Basketball Class of 2013 100 to Watch
According to Maxpreps - Here is an early look at the best sophomores.
Deonte Burton, Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.):
Flashed some serious potential with Wisconsin-based club squad Terry Porter Elite last summer and played a big role off the bench for a Brewster program that featured six Division I-bound seniors during the winter.
Aquille Carr, Patterson (Baltimore, Md.):
It's going to be interesting to see how Carr is received by college programs as well as the various scouting and recruiting services. He has dominated the Baltimore high school school scene for the past two years and made waves on the travel circuit, but can the National Sophomore of the Year become a consensus blue-chipper at 5-foot-7?
Keith Frazier, Irving (Texas):
Playing in one of Texas' most competitive large-school districts, the 6-4 guard was among the Dallas area's top scorers at 21.5 points per game.
Aaron Gordon, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.):
Brother of New Mexico forward Drew Gordon, elevated his game in a big way as a sophomore to lift Mitty to Division II state title.
Aaron and Andrew Harrison, Fort Bend Travis (Richmond, Texas):
Aaron (13.5 points per game) was the scorer for the Tigers last season while Andrew (8.9 points and 5.0 assists per game) was the distributor. At 6-5, both possess plus size for the guard position and were dominant at times playing on the U17 level last summer for the Houston Defenders.
Kuran Iverson, Northwest Catholic (West Hartford, Conn.):
Just scratching the surface of his potential, lean forward Led Indians to Connecticut's Class L title game by averaging 15.6 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
Jabari Parker, Simeon (Chicago, Ill.):
Son of former pro Sonny Parker will be the focus of Chicago high school basketball over the next two seasons after leading Simeon to back-to-back state titles as a freshman and sophomore.
Julius Randle, Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas):
The 6-8 forward earned a spot on MaxPreps.com's Sophomore All-American Team after tallying over 24 points and 12 rebounds per game last season.
Chris Thomas, Westwind Prep Academy (Phoenix, Ariz.):
Developing a bit of a reputation as a vagabond, Westwind is his third stop in two years of high school. But the Denver native did average nearly 35 points per game during a 10-game run at Princeton Day Academy (Lanham, Md.) last season
Shin-Soo Choo And His Arresting Officer Combined For A Comedy Of Errors
Jack Dickey — Deadspin.com A great article from an excellent site!!!!
Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo was arrested early Monday morning on DUI charges, the second such Indian and sixth MLB player this year. People smarter and more serious than we, like ESPN's Keith Law, have noticed and called out the trend—Law tweeted, "I'm so glad MLB is directing its time and money into developing a test for an ineffective PED rather than addressing its DUI epidemic."
There's not a lot to laugh about with DUI, especially since MLB has long had a drinking and driving problem, involving its players and its managers. But the Choo story, which will vanish from our minds just like Derek Lowe's arrest did (see "Braves' Lowe bounces back from arrest and first inning") has its fair share of whimsical incompetence. (And Choo is in tonight's starting lineup against Oakland, so the Indians can't possibly care that much, either.)
According to the police report, Choo was arrested at 2:38 a.m. Monday in the 5500 block of Lake Road in Sheffield Lake. Choo had originally asked a police officer for directions to Avon Lake. The officer, who said he did not detect any odor of alcohol on Choo, gave the Indians outfielder directions, and followed him.
Choo, driving a white Cadillac SUV, eventually pulled off the road and turned on his hazard lights. The officer again gave Choo directions and again followed Choo, who began to drive erratically.
According to the police report, the officer "observed the vehicle cross the white fog line and drive onto the bike path. The vehicle then crossed back over into his lane of traffic and then drove over the double yellow lines again."
The officer then pulled Choo over a second time. Choo told the officer he was unable to get his GPS working, and the police report states that it was then that the officer noticed a smell of alcohol on Choo, and that the player's eyes were bloodshot.
Emailer Samina notes that Choo was stopped about five feet from the town he needed directions to. And, if Choo was coming from Cleveland, he also would have driven through the town. That's a little silly.
We wonder, then: How is it that a man could get so drunk in just a few minutes?
Indians' Choo charged with DUI
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Shin-Soo Choo spent Tuesday afternoon talking to each of his teammates, one by one, to express how sorry he is for his off-field arrest on suspicion of drunken driving and the embarrassment it caused.
The Indians outfielder was arrested Monday after a breathalyzer test showed he had a blood-alcohol level of .201 -- more than double Ohio's legal limit of .08.
"I don't want to make trouble on the team," Choo said in the dugout before the first-place Indians opened a three-game series against the Athletics. "Every person has to learn. I regret that this happened. ... I apologize."
After speaking to each player in the clubhouse, Choo also pulled the Indians into a tight huddle near their dugout before the team began warmups and batting practice.
Choo, the sixth major league player to be cited on a drunken driving charge this year, was arrested by police in Sheffield Lake, Ohio, after he failed a field sobriety test. An officer following Choo's white Cadillac SUV said he was driving erratically before he was stopped.
"I talked to him. He's human, just like every one of us," Indians manager Manny Acta said. "He made a mistake. We all make mistakes. The main thing is he's learning from it. He's very remorseful. He's a guy I'm not going to look at any differently because of that. He's a great kid, very high character and we're moving on."
Choo on Tuesday also formally apologized to fans, the team, the club and his family "for the attention stemming from this matter."
"I am hopeful that this incident will not be a distraction to the Indians organization while we remain focused on continuing to play winning baseball," he said in a statement released by the Indians.
The 28-year-old South Korean traveled with the team and was in the starting lineup in right field and batting third against the A's. Cleveland began the week with the best record in the majors.
Third baseman Jack Hannahan said Choo's approach with his teammates was sincere and appreciated.
"He's a great guy and a great teammate," Hannahan said. "Choo's a big leader on this team. He's tough as nails. He's being a man about it and accepting it. It'd be easy to kind of hide and let it blow over. He's not letting it be a distraction. Now it's behind us, we're moving forward and we're not going to let it affect the team."
Acta doesn't expect Choo to have any issues with his teammates because "they know what he's about."
Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said the club spoke to Choo about the incident.
"The Indians organization takes these issues very seriously and we are disappointed in the matter," Antonetti said in a statement. "We will continue to monitor the situation and we will not have any further comment at this time."
According to police, a patrolman first spoke to Choo at 2:25 a.m. He told the officer he was lost and needed directions to Avon Lake. Choo was allowed to continue driving, but was later pulled over when he twice crossed the double-yellow lines and drifted into a bike path. He told the officer his GPS had broken and he was unable to get directions home.
Choo's eyes were bloodshot and he smelled of "an alcoholic beverage," police said,
and he was ordered out of the SUV.
Choo was unable to complete a heel-to-toe walking test, losing his balance and he failed two other sobriety tests, the report said. He was taken to the police station and was given the breathalyzer test. Choo was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence, having an excessive blood-alcohol level and a traffic violation.
He was released without bond and was driven home. While being escorted outside by an officer, Choo reportedly smashed his camera in the parking lot.
The case has been scheduled for Sheffield Lake Mayor's Court at 5 p.m. Thursday, according to David Graves, the city law director. Choo's attorney may enter a not guilty plea on his behalf without Choo present or may ask for a continuance, Graves said.
Acta said this is a bigger problem than just in baseball or professional sports.
"It's a society issue," the skipper said. "Everybody needs to be responsible for their own actions."
Arguably Cleveland's best all-around player, Choo joins teammate Austin Kearns, Seattle's Adam Kennedy, Detroit's Miguel Cabrera, Oakland's Coco Crisp and Atlanta's Derek Lowe as players arrested since Jan. 1 on suspicion of DUI.
One of the game's most underrated players, Choo batted .300 last season. He was the only AL player to hit .300 with at least 20 homers and 20 steals. He entered Tuesday's game batting .250 with four homers and 15 RBIs for the surprising Indians, who are 19-8 and lead the AL Central by 4 1/2 games.
Choo said he will do all he can to block out his mistake and stay focused on his job.
"It's OK. I'm good," he said. "This happened outside the team. I'm going to be the same guy."
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