Team NSAF preps for college! Pre-Early Signing Recruiting Update

by Steve Underwood


One of the gratifying things about the NSAF's Caribbean Scholastic Invitational is watching what the Team NSAF athletes are able to accomplish after they come home from Cuba -- not only the rest of the season, but during the rest of their prep careers and beyond. Team NSAF for this meet is most often comprised of high school juniors, plus a few from other classes, so we get to see how many of them progress as seniors as they prepare for the next level -- including making their college decisions.

Fourteen members of Team NSAF in Cuba were from the Class of 2018, and with less than two weeks remaining until early signing day (Nov. 8), many have either made verbal commitments or have at least made multiple visits and narrowed their choices.

Several Team NSAF athletes from the Iron Wood Throws Classic, who are now seniors, and those members of Project Javelin Gold and Project Triple Jump are also going through the recruiting process during their final prep campaigns. Accounting for athletes representing Team NSAF in more than one Project/Event, there are 21 seniors working on their future student-athletes plans.

So here is our Team NSAF Class of 2018 update, with updates to come after signing day that will also include some key returning NBN champions and All-Americans, and Team USA athletes connected with the NSAF.

These by-gender "lists" of the 21 boys and girls are alphabetical by first name, with NSAF Event(s)/Project, then school and T&F event(s) commitment/signing status, then finally notes on top accomplishments.


BOYS


Cameron Murray --- CSI Cuba

Westlake HS (GA), Jumps/Hurdles
Status: Committed to Tennessee, and plans to sign early.
Notes: Competed in 4x100 (3rd), LJ (9th) and 100 (4th, semi) in Cuba ... then was an outstanding runner-up in the NBNO long jump at 24-3.75 ... doubled 110H/LJ at 7A state meet.


Dalton Hengst --- CSI Cuba

McDonogh School (MD), Distances
Status: Plans to sign early and is deciding between Oregon, Boise State and Ole Miss.
Notes: Won 1,500 for Team NSAF in Cuba last spring ... 3-time NBN All-American ... Penn Relays mile champ ... XC season highlighted by GAXC Festival and Paul Short victories.


Eric Allen, Jr. --- CSI Cuba

Bullis School (MD), Sprints
Status: Plans to sign early and is considering Miami, Tennessee and Texas A&M (upcoming visit).
Notes: Ran 100 (8th, B-final) and 200 (4th, B-final) in Cuba ... injuries compromised outdoor season (10.51 100 PR was top mark), but had stellar 33.49 300, 21.33 200 indoors.


Eric Edwards, Jr. --- CSI Cuba

Langham Creek HS (TX), Hurdles
Status: Has committed to Oregon, plans to sign early.
Notes: Was 5th in NBNI 60H, then won 110H for Team NSAF in Cuba ... also NBNO runner-up, then USA Junior and Pan Am Junior champion ... his 13.32 PR was US#1 in '17 and is =#5 all-time.


Gavin Darcy --- Project Javelin, Iron Wood

Dunmore HS (PA), Javelin
Status: Has visited Penn State and Yale, and may schedule others, but is currently undecided as he continues his football season at Dunmore.
Notes: Runner-up at Iron Wood, then NBNO All-American, taking 3rd ... both meets over 207 feet, with 212-10 PR coming back in May ... won AA state title in PA.


Ian Delgado --- CSI Cuba

Green Hope HS (NC), Distances
Status: Has committed to Wake Forest, plans to sign early.
Notes: Was 8th at both 800, 1500 at CSI ... PRs of 1:52.20 800 ('16), 4:17 1,600 ... part of Green Hope 7:38.83 4x8 that was Penn runner-up in '16 ... helped GH to 2nd at GAXC '17.


Jacory Patterson --- CSI Cuba

Dreher HS (SC), Sprints/Long Jump
Status: Plans to sign early, with Virginia Tech, South Caroina and Clemson in the running.
Notes: At CSI, ran on both 3rd-place relays, plus 400 (1st B-final) and LJ (12th) ... great state meet included 46.98 400 win ... 24-2.5 LJ PR came in March.


Kyle Garland --- CSI Cuba, *Project Javelin

Germantown Academy (PA), Decathlon/Jumps/Hurdles
Status: Has committed to Georgia, plans to sign early.
Notes: Won NBNI pentathlon with Junior class record 4,150, then great outdoor season included CSI win, plus USA Jr and Pan Am Jr runner-up finishes (7,212 PR) ... PRs include 7-2 HJ, 23-2 LJ, 14.16 110H.


Roman Mitchell --- Project Javelin, CSI, Iron Wood

SE Raleigh HS (NC), Javelin
Status: Undecided, with plans to visit Oklahoma, Western Kentucky, North Carolina and possibly others. Will likely sign later.
Notes: Season with injury issues ended on very high note with PR 207-6 JavFest victory ... was previously 5th at CSI, 5th at Iron Wood, and 6th at NBNO (199-10).


Tyson Jones --- CSI Cuba

Desert Edge HS (AZ), Shot Put/Discus
Status: Has committed to Virginia Tech, plans to sign early.
Notes: Scored runner-up finishes at CSI in both discus and shot ... had mighty 67-6.5 shot PR to win D2 state ... also won Chandler Invite, 2nd at GSW ... 3rd in DT at state, 174-3 PR.


GIRLS

Allyson Weiss --- Project Triple Jump

East Lake HS (MN), Horizontal Jumps
Status: Plans to sign in the spring, with Virginia, Georgia Tech, Boston U., Stanford, Loyola U. (Chicago), Duke and the Naval Academy currently schools of interest.
Notes: Scored big MN 2A state TJ win (PR 40-1.25w) to end her junior year, unbeaten in state and defending title ... other career highlights include 3rd at Simplot and 8th at NBNI in '15.


Anna Marian Block --- CSI Cuba

Athens Academy (GA), Distances
Status: Has committed to Georgia, plans to sign early.
Notes: Was 6th overall in 800, 4th in 1500 at CSI ... set PRs of 2:10.36 for 800 and 4:46.67 for the mile (6th NBNO) in '16 ... has won 7 prep state titles.


Dana Baker --- Project Javelin, Iron Wood

Olathe North HS (KS), Javelin
Status: Has committed to Duke, plans to sign early.
Notes: Came to Iron Wood w/164-2 PR and took 2nd, followed by 3rd at NBNO ... joined Project during JavFest, which she won with PR 169-2 (2nd furthest in U.S. for '17).


Gianna Rao --- CSI Cuba

Ponaganset HS (RI), Hammer/Weight
Status: Plans to sign early, with Iowa, Penn State and Miami (upcoming visit) under consideration.
Notes: Threw weight 62-0.25 indoors (New England Champs), then was 2nd at NBNI ... 185-8 hammer PR, took 5th at CSI, then was 4th at NBNO ... unbeaten regular season in both events.


Kelcie Simmons --- CSI Cuba

Leonard HS (TX), Sprints
Status: Has committed to Duke (with twin sister), plans to sign early.
Notes: Won 100 (11.61) and was 3rd in 200 at CSI, plus ran on 3rd-place 4x100 ... 2nd in TX Relays and 3A state 100s ... has also long-jumped nearly 19 feet.


Lillian Hill --- Project Javelin, Iron Wood

North East HS (PA), Javelin
Status: Has visited Penn State, Air Force and Robert Morris (officials) so far, plus other unofficials, and may add to that list. May make early committment, or wait until later.
Notes: 2017 season highlights included 4th at AA state meet, 144-5 PR in May and nearly breaking it again during 143-6 effort at JavFest (4th) ... also 4th at Iron Wood.


Saudia James-Heard --- Project Triple Jump

Curtis HS (WA), Horizontal Jumps
Status: Plans to sign early, with Kansas among those schools under consideration.
Notes: Won 4A state TJ title as a frosh in '15, with 40-3.25 PR earlier in season ... two runner-up finishes since, with near-miss of PR in '17 at 40-1.75.


Shelby Moran --- Iron Wood

Sherwood HS (OR), Hammer/Throws
Status: Has committed to Arizona State, plans to sign early.
Notes: Set hammer PR with 177-11 victory at Iron Wood, then topped it again with 181-11 at USATF Juniors, taking 4th ... also 162-6 DT for 2nd at Iron Wood, not far off 170-6 PR.


Titiana Marsh --- Project Triple Jump

Thomas Dale HS (VA), Horizontal Jumps
Status: Has committed to Georgia, plans to sign early.
Notes: Joined Project TJ this summer after great junior year, including 2nd at NBNO and 4th at NBNI  ... set 43-5 PR in 6A state triumph ... also 2nd in NBNI LJ with 20-5 PR.


Veronica Fraley --- CSI Cuba

Wakefield HS (NC), 2018, Shot Put/Discus
Status: Has committed to Clemson, plans to sign early.
Notes: Threw a then-PR 157-2 DT for 7th at CSI, then crushed it at USATF JOs w/170-4 for 2nd and great end to summer ... has 47-9.25 shot PR.


Vivette Green --- CSI Cuba

Alexander HS (GA), Sprints
Status: Plans to commit next Wednesday and sign early. Purdue, Tennessee and Iowa (currently visiting) are under consideration.
Notes: At CSI, ran w/3rd-place 4x100, 8th in 100 final and 4th in 200 B-final ... 2nd in 200, 3rd in 100 (PR 11.66 prelim) at 6A state.

 

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