Doin' BIG Things: Jahii Carson

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Who ever said that size matters? Well, don't tell that to Mesa High's, Jahii Carson (Jr.), who is currently playing for the Compton Magic on the AAU Circuit this summer. The 5'10", 170lb. prep star is making huge splashes in the recruiting world with his little frame. Originally committed to Oregon State, Carson opted out of the deal and is a free agent once again, opening talks back up to colleges across the nation who are on the prowl for an athlete like himself. The 4-star rated point guard currently holds his original offer from Oregon State, along with offers from Arizona State and California. Don't let the three offers deceive you, colleges are heavily recruiting him from the east coast to the west coast, including Midwest powerhouse, Kansas. Check out this nasty video of some of his highlights; it is one of many. Be ready for Carson to spring up in a few years at the collegiate level.

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UFC 113: Machida versus Shogun 2

It is going to be electric inside the Bell Centre in Montreal, Quebec tomorrow night for UFC 113!! Headlining the pay-per-view is the the rematch we've all been waiting for... Lyoto Machida (16-0) is putting his World Light Heavy Weight Championship on the line against Mauricio 'Shogun' Rua (18-4). Their last epic brawl came down to the judge's decision in which they awarded Machida the victory, but many critics were skeptical of the outcome and felt Shogun deserved the belt. With wins over Forrest Griffin, Mark Coleman, and Chuck Liddell on his resume, Shogun has proved to the world he deserves this spotlight and another chance at the title. He is the next man in line to face Machida, as Rashad Evans and Quinton 'Rampage' Jackson are still waiting on their fight to happen. The winner of that would go on to face the winner of Machida-Shogun 2 fight which is tomorrow night. This should be an exciting tussle that could go the distance. My prediction? Shogun, TKO, 2nd round.

With 11 matches on the official fight card, the main card had some good draws. Welterweight bout between Josh Koscheck and Paul Daley should draw some heads. Two very good fighters, some say Daley has the overall advantage. Lightweight division drew Sam Stout and Jeremy Stephens, Middleweight class has Patrick Cote and Alan Belcher.

But what a lot of viewers are waiting in anticipation for is the return of YouTube legend, Kimbo Slice, to the ring. He is stepping in to face fellow opponent on the Ultimate Fighter, Matt Mitrione, in the Heavyweight bout. Mitrione is known as a 'Meat Head' and Kimbo is ready to cook him up for the fans.

I'll be in DSM this weekend and would definitely like to watch this PPV event! If you haven't had the chance to watch the first match between Machida and Shogun, peep it before the rematch tomorrow. One of the best fights I've ever had the chance to watch (other than my boy Diego Sanchez when he beat the hell out of Clay Guida)! Comment box is working now so let's get some discussion going!

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All-NBA Team

The All-NBA Team was released this afternoon, and might I add, this year's squad could compete with any starting five lineup of all-time. Headlining the list is two-time league MVP LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers and defensive player of the year Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, as they were unanimous selections. Joining them is Dwayne Wade of the Miami Heat, Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder, and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers. Need I say anymore?

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The Rise of a Hybrid Athlete

Versatility can destroy an opposing defense by the different variations of attack on the offensive side of the ball. In today's world, versatile players are being referred to as 'hybrids', which is a combination of two or more different things aimed at achieving a particular objective or goal. From the hardwood on the basketball court to the trenches of a football field, these sort of players are springing up across the nation, but in rare forms. Cheshire Academy's, Eric Katenda (Jr.), is most-certainly a gem that colleges across the nation are starting to recruit and hunt down.

Standing tall at 6'9" and weighing in a little over 200 pounds, Katenda has a big frame for his age playing at the wing/power forward position. He is a very long athlete who can make open shots with ease and lockdown his opponents on defense. This past season with the Cats, Katenda put up an outstanding 28 points, 13 rebounds and 3 assists per game while finishing 16-8 and making it to the playoffs in the state of Connecticut. He is currently playing with the Albany City Rocks AAU squad who participated in the Boo Williams Invitational at the beginning of April, in which Recruit Empire was there to witness Katenda put up 22 points a contest against some of the best competition across the country.

Katenda is known to make a ton of positive plays to motivate his team each series on the court from being active on the glass and blocking shots, to scoring relentlessly from any range whether it be from under the glass, mid-range jumpers, or a three beyond the arc. He is capable of performing every task any coach would ever want from their players with the upmost energy and potential. This summer will allow Katenda to improve on the aspects of his game in which he feels he needs to work on, and according to him when asked about next season, the future star responded, "I need to work on pretty much everything. I am already trying to prepare myself for the next level." Is there such thing as a super-hybrid?

Preparing himself for the next level is a necessity that must occur sooner than later, for Katenda has already received Division-1 scholarship offers from Notre Dame, Siena, Stetson, and most-recently, the University of Iowa. Many sources have put Iowa as the leader in Katenda's college decision for the mere fact that newly hired coach Fran McCaffrey recently left Siena where he was originally recruited. But do not think Katenda is going to make a decision anytime soon. He is receiving high interest daily from schools across the country like Michigan, Colgate, Harvard, Georgia Tech, Georgetown, Boston College, West Virginia, Xavier and many more. With college visits lined up and coaches waiting in line to meet with him at home, Katenda is excited to wrap up his high school tenure next season and continue his playing career somewhere that will use his versatility against all adversaries who try to stop him.

www.recruitempire.com
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Favre's Future 'Up in the Air'

Sources from ESPN.com released breaking news this morning that Minnesota Vikings quarterback Brett Favre will in fact need ankle surgery in order to play next season. The 40-year old veteran has had his shares of bumps and bruises in the past, but not one injury has ever set him back from a start. He currently holds the record for most consecutive starts as a quarterback with 285 (309 including playoffs), and also holds nearly every major quarterback record in the books.

In an email to ESPN, Favre stated, "To play again, I would need the surgery, as I suspected. This decision would be easy if not for my teammates and the fans and the entire Vikings staff. One year truly felt like 10 -- much like Green Bay for many years. That's what I was missing in my heart I suppose, a sense of belonging.''


Stay tuned to the blog for further breaking news in the Favre saga and in the wide world of sports! There is much more to come including the NBA Playoffs, MLB's newest slugger, and a preview of Mayweather-Mosley fight tomorrow night!

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