Ridge):  Tipton is arguably the best playmaker in the class of 2015.  He has no offers as of now but that should change very soon.

Aaron Matthews (Clairton):  Matthews put together a crazy sophomore campaign and looks to be Clairton’s next blue-chipper.  Look for his recruitment to really heat up by time his senior year rolls around.

Nate Stone (Greensburgh Central Catholic):  Stone was the heart and soul for Greensburgh Central.  He’ll take his talents to Duquesne next year.

Harry Randall (Woodland Hills):  Randall was the key to the Woody High’s offense.  He is one of the best competitors in the state.  His recruitment is looking to come down to WVU or Georgia Tech.

Luke Smorey (Baldwin):  Over 1,000 yards and 15 receiving TDs, Smorey is quietly one of the WPIAL’s top playmakers.  Add in 5 INTS (one of which he returned for a TD), and you see why he was a top WPIAL player this year.  He will probably throw javelin in college as he is nationally ranked in that.


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Preps.com Finest 25

by Karlo Zovko

Posted 9:03 pm

, , , , ,

DravonHenry

 

Preps.com decided to put their own spin on the “Fab 22” with the “Finest 25.”  Enjoy.

 

Dravon Henry (Aliquippa):  The top prospect in the WPIAL this year, Henry made history with Terry Swanson as they both rushed for 4,000 career yards.  His recruitment is down to Pitt and WVU.  He will be deciding Monday.

Shai Mckenzie (Wash High): Shai’s season was cut short with a torn ACL after 2.5 games.  He still put up over 600 rushing yards and was clearly the top rusher in the WPIAL before injury.

Clintell Gillaspie (Monnesen):  Clintell led the WPIAL in total touchdowns and dominated in every aspect of the game this year.  He put on his best performance when he went to Clairton when they were riding a 63 game win streak.  He had over 260 all-purpose yards and 3 TDs to break the most historic streak in WPIAL history.

Jordan Whitehead (Central Valley): Whitehead is the top cover corner in the state in 2015.  OSU, Pitt, Rutgers, and others have offered, he looks to trim his list soon.

PJ Fulmore (North Catholic):  Fulmore was injured most of the regular season, but he made up for it by winning a WPIAL Championship.

Delvon Randall (Gateway):  Randall led Gateway to an 8-3 season, where they had the WPIAL Champions against the ropes.  He’s a talented athlete heading to Temple next year.

Montae Nicholson (Gateway):  Montae has the speed, size, strength, and athleticism to be a special college player.  It’s rumored Pitt is the leader, we’ll see how his recruitment ends.

Malik Hooker (New Castle):  The best athlete in the WPIAL, Hooker will go on to play safety at Ohio State.

Lenny Williams (Sto-Rox): Williams is the most prolific passer in WPIAL history.  Though he came up short at Heinz 3 times, he will still go down in WPIAL history.  Lenny is now taking his talents to Temple.

Niko Thorpe (Central Catholic): Thorpe needed a strong senior campaign to gain more college attention and he had one and then some.  Thorpe is the heart of the #1 defense in the state and best WPIAL defense since 1997.  Look for Thorpe to get some late scholarships.

Luigi Lista Brinza (Central Catholic):  Luigi was the leading rusher in Central’s run-heavy offense that looks to be Hershey bound.  His recruitment is somewhat slow as of now, but look for him to go 1-AA or D2.

Jim Wheeler (West Mifflin):  Wheeler fell a few yards shy of Rushel Shell’s WPIAL record for yards in a season.  If he had 1 more playoff game he probably would have broken it.

Terry Swanson (Aliquippa):  Swanson was part of the first tandem with Dravon Henry to have two players in a graduating class rush for 4,000 yards.  Swanson was a huge reason the Quips have been down Heinz 5 years in a row.
Chase Winovich (Thomas Jefferson): Winovich did it all for the Jaguars.  Though they came up short against Central Valley, TJ showed they’re back trying to be atop the AAA Mountain.

Brett Brumbaugh (South Fayette): Only a junior, Brumbaugh led the South Fayette offense to upset the heavily favored Aliquippa Quips.  Already with two offers, Brumbaugh looks to be a blue-chipper next year.

Alex Bookser (Mt. Lebanon):  Bookser was one of the most dominant linemen in the WPIAL this year.  Though the record wasn’t where Mt. Lebanon wanted it, Bookser still put together a great year.

Mike Grimm (Bethel Park): Grimm was probably the most dominant lineman in the WPIAL this year.  He has a bright future at Pitt.

Nico Law (Ringgold): Law put together 1,000 yards rushing and passing this year in the regular season.  That is a feat itself.  I’m sure we’ll be hearing his name come up in recruitment next year as a top WPIAL recruit.

Tory Delmonico (West Allegheny): Delmonico led West A to a repeat.  He has offers from Army, Navy, and Toledo and looks to pick up more offers.

Jaleel Fields (Aliquippa):  Fields was dominant this year for Aliquippa.  His recruitment is down to Purdue, Cincy, and WVU.  Wherever he lands, they’ll have a great player.

Tre Tipton (Apollo Ridge):  Tipton is arguably the best playmaker in the class of 2015.  He has no offers as of now but that should change very soon.

Aaron Matthews (Clairton):  Matthews put together a crazy sophomore campaign and looks to be Clairton’s next blue-chipper.  Look for his recruitment to really heat up by time his senior year rolls around.

Nate Stone (Greensburgh Central Catholic):  Stone was the heart and soul for Greensburgh Central.  He’ll take his talents to Duquesne next year.

Harry Randall (Woodland Hills):  Randall was the key to the Woody High’s offense.  He is one of the best competitors in the state.  His recruitment is looking to come down to WVU or Georgia Tech.

Luke Smorey (Baldwin):  Over 1,000 yards and 15 receiving TDs, Smorey is quietly one of the WPIAL’s top playmakers.  Add in 5 INTS (one of which he returned for a TD), and you see why he was a top WPIAL player this year.  He will probably throw javelin in college as he is nationally ranked in that.


Read more recruiting articles by Karlo Zovko


Follow Karlo Zovko on Twitter:  @Kzovko

Email Karlo Zovko:  zovkox@preps.com


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GIVE YOUR ANALYSIS: