We’re gearing up for our annual football recruiting packages — Northwest Nuggets and Western 100 — and I’ve been laying the groundwork for those pieces by talking to some local players and coaches the past couple days. I wanted to pass along some timely recruiting tidbits and other football-related information:

GARNETT LEAVES PLAN UP TO TWIN SISTER
As Washington fans no doubt know, the Puyallup High offensive tackle is considering three schools: Stanford, Michigan and Notre Dame. Garnett said he won’t make a decision until after his official visit to Stanford on Jan. 14.

Garnett will play in the Under Armour All-American Game next week in Florida. He had planned to take an official visit to Miami after the game, but recently nixed that.

Garnett said he’ll make his announcement at the end of January at Puyallup High School. He’ll leave how his school of choice is revealed up to his twin sister, Rachel.

“My sister will be my planner,” he said. “She’s good at those kind of things.”
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For those going through high school football withdrawls, you might want to stop by the Tanoa Bowl on Saturday. The event brings together players from Washington, Oregon, Alaska and Utah.

Team Oregon will face Team Alaska at noon and Team Washington will play Team Utah at 4 p.m. Both games are at Auburn High School. Tickets are $10 and include both games. Children 10 and younger are admitted free of charge.

Here’s the Washington roster. You can find more information on the game here.

Lakes High’s Zach Banner has received many accolades for his play on the football field — he’s been honored as an all-league, all-state and all-America offensive tackle. Banner also does a lot in the community and the National Alliance of African American Athletes has taken notice.

The Alliance has named Banner as one of six finalists for its prestigious Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award, which honors the country’s top male high school scholar athlete.

Here’s the press release:

Los Angeles, CA (December 22, 2011) – On Saturday, February 18, 2012, at 6:00pm, The National Alliance of African American Athletes (The Alliance) will recognize another stellar group of high school athletes from across the nation for the Franklin D. Watkins Memorial Award. The award is presented each year to the nation’s top African American male high school scholar athlete.

The six finalists, in alphabetical order, are:

* Zach Banner, Tacoma, WA – Washington State Academic Achiever, Distinguished Scholar Award, Volunteer for Tacoma Sports Association, Middle School Mentor for 4 middle Schools, Ignite Mentor, US Army All American,1st Team USA Today, All State Football while maintaining a 3.5 GPA at Lakes High School.
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Tahoma High’s Stephen Hopkins and Orting High’s Drew Templeman were winners Friday night at the prestigious Tri-State Wrestling Champions, which was celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Hopkins, a No. 1 seed at 120 pounds, beat Idaho’s Michael Cook, 3-2, in the finals.

Templeman defeated Idaho’s Ray Evans, 8-1, in the 126 finals to win his first Tri-State championship.

Mead High, of Spokane, crowned a tournament-best four champions, and easily won the team title with 204 points. Tahoma was fifth, and Orting sixth.

Lakes High offensive lineman Zach Banner and defensive back/receiver/quarterback Cedric Dozier were named to Sports Illustrated’s High School Football All-America team.

Banner was a first-team selection and Dozier earned honorable mention as an all-purpose player. Other Washington players listed as honorable-mention picks were Skyline quarterback Max Browne and Bellevue quarterback/defensive back Tyler Hasty.

Here’s the team.

FIRST TEAM

Offense
QB Maty Mauk, Sr., Kenton (Ohio)
Missouri commit set the national prep record for career passing yards (18,520) and TDs (213).

RB Johnathan Gray, Sr., Aledo (Texas)
Prolific runner compiled 10,908 career rushing yards and 205 TDs, the latter a national record.

RB Trey Williams, Sr., Dekaney (Texas)
The lightning-quick tailback amassed 3,890 yards and 48 touchdowns en route to a state title.
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These Class 2B boys and girls basketball rankings come courtesy of BSports.org.

2B Boys BSports Top Ten
1 – Northwest Christian – Colbert: 8-0
Good Wins: Freeman, Davenport
Upcoming: 12/19 @ Lakeside

2 – La Conner: 6-0
Good Wins: Blaine, Meridian, Cedar Park Christian/Mountlake Terrace
Upcoming: 12/19 vs Coupeville; 12/20 @ Sedro-Woolley

3 – Colfax: 5-0
Good Wins: Lakeside, Freeman
Upcoming: 12/20 vs Reardan

4 – Adna: 6-0
Good Wins: Morton/White Pass, Wahkiakum
Upcoming: 12/21 vs Pe Ell
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Records are through Dec. 18

Editor’s note: The next batch of rankings will be released on Monday Jan. 2. Happy Holidays!

BOYS BASKETBALL

CLASS 4A
1. Davis (4-0)
2. Bellarmine Prep (5-0)
3. Skyline (4-0)
4. Snohomish (7-0)
5. Union (4-1)
6. Curtis (5-1)
7. Lewis & Clark (5-1)
8. Garfield (5-1)
9. Mount Rainier (7-2)
10. Kent-Meridan (5-2)
Next: Ballard (5-1), Battle Ground (5-3), Beamer (6-2), Central Kitsap (5-2), Central Valley (3-2), Chiawana (4-2), Edmonds-Woodway (6-1), Evergreen (7-3), Federal Way (4-3), Garfield (5-1), Gonzaga Prep (3-3), Issaquah (5-1), Jackson (4-2), Lake Stevens (5-1), Kamiak (5-1), Kentwood (5-2), Olympia (5-2), Rogers (6-2), Roosevelt (3-1)
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A year ago, Sumner High’s boys basketball team probably doesn’t turn a three-point lead at halftime into a runaway victory.

Spartans coach Brett McDaniel points to near-misses during the early part of last season’s schedule as proof that his team was still figuring out its place.

“If it was close, they were coming out wondering if they were going to win,” McDaniel said. “Now they believe they’re going to win.”

No doubt about that.

The eighth-ranked Spartans ran away from district rival Bonney Lake in the second half, thumping the Panthers 63-42 Saturday night at Sumner.
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