JC standouts' goal: Impress recruiters
Coaches from more than 60 4-year schools check out talent
All-Star Game
Who: MACJC All-Stars, North vs. South
Where: Keenum Stadium, Booneville
When: 1 p.m. today
Need some more beef on that offensive line? Restocking the secondary? Looking for a linebacker with a dash of speed?
Hinds QB Terrance Matthews, No. 11, who hails from Beaumont, Texas, is one of numerous junior college players trying to impress four-year school recruiters today in the MACJC All-Star Game at Booneville.
For these reasons and more, senior college recruiters descended on Booneville this week for a three-day bazaar otherwise known as the MACJC All-Star Game.
"It's like one-stop shopping for community college players,'' said Itawamba CC coach Jeff Terrill, who will coach the North stars against the South in today's game (1 p.m.) at Keenum Stadium.
Coaches from upwards of 60 four-year schools were expected in Booneville for the event that began on Thursday.
The visiting coaches watch practices and conduct interviews. Transcripts and film are also made available. Players are measured for height and weight, the 40-yard dash and the vertical jump.
Quite a few of the state's top sophomores — Pearl River's Larry Kendrick, Northwest's Chris Herring, Jones County's Derrick Ducksworth, among them — bypassed this event, but for many others it's a very big deal.
"It's a great evaluation time,'' Terrill said. "Coaches come from everywhere for this thing, from all divisions. It's a tremendous opportunity for the players.''
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By Mike Christensen
mchristensen@clarionledger.com
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