Cannon star Eddie signs with Virginia Tech

Concord Cannon boys basketball player Jarell Eddie signed with Virginia Tech Wednesday at school.

Eddie, a 6-foot-7 small forward, is ranked No. 15 nationally at his position by scout.com.

Eddie has been a member of Cannon’s varsity boys’ basketball team since eighth grade. As a junior, he averaged 25 points and 8 rebounds per game while leading Cannon’s Cougars to a co-championship in its first year in the Charlotte Independent Schools Athletic Association (CISAA). During his four years of varsity competition, Cannon compiled an overall record of 106-24 on its way to a 2005-06 North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association (NCISAA) 2A State Championship, semifinal appearances in the 2006-07 and 2007-08 NCISAA 3A State Tournaments, and a quarterfinal appearance in the 2008-09 NCISAA 3A State Tournament.

Eddie has been named First Team All-State for two consecutive years.

Soggy football fields might be unplayable Friday

This week's heavy rain from Tropical Storm Ida is saturating area fields - and could affect Friday night's first-round football playoff games.


Olympic High has moved its first round football game to Ardrey Kell, which has artificial turf. Olympic postponed a third-round soccer match to Thursday night, when more rain is expected in the Charlotte area.


That soccer match, played on a wet field, could damage the turf less than 24 hours before the football game.

Olympic's football team will play North Mecklenburg Friday night at 7:30, now at Ardrey Kell.


Several athletics directors, who were out of school Wednesday, said their fields were very wet Tuesday - before an all-night rain hit Charlotte.


Independence athletics director Kelly Lewis said his sidelines were under water after school Tuesday.


"My problem is all the water from school drains down there," he said. "I won't know until I get back (Thursday) to look at it. (Tuesday) there was no water on the field. Wind and sun do a lot of good. But we're not getting much sun."


Lewis said if it rains Thursday, as expected, "it could put a damper on things."


Last season, heavy rains forced postponement of three Mecklenburg County first-round games involving Independence, Garinger and Charlotte Catholic. Those games were played on Saturday.

- Langston Wertz Jr.

Rain forces postponement of boys' soccer games

Heavy rain from Tropical Storm Ida pelted the Charlotte region Tuesday night and Wednesday morning, forcing postponement of Wednesday's third-round soccer games:


Here's a rundown of area games:


Ardrey Kell (16-3-2) at Greensboro Page (18-0-2), Thursday, 6 p.m.


Greensboro Grimsley (17-4-1) at Myers Park (15-2-3), Thursday, 6 p.m.: The Mustangs are investigating the possibility of moving the game to Queens University's soccer facility on Tyvola Road. The field has artificial turf.


Asheville Reynolds (19-3-1) vs. Olympic (18-4-2) at Ardrey Kell, Thursday, 6 p.m.


Skyland Roberson (22-1-1) at North Meck (17-4-2), Thursday, 6 p.m.


Concord (14-7-1) at Marvin Ridge (18-2-1), Thursday, 6 p.m.


Charlotte Catholic (20-1-3) at Concord Robinson (20-2-1), Thursday, 6 p.m.


There is a 30 percent chance of rain Thursday in the Charlotte area, according to the National Weather Service and a 20 percent chance Friday.

NCHSAA's Adams receives order of the pine

Charlie Adams, long-time executive director of the North
Carolina High School Athletic Association, has received the prestigious
Order of the Long Leaf Pine from North Carolina governor Beverly Perdue.

Order of the Long Leaf Pine is one of the highest honors the
governor can bestow on a North Carolina citizen. The award was created in
1965 and may be presented to residents in recognition of a proven record of
service or some other special achievement. The recipient receives a
certificate and the privilege of proposing, at any time, the North Carolina
Toast, which begins,"Here's to the land of the long leaf pine...."

Adams was presented his award on behalf of the governor by
Representative Verla Insko of the North Carolina General Assembly at a
dinner that Adams was attending in honor of Ray Fredrick and the Bouncing
Bulldogs rope skipping demonstration team in Durham, so it came as a
complete surprise.

"I was shocked but certainly very honored to receive this
award," said Adams. "I am very proud to be a North Carolinian and to be able
to serve in my state, so it makes this recognition very special. I thank
Governor Purdue, Representative Insko and all of those who were involved
with this. It was a tremendous surprise."

The Order of the Long Leaf Pine actually confers the rank of
"Ambassador Extraordinaire" for the state on the recipient.

Two new CMS high schools get official names

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education approved at its Nov. 10 meeting the names of two new high schools scheduled to open for the 2010-2011 school year.

Each school established a school naming advisory committee made up of students, parents, staff and community members who developed a list of names with special meaning to the area. Recommendations were made based on the school’s geographic location, historical significance to the area or for a deceased individual who has special meaning to the area or school district.

The two high schools were named:

William Amos Hough High School (temporarily called Bailey Road High), located at 12420 Bailey Road, Cornelius, N.C., 28031, was named after the former principal of North Mecklenburg High who led the school from 1955 until 1974. This new school will relieve overcrowding at Hopewell and North Mecklenburg high schools. Dr. Terri Cockerham was named principal of the school in June 2009.

Rocky River High School (temporarily called Mint Hill High School), located at 10505 Clear Creek Commerce Drive, Mint Hill, N.C., 28227, was named after the waterway that runs through the school’s boundary. The school plans to create an environmental program to learn more about the river’s environmentally protected area. This school will relieve overcrowding at Butler, East Mecklenburg and Independence high schools. Mark Nixon was named principal of the school in June 2009.

Both high schools were funded from the 2007 bonds and will have 100 classrooms each. The 2010-2011 school year begins on Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010

The schools sports nicknames will be announced later.

All-Region Soccer teams

FIRST TEAM: Eduardo Alvarez, So., F, Greensboro Day Sch.; Wes Butler, Jr., F, Forsyth CD.; Jonathan Campbell, So., Def, Greensboro Day Sch.; Jonathan Grad, Jr., Midfield, Latin; Jordan Lessard, Sr., Midfield, Wesleyan; Marko Mandalinic, Sr., GK., Forsyth CD.; Will McGinnis, Sr., Midfield, Latin; Will O’Brien, Sr., Def., Latin; Keith Pittman, Sr., F, Covenant Day; Matt Sarett, Sr., Midfield, Cannon Sch.; Joel Teah, Jr., F, Greensboro Day Sch.

SECOND TEAM: Det Beal, Sr.,Midfield, Gaston Day Sch.; Richie Erb, Sr., Def, Providence Day Sch.; Dillon Freer, Sr., Midfield, Cannon Sch.; Michael Grace, Jr., Midfield, Latin; Partick Howell, Sr., F, Greensboro Day Sch.; John Kendall, So., Midfield, Charlotte Country Day Sch.; Ulises Luna, Jr., Midfield, United Faith; Manuel Martinez, Jr., Def., Wesleyan; Zach Rossitch, Sr., Def.,Cannon Sch.; Sloan Tucker, Sr. Def, Westchester Country Day Sch.; John Varol, Sr., F, Covenant Day Sch.

Coaches of the Year: Jeff Walters, 1-A Private, United Faith Christian Academy; Adam Schwartz, 2-A Private, Westchester Country Day; Taylor Johnson, 3-A Private, Greensboro Day School

Ardrey Kell postpones third round soccer

Please note that due to inclement weather, Ardrey Kell's third round soccer match at Greensboro Page has been postponed. Scheduled for Tuesday, the match will now be played Thursday at Page at 6:30 p.m.

Rosters named for Oasis All-Star Shrine Classic

Rosters were released for the Oasis All-Star Shrine Classic, a football all-star game for private and independent schools.

North Carolina will play South Carolina at 1 p.m. Nov. 27 at Charlotte Latin.

SouthLake Christian's Rich Landis will coach North Carolina, with SouthLake assistants Adam Mumpower, Chad Grier and Caleb Brown.

- Cliff Mehrtens

The N.C. roster:

NAME SCHOOL POSITION HT/WT JERSEY #
AUSTIN, DAVIS CHARLOTTE LATIN WR/DB 6'5/195 25
BIRD,SHANE RAVENSCROFT WR/DB 6'1/180 28
BRANDT,FOREST ST. DAVIDS QB/DB/K 6'3/210 10
BRYANT,RESHAWN HARRELLS OL/DL 6'1/285 68
BROWN,KELBY CHAR. CHRISTIAN RB/LB 6'2/215 40
BROWN,MONROE RAVENSCROFT OL/DL 6'2/260 78
CARBONE,CHASE CHARLOTTE LATIN RB/LB 6'2/210 32
CASEY,DAN WESTMINSTER CATAWBA QB/DB 6'2/185 12
CROSBY,TRAVIS VICTORY WR/DB 5'11/180 3
CUMMINGS,LEN CHAR COUNTRY DAY OL/DL 6'1/230 60
DELUCA,LEN CHAR COUNTRY DAY RB/DB 5'11/160 5
DOBY, MICHAEL NORTHSIDE OL/DL 6'0/220 77
DUNN,TYLER HICKORY GROVE OL/DL 6'1/245 75
DUNAWAY, CONNER CHAR COUNTRY DAY RB/LB 6'0/180 24
DURHAM, DAVID CHAR. CHRISTIAN RB/LB 6'3/225 45
FERKOL, DREW PROVIDENCE DAY OL/DL 6'3/275 76
HARRIS, MIKE VICTORY OL/DL 6'0/200 72
KINCAID, JOHN CHAR. CHRISTIAN QB/DB 6'0/175 13
LAGUERRE, DIJON TRINITY OL/DL 6'0/225 92
LEWIS, JOSH HICKORY GROVE RB/DB 5'8/170 2
MILLER, AINSLEY FIRST ASSEMBLY OL/DL 6'4/275 70
MOORE,BRODRIQUE W'MINSTER CATAWBA RB/DB 5'11/185 20
MOORE,TONY FIRST ASSEMBLY RB/DB 5'10/175 9
PASCAL, PAUL CHARLOTTE LATIN RB/DB 6'1/190 6
POLLOCK, GARRISON FORSYTH CO. DAY OL/DL 6'1/235 63
REYNOLDS, AARON TRINITY OL/DL 6'0/260 71
ROBERTS, NATHAN HICKORY GROVE OL/DL 6'2/265 65
SIEBELS, CHRIS HARRELLS OL/LB/K 5'11/175 67
SINK, NICK FORSYTH COUNTRY DAY TE/DL 6'6/245 88
SMITH, GRAY HOBGOOD WR/DB 6'3/180 85
SPEARS, ALEX RAVENSCROFT RB/LB 6'0/190 33
STEADMAN, DAMIEN TRINITY QB/WR/DB 6'2/200 14
STEGALL, BRENDON FIRST ASSEMBLY WR/DB 6'0/180 7
TAYLOR, GEREMY NORTH RALEIGH RB/LB 6'2/235 35
WILLIAMS, LEE HARRELLS RB/DB 5'10/190 37
ZIMMERMAN, ALEX PROVIDENCE DAY TE/DL 6'4/200 84
------

The S.C. roster:

NAME SCHOOL POSITION HT/WT JERSEY #
BAIR, ETHAN DORCHESTER DL 5'11/210 43
BRADLEY, T. J. LAURENCE MANNING OL/DL 6'2/220 65
CARTER, JOEY BEN LIPPEN QB/DB 6'1/180 4
COLLINS, KENNAN DILLION CHRISTIAN OL/DL 6'2/245 79
CORBET, CHASE LAURENCE MANNING OL/LB 6'0/220 64
DAVIS, TREVOR DORCHESTER RB/OLB 5'11/195 41
DOWNEY, C. J. ST. JOHN'S CHURCH WR/DB 6'0/175 80
GANTT, MERRILL BEN LIPPEN OL/DL 5'11/220 70
GORT, ETHAN HILTON HEAD CHRIST. WR/OLB 6'7/210 82
GREEN, HARRISON (ROBERT) FIRST BAPTIST TE/LB 6'0/195 36
HEADLY, PARKER COLLETON PREP RB/OLB 5'9/155 24
HENNIE, ANDRE BEN LIPPEN RB/DB 6'1/175 6
JOHNSON, KYLE (ELLIS) DILLION CHRISTIAN DB 5'11/165 TBA
KAY, JORDAN HAMMOND OLB 5'11/190 31
KEIFFER, JOSH THOMAS HEYWARD OL/DL 6'1/220 66
MARSHALL, ALEX PORTER - GAUD OL/DL 6'1/240 73
MESCIA, DONNIE COLLETON PREP RB/LB 5'10/210 38
MORGAN, CHRIS PINEWOOD PREP RB/LB 6'0/190 30
RICHARDSON, MOSES PINEWOOD PREP RB/LB 5'9/180 34
ROWLAND, GALEN GIVENS PORTER- GAUD RB 5'10/170 90
SALLY, EVAN ORANGESBURG PREP DE/LB 6'3/190 88
SCHRIVER, JOE ORANGESBURG PREP OL/DL 6'3/205 69
SCHURLKNIGHT, LEE JAMES F. BYRNES QB/LB 6'1/200 22
SCOTT, DEONTE HILTON HEAD PREP WR/DB 5'10/170 8
SHARPE, CHRIS WILSON HALL WR/DB 6'4/190 7
SIMMONS, DAMIEN PINEWOOD PREP WR/DB 5'10/170 2
SINGLETON, URIAH NORTHWOOD RB/DB 6'0/175 5
SMITH, WALKER ORANGESBURG PREP RB/LB 5'11/185 10
SOJOURNER, WALKER HEATHWOOD HALL RB/LB 5'11/185 25
TINDAL, DONOVAN LAURENCE MANNING OL/DL 5'8/230 62
TURNER, COLE AUGUSTA CHRISTIAN RB/LB 6'2/180 21
TURNER, MOJE DILLION CHRISTIAN OL/DL 6'2/255 74
WALTERS, AARON HAMMOND WR/DB 6'0/170 1
WEST, HENRY PORTER - GAUD OL/DL 6'1/220 71
WHALEN, MAC HEATHWOOD HALL QB/DB 6'0/160 3
WHALEN, MORGAN HEATHWOOD HALL WR/OLB 6'2/180 23

Ineligible player costs football team playoff berth

CHAPEL HILL -- Terry Sanford High School of Fayetteville reported the use of an ineligible player in football to the North Carolina High School Athletic Association on Monday afternoon.

As a result, Terry Sanford will have to forfeit football games from the regular season and thus will be ineligible to participate in the state football playoffs.

Terry Sanford was scheduled to host Fayetteville Pine Forest in the opening round.

Since the playoff brackets are already set, by NCHSAA policy no other team will be moved into the brackets and Pine Forest will have a bye in the opening round.

-- Observer staff reports

Butler's Burdick committs to Summitt, Tennessee

Cierra Burdick, one of the nation's top ranked girls basketball players, committed to Tennessee Sunday morning.

Burdick, ranked among the nation's top 5 in the junior class, visited the school Saturday and attended Tenneesee's football game where the Vols beat Memphis 56-28. Burdick said she spent time with some of the school's players and felt really at home.

But when she walked into coach Pat Summitt's office for a post-visit meeting Sunday morning, she didn't plan to commit.

"I planned to go on and check out my other choice, South Carolina, and compare after that," Burdick said, "but they got me. They said all the right stuff -- and the numbers there don't lie."

In 35 years, Summitt is 1,005-193. Her teams have won 14 of 29 SEC championships and eight national titles.

Burdick, a 6-3 junior guard, thinks Summitt -- and her staff -- will fully develop her game. Burdick averaged 12.8 points, 11.1 rebounds, four blocks and 2.1 steals last year for Butler, which reached the N.C. 4A Western Regional championship, before losing to eventual state champ West Charlotte.

In the summer, she played for a 16-and-under USA Basketball national team that won a FIBA Americans U16 championship in Mexico City. In the Gold Medal game, when the U.S. beat Canada 103-52, Burdick had six points, a team-high seven rebounds, five assists and a team-high five steals.

As the 2009-10 season begins next week, she is North Carolina's top player, regardless of class. And she's excited to get her college decision out of the way.

"I just think coach Summitt can bring the best out of me," Burdick said. "I want to continue to get better and be the best on the next level and the level after that. I think they can bring out my full potential."

-- Langston Wertz Jr.