Green, Dunlap, Bowers picks for Rivals all-decade team

Rivals.com announced its all-decade football team for 2000-09, and South Carolina is well represented.

Fifty-two players were selected to the first and second teams, and the Palmetto State's selections included three second-team picks: Summerville wide receiver A.J. Green, Fort Dorchester defensive end Carlos Dunlap and Bamberg-Ehrhardt defensive end DaQuan Bowers.

Green caught 137 catches combined for his junior and senior seasons and was Rivals' No. 9 high school player in the country for 2008.

Dunlap didn't crack the Rivals 100 until the November of his senior season, but ended up as Rivals' No. 5 player nationally for 2007.

Bowers had 1,200 yards rushing his senior year and also recorded 97 tackles. He was the No. 2 player nationally in 2008, according to Rivals.

No Palmetto State player made the first team, but there is a player with South Carolina connections: Clemson star C.J. Spiller of Lake Butler (Fla.) Union County made the first team as a utility player. Spiller was the No. 8 prospect nationally in 2006, rushing for 5,511 yards in high school. The second team's notables include Tim Tebow, Reggie Bush, Darren McFadden, Percy Harvin, Ndamukong Suh, Terrelle Pryor and Taylor Mays.

Amon picked

Summerville sophomore Joe Amon is attending U.S. Soccer's Residency Program in Bradenton, Fla. After being scouted over the past two years, as a member of South Carolina United FC in the U.S. Development Academy, he was selected with other players all born in 1994 for a tryout for a few positions at U.S. Soccer's U.S. Residency Program.

Started in 1999, the U.S. Soccer Under-17 Residency Program has become a symbol of the organization's dedication to increasing the development opportunities for players and the success of the youth national teams. The U.S. players live on campus at the IMG Academy in Bradenton and train in the morning while attending Bradenton Preparatory Academy in the afternoon.

Nearly 250 players have been through the full-time Residency Program, and more than 80 of those players have moved on to Major League Soccer or pro leagues in Europe. Amon has had much experience, including the Bridge FA (2008-09) and S.C. United FC (2009-10). S.C. United FC director Clark Brisson has known Amon for much of his career.

"I have had the privilege of working with Joe at the Summerville micro clinics when he was 6 years old," Brisson said. "Joe has always been a winner and is one of the best readers of the game I have ever seen. He has an uncanny knack about anticipating the play before it happens. We have a lot of kids in our club receiving individual honors but this is the highest to date. In fact, I think this is the first player from South Carolina to be invited to the U.S. Soccer Residency Program."

Attention coaches

The Post and Courier will publish basketball statistical leaders on the Prep Zone page, which runs on Friday. Coaches are asked to provide their top players in scoring, rebounding, assists and steals. The deadline to submit statistics is at noon on Thursdays. Statistics can be e-mailed to pbowman@postandcourier.com or at 937-5592. The fax number is 937-5579.