Trojans piling up '09 recruits

National Signing Day is only 367 days away. National Signing Day 2009, that is.

It's never too early to start thinking about recruiting, and if you need proof, just ask Southern Cal football coach Pete Carroll. He already has commitments from five of Rivals' top 100 players for 2009, including the top player in the country: quarterback Matt Barkley of Santa Ana, Calif. He passed for 3,560 yards and 35 touchdowns last fall. He's also landed a top wide receiver, Randall Carroll of Los Angeles, who averaged 12 yards per carry and 20 receiving as a junior.

The list will change many times, but California, Texas, and Florida continue to be the most fertile grounds for producing the top prep football talent. California has 14 players on the list, Texas 13 and Florida 12. Ohio is fourth on the list with six players, while Pennsylvania and Alabama are tied for fifth with five players each.

Eleven of the top 100 players have already committed. In addition to Southern Cal's five commitments, Ohio State has two, while Michigan, UCLA, Alabama and Clemson all have one.

The Tigers' commit is offensive lineman J.K. Kay of Christ Church School in Greenville. He is 6-6, 275 pounds and is the No. 93-ranked player in the country. One other player from the Palmetto State is in the top 100: Chris Bonds, who checks in at No. 72. He's a defensive end from Richland Northeast. He is 6-4, 242 and missed most of the '07 season because of injuries. He has Auburn, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Michigan, Notre Dame, South Carolina and Tennessee as his top schools.

National Signing Day 2009 is Feb. 4.

Steed picks Furman

Pinewood Prep's Ryan Steed is a star in two sports, football and basketball, but football will be his specialty at the next level. He will sign a scholarship to play football for the Furman Paladins.

Steed was a force on offense and defense his senior season. He completed 44 of 115 passes for 672 yards and nine touchdowns. He carried 100 times for 755 yards and 11 TDs.

He intercepted four passes and returned two for scores. He had six touchdown returns wiped out by penalties.

Bouronich commits to CofC

Summerville's Aaron Bouronich has committed to play baseball for the College of Charleston.

The 6-3, 190-pound left-handed pitcher and first baseman batted .397 as a junior, collecting 27 hits in 68 at-bats. He had nine doubles, two homers and drove in 22 runs.

He was 1-2 on the mound with a 1.86 ERA. He allowed 18 hits in 26 1/3 innings, striking out 21 and walking 12.

Bazzle named coach

The S.C. Baseball Coaches Association has named its 2008 All-Star Game coaches, and Summerville's Burt Bazzle has been selected to coach the Class AAAA-A South team. He will be assisted by Battery Creek's Scott Rask.

The all-star games will be held the weekend of June 13-14 at Myrtle Beach (Coastal Carolina in Conway and Myrtle Beach's Pelican Field).

Tommy Williams of Batesburg-Leesville will coach the South Carolina Select team, which will play the North Carolina Select team. Williams will be assisted by Don Cribb of Marion and Jimmy Weatherford of Chesterfield.

The North AAAA-A coaches are Ben Waddle of Dorman and Vic Lollis of Ware Shoals.

The North AAA-AA coaches are Ashley Burnett of Gilbert and Lee Atkinson of Clinton.

The South AAA-AA coaches are Mitch Leard of Central Pageland and David Byrd of Cheraw.

Reach Philip M. Bowman at pbowman@postandcourier.com or 937-5592.

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