SportsForce is excited to share the announcement of La Costa Canyon and NC Starz Elite player Alex Pardieu’s commitment to Florida State to play Men’s Lacrosse.

Florida State Men’s Lacrosse shared the news in a press release:

La Costa Canyon senior midfielder Alex Pardieu will attend Florida State University in the fall.  LCC High School is located in Carlsbad, California.

The 5’10”, 165 pound Pardieu was a four year varsity letterman and as a junior, was named All-County and All-Conference in the highly competitive San Diego section.  Most recently, he was invited to play at the 2010 World Lacrosse Championships in Manchester, England on the U19 team.

“Alex can break down a defense and get his hands free for a shot or to get the offense moving”, said LCC Head Coach Dallas Hartley.  “He plays team defense on and off the ball and is great in transition”.  Added FSU Head Coach Bill Harkins, “We are excited to have Alex join the program”.

See Alex’s Full SportsForce Profile at: http://www.sportsforceonline.com/athletes/apardieu

SportsForce held its pre-season Baseball Prospect Video Combine two weeks ago at Westview High School in San Diego. The combine was a success with great weather and some great workouts. The combine was aimed at players specifically looking to play at the next level and was an ideal opportunity for for unsigned seniors or potential MLB draft selections, top juniors looking to get nationwide college exposure and for elite sophomores that want to get on the college recruiting map early.

Fourteen players from several different high schools and club teams from the area attended the combine. The schools represented at the event were: Torrey Pines, TriCity Christian, Westview, Mission Hills, Scripps Ranch, Hoover SouthWest High School (El Centro, CA), and Great Oak (Temecula, CA). A few players had very strong workouts on the day. Southwests High School junior pitcher, Gerardo Cortez, Jr. had a great day with his fastball averaging 84-86mph.

The following players also had impressive workouts at the SportsForce combine:

Jon Putnam – C -Mission Hills High School-2011

Corey Suzukawa – OF – Mission Hills High School-2010

Zack Zehner – OF – Torrey Pines High School-2012

Conner Wilson- 1B- Scripps Ranch High School-2011

Santiago Covarrubias -  LF – Hoover High School-2010

Sports Force will be holding another baseball prospect combine this June.  See below for a highlight video of the combine or visit the SportsForce baseball page.

Headlined by a quintet of players from the two-time state champion Oceanside Pirates, Brady Hoke announced a class of 27 recruits yesterday on National Signing Day.  The largest Aztecs recruiting class since 2005 is the latest sign of Hoke’s attempt to cleanse the program of its losing ways.

“All programs have a blueprint of what they want to be,” said Hoke at a Montezuma Mesa press conference (video below), “The biggest thing for us is to recruit guys who have character.  We want to recruit guys who come from winning programs.”

In that case, reaching out to John Carroll and Oceanside High is a natural start.  The six-time defending CIF champions and two-time state champs are coming off a 13-0 season.  The late addition of speedy cornerback/slotback Jerry Whittaker (who decommited from Arizona) to a group that already included linebacker Rene Siluano, cornerback King Holder, linebacker Jake Fely, and defensive lineman Kenneth Galea’i gives Hoke his first clear win in local recruiting.

Yes, the biggest fish in what might have been the best year for prep talent in San Diego history still left the pond.  There are no obvious superstars like Tony Jefferson, Ricky Seale or Thomas Molesi in Hoke’s class.  But you’ve got to start somewhere, and the class of 2010 for SDSU reflects months of hard work reconnecting with local prep coaches who had backed away in the Craft/Long era.

–See more San Diego Prep News at 619Sports.net

National Signing Day for college football marks the deadline in which the nation’s top talents must make their final decisions in regards to which prestigious college programs they will grant their services to. Possibly facing the toughest decision of their lives, these young men have wisely chosen to take it down to the wire in order to explore all of their college football options. The miscalculation of playing for the wrong coaches or system could cost them a chance to play in the NFL. Due to the significance of these decisions, we at SportsForce are honored to be heavily involved with the college recruiting goals of some of the country’s top student-athletes. Our unique relationship with student-athletes and their families allows us to assist in securing the proper college recruiting exposure for them, while ultimately seeking what is most beneficial to the student-athlete during the college sports recruiting process. So far this year we’ve had the pleasure of covering some of the nation’s most elite football players such as Dillon Baxter [USC], Brennan Clay [Oklahoma], Ricky Seale [Undecided] , Damien Williams [Arizona State] and Kenny Stills [Oklahoma] just to name a few. In a year where college football has been shaken up by a multitude of coaching changes, a little recruiting guidance could go a long way.

With four of the top ten players in the nation undecided on where they will play ball, many of the top college recruiters will be working overtime this year. Plenty of big names are still up for grabs; most recognized is the massive offensive tackle Seantrel Henderson (2), who many believe is the best player in the nation and is expected to head to either Ohio State or Florida. Surely the return of Florida head coach Urban Meyer doesn’t hurt the Gators chances of landing Henderson. Keenan Allen (5), who has been compared to NFL star Ed Reed, is suspected to be a Clemson Tiger on signing day. Owamagbe Odighizuwa (8) is expected to leave Oregon in order to attend The University of Nebraska, while top ranked running back Marcus Lattimore (10) currently looks as if he’ll be staying home in South Carolina and playing for the Gamecocks. Other Notable predictions are Outside Linebacker Christian Jones (20) to stay in Florida to play for the Seminoles and Wide Receiver Markeith Ambles (24) to USC.

Wednesday February 3^rd is when all the college football recruiting speculation and uncertainty will end, but the day should not expire without a few surprises. Anything is possible since this is the last chance for many teams to improve their rosters in order to make a run at next year’s championship game. National Signing Day TV specials should be airing on local channels all across the country, so don’t forget to tune in as some of the most prestigious college football programs fight to the very end for the nation’s top remaining talent.

[ x] – Committed college

(#) – National ranking based from Rivals.com

Maybe someday Brady Hoke will throw that proverbial “fence around the county” and get the top prospects in San Diego County to come to SDSU.  Before he builds that fence, though, Hoke will need to first interrupt the pipeline.

You know, the one Bob Stoops has built between San Diego and Norman, Oklahoma.

Stoops, looking to restore Oklahoma to national title contention in 2010, will do so with the help of a trio of San Diego talents.  All-time San Diego section receiving leader Kenny Stills and hard-hitting Eastlake star

Tony Jefferson both announced on Friday night that they will attend the University of Oklahoma next year, joining Scripps Ranch star Brennan Clay.  The threesome made their announcements at the KUSI Prep Pigskin Gala at the Hall of Champions.

Clay, who had committed months before to the Sooners, was thrilled to have his two talented Silver Pigskin finalists (Mission Bay’s Dillon Baxter won the trophy) join him in Norman:

Hear from all three of the newest Sooners after the jump:

Brennan Clay(full SportsForce profile here) was the first to commit to Oklahoma.  He joined 619 Sports immediately after the announcement of the Silver Pigskin award to talk about the honor of the evening and the process of luring Jefferson and Stills to join him in Norman:

Kenny Stills (full SportsForce profile here) had been heavily recruited by USC but wound up narrowing his choices to Florida, Michigan and Oklahoma.  In the end, Stills told 619 Sports the chance to team up with Jefferson and Clay, and to participate in the Sooners’ vaunted passing attack, was too much to pass up:

Tony Jefferson angered the Arroyo Seco when he first committed to UCLA, only to show up at the UCLA-USC game wearing Trojans garb.  After hearing the barbs from the Bruins, Jefferson withdrew his commitment to the Bruins and took a campus trip to Norman.  The rest was history, as he told 619 Sports:

With Jefferson in the secondary and Clay and Stills in the OU backfield, Boomer Sooner is picking up speed heading into 2010.

–Courtesy 619Sports.net

Part II: Questions 4-6

4. Does My Senior Year Really Matter?

Yes, yes and yes! While many student-athletes have “committed” to schools, there are plenty of scholarships up for grabs. Often athletes that have committed to colleges play their way OUT of a scholarship. Even if your dream school is done recruiting for the upcoming season, keep recruiting them. If there are changes in their signing class, you may have a chance to slide in. Senior film will make or break a scholarship offer.

5. What happens in September and how important is that month for recruiting?

September 1^st is the first day that a college can officially call a senior prospect on the phone. If you get a call at midnight on the first, then that school REALLY wants you! However don’t take it personally if you do not hear from a school immediately. Coaches all have different philosophies when it comes to the September phone call. However if September comes and goes and you have not heard from the recruiter, then it is time to drop that school because you are not part of their future plans. Don’t be shy on these calls. Write down questions that you may have for the coach. Ask him every question you can.

September also marks the beginning of official visits. Schools will begin setting weekend trips for the fall and winter. If the coach is not offering you an official visit, then he doesn’t love you as much as you thought.

6. How do I handle the pressure?

I remember standing on various sidelines watching prospects play in games. I watched how they played when the ball came in their direction, as well when they were not involved in the outcome. I studied how they spoke to teammates and coaches alike. However, nothing is more impressive than production and winning. Do not let a recruiter’s presence change they way you play or act. Recruiters can tell when an athlete is “pressing” to make a play. These coaches liked the way you played enough to come and watch in person. There is no pressure in that situation,  just another face in the crowd. Continue doing what got you this far. Work hard, play fast and ALWAYS show good sportsmanship.

Part I: Questions 1-3

1. Who is Really Recruiting Me?

It is very easy to become enamored with letters, e-mails and general correspondence with colleges, but DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE! It is crucial to understand who is really recruiting you. Schools that are truly interested will have established some sort of way to personally contact you. Have you spoken to the recruiter on the phone? (This is legal as long as he arranged for you to call him) If you went to camp, did you have a chance to speak with the head coach? Are you receiving handwritten notes from coaches regularly? Have you been explicitly told where you stand on their recruiting board? If the answer is “NO” to these questions, then you are not being actively recruited.

Most colleges send hundreds of automated letters and e-mails each week. These are meant to keep prospects warm. Do not take this reality check personally, but rather as another insight into the recruiter’s mind.  This brings us to question #2.

2. What should I do to make sure I am being recruited by the school that I want?

First, make sure that your top 5 schools have all of the necessary information to evaluate you: transcripts, film, contact information. Second, know who is in charge of recruiting your area or position, that person should know you and be able to contact you. Third, check recruiting websites to see who has committed to the school. Maybe they are not recruiting anyone at your position. Lastly, send updated film and information after your first few games during your senior year. Make a 10-clip highlight reel and attach two to three games afterward. Send this to your top 5 schools. This leads us to question #3.

3. Who should help me with the process?

The short answer…EVERYONE. But in reality, there are three figures that should be at the forefront of this decision. First, your head coach should have a clear idea about where you want to go and how he or she can help. The most helpful things he can do are talk to college coaches about your game, and ensure that you have an ample amount of game film. However, some coaches do not want to help as much as you’d like, or they do not believe in you. That is where your parents come in. Obviously, they know the game is important to you. They should know exactly what is on your mind regarding your athletic future. If your coach doesn’t provide film for you to give to college recruiters, beg Mom and Dad to film from the stands. (No extreme close-ups. Film the game. Provide coaches with your jersey color and number. They’ll figure the rest out.)

Lastly, the most important person in your athletic future is YOU! Do not leave it up to anyone else to decide where you will go and what you will play. Take charge of the recruiting process. Communicate to coaches and allow them every opportunity to evaluate your game. Take every opportunity to visit schools and be a part of the recruiting process. Most importantly, never lie about offers, commitments and your future. People will never forget how you handled your recruitment.

This past weekend, top soccer players from around the world from ages 8 to 14 met at the San Diego Polo Fields in Del Mar to compete in the 2009 Surf Cup.  As one of the top tournaments in the country, this year’s Surf Cup selected teams from all over the country to come play. These teams included the Concord Fire of Georgia, Eastside FC out of Washington, and the Texas Fire traveling in from Texas. Not only did the Surf Cup attract top teams from all of the US, but it also hosted teams from around the world including the Universidad Pumas of Mexico and the Calgary Blizzards from Canada.

Despite the stiff national and international competition, Southern California teams had quite the impressive showing, winning every single division except one.  The Dallas Texans proved to be too much for the San Diego Surf Blue in the Girls U12 division, taking the final 2-0.  For a complete list of the winners by division, click here.

Complete coverage of the weekend’s event can be found by visiting San Diego’s “go-to” site for local soccer news, XKSanDiego.com.  Complete with pictures of the event, recaps of each division, action shots of most of the players, and more,  XKSanDiego.com is your one stop shop for San Diego soccer news.

With youth division play out of the way, another wave of all-star soccer players are set to come to the valley this weekend.  Starting this Saturday, the U16-U19 divisions will feature top talent from around the world.  The incredible level of competition is guaranteed to draw top coaches from all over the country who will look to both further their relationships with players they’ve already been recruiting and to start relationships with the up and coming prospects.  Be sure to check back next week for a recap of the action.

Last week, SportsForce partnered with the College Baseball Exposure Camp in San Diego, CA. Players from around the country competed before a panel of distinguished NCAA coaches from colleges including Stanford, USC, Hawaii, UC Irvine, UNLV, and Cal State Dominguez Hills. Head coaches from established Division I programs Gonzaga, Santa Clara, and UC Berkeley were also in attendance. They spent time evaluating and coaching players on the drills and skills taught at the college level. SportsForce was there to film all the action and prepare a video package for each player.

Day one began with a comprehensive assessment and training regime. Players were separated into their positions and given one on one instruction on advanced college level techniques. Instruction covered every element of the game from hitting to basic fielding techniques. Fundamentals were the main focus of the morning, emphasized by Coach Barbara (University of the Pacific), Coach Nakama (Stanford), and Head Coach O’Brien (Santa Clara). Simple lessons, from these coaches, like staying low and catching groundballs out in front, can prove vital to a young player’s development and the opportunity was not taken lightly. Top prospects Sheldon Gabriels (Sophomore) and Wesley Wallace (Senior) showed off their defensive prowess and strong arms during the shortstop evaluations.

Read on for Day Two

SportsForce at the San Diego All-CIF Awards

SportsForce started the week at the San Diego All-CIF awards at the San Diego Hall of Champions, which honored top Spring athletes including some SportsForce alumni. The awards ceremony honored a series of SportsForce profiled athletes. Profiled SportsForce athletes who were honored included  the following baseball players, Noah Murray an infielder from Steele Canyon, Alex Murren of Romona, a standout outfielder and Dillion Haupt of MiraMesa who was named to the second All-CIF team for his performance as catcher this season.

Dillon Haupt – Baseball Recruiting Video from Sports Force on Vimeo.

Softball standouts Alex Miller of West Hills and Alysha Isaacson were named to first and second All-CIF teams respectively. Miller is an outfielder and Isaacson a left-handed pitcher. Catcher Bri Austin also of West Hills and outfielders Kaitlin McGinley, Valhalla Jr. and Katie Schumacher, Scripps Ranch Jr. were named to the All-CIF second team for softball as well. Girls Lacrosse stars and SportsForce alums Alanna Parker of Monte Vista Sr, who signed a scholarship to Davidson in the fall and Sammy Slattery  Carlsbad Sr. were named to the first All-CIF team.

Kaitlin McGinley – OF – Softball Skills Video – 2010 – San Diego Renegades from Sports Force on Vimeo.

Earlier this season SportsForce had the pleasure of filming the following CIF Players of the Year: Myles Muagututia, of Francis Park for Boys Volleyball, Zach Leslie, Point Loma for Boys Tennis, Bobby Braun of Coronado for Boys Lacrosse and Jackie Candelaria of the CIF Champion La Costa Canyon for Girls Lacrosse team.

Football Skills Camp in Orange County Features Top NFL players

Aside from catching up with our San Diego area athletes, SportsForce was in Orange County for the Sage Hill Football Skills Camp on Saturday. SportsForce was able to get some great footage on some talented high school football players as well as conduct in depth on field interviews with some NFL players. In attendance were Kirk Morrison – Oakland Raiders – LB, Kevin O’Connell - NE Patriots – QB, Freddie Kieaho – Ind. Colts – LB, Robert Ortiz – NE Patriots – WR  to name a few. We asked them about their transition from high school to college football, what the college recruiting process was like for them, what advice they have for high school athletes and more. Keep posted for a video interview to follow.

Boys Lax Players Head East for Nike Blue Chip Camp

SportsForce also finished working with some of the  top Lacrosse Players in San Diego who are on their way to the east coast for the Nike Blue Chip Lacrosse Camp.

Coming up this week SportsForce will be at the Baseball College Coaches Camp, and holding down the fort in the office testing out our soon to be launched site as well.

Stay Posted!