Latest news with #GatoradePlayeroftheYear
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Nation's No. 1 Player Calls Out ‘False Narrative' After Miami Commitment
Class of 2026 five-star offensive tackle Jackson Cantwell is headed to Miami after committing to the Hurricanes over Georgia, Oregon and Ohio State on Tuesday. Cantwell (6-foot-7.5, 300 pounds) ranks as the nation's No. 1 player by both On3 and Rivals. He plays for Nixa (Missouri) High School, where he earned Gatorade Player of the Year honors in December. Advertisement The anticipation surrounding Cantwell's decision began to heat up in recent weeks, with the consensus belief, according to industry experts, that the elite tackle would end up at Georgia. Miami, however, wasn't counted out of the race. Head coach Mario Cristobal's Hurricanes reportedly offered Cantwell the most lucrative NIL package worth around $2 million, according to On3's Pete Nakos last week. "Sources have said that Miami has the most lucrative first-year deal on the table, sitting around the $2 million mark," Nakos wrote on May 7. After announcing his pledge to Miami, Cantwell spoke with reporters and called out the "false narrative" that money was a factor in his decision. Nixa High School offensive tackle and Miami Hurricanes commit Jackson Papes/Springfield News-Leader / USA TODAY NETWORK "Well, I think my response to it is that it's not the same narrative that people like Pete Nakos are pushing right now," Cantwell said via Dawgnation. "I think there's just a false narrative that that's why I'm choosing (Miami)." Advertisement Leading up to his commitment, Cantwell revealed that Miami was recruiting him the "hardest,"and the potential development he could receive under Cristobal and offensive line coach Alex Mirabal was a key factor. Cantwell doubled-down on that belief when sharing his insight on Tuesday. "I think relationships won out with Miami," he said. "That's what kind of did it for me. They spent the most time with me – they put the most effort into recruiting me." When pressed again on the NIL situation, Cantwell pushed back on the narrative that Miami went above and beyond with its offer and acknowledge that his agent Drew Rosenhaus has been responsible in negotiating for fair compensation from each of his top schools. Advertisement "I've got a lot of skin in the game with all these schools, as far as getting represented by Drew and making sure that I'm going to be fairly compensated," he said. "And I think that every school has done a good job with being accommodating to that, and I think that anyone that would say otherwise of how I've done my recruitment has been misled." Related: Georgia Projected To Land Elite Pair Of Playmakers After Jackson Cantwell Decision Related: Oregon Projected To Land Elite OT After Missing Out On Jackson Cantwell Related: Texas Trending For Projected $809k Star Over SEC Rival
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Fans in Awe of Latest Gesture From Caitlin Clark's High School
Fans in Awe of Latest Gesture From Caitlin Clark's High School originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Before becoming a WNBA All-Star and member of the Indiana Fever, Caitlin Clark was once a guard for the Dowling Catholic High School girls basketball team in West Des Moines, Iowa. Advertisement As a senior, she averaged 33.4 points and 8.0 rebounds per game and finished with a prep career total of 2,547 points. Clark, 23, also holds the Iowa high school basketball single-game record with 13 3-pointers made. Throughout her time in West Des Moines, she was named a two-time Gatorade Player of the Year and Iowa Miss Basketball. Now, the school is repaying the favor by having their entire team and staff attend the Fever vs. Connecticut Sun game on Friday at 7:30 p.m. ET. 'We're on our way!' read the school's post on X. 'We're excited to watch the Fever play the Sun tonight.' Following the announcement, Clark fans and members of the school's community on social media showed their appreciation. Advertisement 'Aw, this is so cute,' one posted. '[Caitlin Clark] high school staff and team on their way to watch the Fever.' 'Let's go Fever,' another commented. '@CaitlinClark22 see you soon.' 'Go Fever,' another wrote. 'And have the time of your lives.' 'Have an amazing time,' another fan wrote. 'Let's go Fever.' 'Have fun,' one commented. 'Fantastic,' another commented. Unfortunately, Clark cannot play in front of her former team. The Fever announced on Monday that she will be sidelined for at least two weeks with a quad strain. Indiana Fever guard Caitlin Clark.© Brett Davis-Imagn Images Without Clark, Indiana lost 83-77 on Wednesday to the Washington Mystics. Before the injury, she averaged 19.0 points and 9.3 assists in four games. Advertisement Related: Robert Griffin III Thinks Angel Reese Is Lying About Her Feelings on Caitlin Clark This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State
NFL Draft Summer Scouting Report: Sam Leavitt, QB, Arizona State Summer is here, and it is everyone's favorite time of the year, scouting time. Every year, we do Summer Scouting to preview college football for Bucs fans, but also give them an idea of names to follow and watch in the fall as needs pop up for Tampa Bay. Are we going to write about quarterbacks? You know it, but why? Because other NFL teams will draft them, just as they will draft every other position. It all matters whether these players end up on the Bucs, the Bears, or the Steelers. We write these so Bucs fans can be the most informed fans. So if you are still with us, enjoy our latest Summer Scouting report as we prepare you for the Fall. Player Information Player: Sam Leavitt School: Arizona State Height/Weight: 6-2/200 Player Background - 4-star recruit - High School Gatorade Player of the Year out of Oregon - Transferred from Michigan State - Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year in 2024 - Second Team All-Big 12 in 2024 Career Stats Heading into the 2025 Season - 17 career games - 3,024 passing yards - 26 passing touchdowns - 8 interceptions - 510 rushing yards - 5 rushing touchdowns Notable PFF Numbers Heading into the 2025 Season - 82.2 PFF Career Passing Grade - 14 Big Time Throws - 8 Turnover Worthy Plays - 9.5 Yard Average Depth of Target - 72.8% Adjusted Completion Percentage Player Traits - Top-tier arm strength - Mobility to evade pressure - Pocket presence and awareness - Throws wide receivers open and leads them - Bona fide playmaker at the position Player Summary Sam Leavitt was a lot of fun to watch in the College Football Playoff, and it had me excited to watch him heading into the Summer. When I watched him more closely, I was not disappointed. Leavitt has a big arm, flashes playmaking ability, and has the physical traits that teams will like. That being said, there are some tweaks and growth he has to have, and will come, with more game experience this coming year. Leavitt has a lot of upside, but he also is a big projection at this point, so I am cautiously optimistic for his future.
USA Today
23-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year Ashlyn Koupal lists Nebraska in commitment pool
South Dakota Gatorade Player of the Year Ashlyn Koupal lists Nebraska in commitment pool The Nebraska Cornhuskers found themselves in the final five for one of the top 2026 recruits in women's basketball. South Dakota's Ashlyn Koupal revealed that she narrowed her commitment search to Nebraska along with Michigan State, TCU, Duke and Kansas, per 247Sports' Dushawn London. The five-star power forward is the No. 1 prospect in South Dakota and the 5th-best power forward in the nation for her recruiting class, per 247Sports' Composite rankings. She also received the 2024-2025 South Dakota Girls Basketball Gatorade Player of the Year award following a stellar junior season. The Wagner, South Dakota native led Wagner High School to the Class A state tournament quarterfinals, averaging 22.2 points, 10.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists through 22 games. Koupal is a two-time All-State selection and stands at 6 feet, 3 inches. Her dual-threat ability allows her to strike from inside the paint and beyond the arc. Contact/Follow us @CornhuskersWire on X (formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Nebraska news, notes, and opinions.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Hugh Freeze Sends Strong Message on Oklahoma Transfer Jackson Arnold
In an interview with The Next Round Live, Auburn Tigers head coach Hugh Freeze outlined the blueprint for transfer quarterback Jackson Arnold's success in Year 1 with the Tigers. Signing with the Oklahoma Sooners as a five-star and the No. 8 player in the 2023 class, according to 247Sports' rankings, Arnold had a rather lackluster year in his first year at the helm of the Sooners' offense as he was benched just four games in – ahead of the Sooners' matchup with Auburn – for freshman Michael Hawkins. Jr. Advertisement As one of the first coaches to reach out to Arnold when entering the transfer portal this spring, Freeze has expressed that Arnold is the Tigers' number one guy and says that regaining some of the confidence and swagger that made him a 2022 National Gatorade Player of the Year out of Guyer High School in Texas is just what he needs to get back to that level in 2025. Auburn Tigers quarterback Jackson Arnold (11).Jake Crandall/ Advertiser / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 'I think the whole deal is confidence. I think if he can regain some of that swagger and confidence that a Gatorade Player of the Year has, he's got all the tools… this spring I witnessed that,' Freeze said in the interview. After an up-and-down season with the Sooners last year in an offense that was hampered by injuries, especially in the wide receiver room, Arnold is now working with an uber-talented group of pass catchers. The unit includes two of the top receivers in the country, and Freeze believes they helped him build confidence throughout the spring. Advertisement 'I think a lot of that has to do with the receivers around him. He now has great confidence that, 'Man if I throw a 50-50 ball in a one-on-one situation to (Eric) Singleton, Malcom (Simmons) Perry (Thompson), Horatio (Fields) or Cam (Coleman), I think that our guys have a good chance of succeeding,' said Freeze. After four straight losing seasons, Auburn must improve in Year 3 under Freeze's tutelage, and its success may rest in the hands of Arnold under center. Related: Hugh Freeze Takes Clear Stance on Being on Hot Seat Ahead of 2025
