Stockbridge High’s Abu Bangura Jr., Mike Price commit to continue football careers

Stockbridge High’s Mike Price, seen here making a tackle, committed to Appalachian State Thursday. (File Photo)

McDONOUGH — Two Stockbridge High football players committed to different schools this week, as Abu Bangura Jr. committed to Georgia Southern University and Mike Price committed to Appalachian State University.

Mike Price commits to Appalachian State

Price posted 58 total tackles last year with two interceptions. He said his decision was mainly based on the relationship he had built with the Appalachian State coaching staff.

“I chose App State because of the relationship me and Coach Scot Sloan had,” Price said. “He always stayed and in touch and made sure I’m on the grind.”

Price said that the decision to commit made his parents proud and excited for the accomplishment.

“I did not expect to commit early,” Price said. “But I knew it was going to be before the first game. I am expecting to get better as a student and as an athlete and always expect to win.”

The expectations for Price’s senior season haven’t changed much as he hopes to bring a state championship to Stockbridge.

“Now that I’ve committed, and some others on my team are, we expect to bring a state championship back to Stockbridge,” he said. “Grind hard every day and get better together.”

Bangura Jr. commits to Georgia Southern

Abu Bangura Jr., a defensive end and tight end for the Tigers, announced his allegiance to Georgia Southern earlier this week.

“I chose Georgia Southern because I know that I will be getting a good education,” Bangura said. “I will also be a part of a winning program. I am all about winning, since I come from a program that wins already. So I can fit in and I have the fire to continue the tradition.”

Bangura said that choosing Georgia Southern came down to a desire to be a part of something big.

“I know we’ll win championships and I want to be apart of that,” Bangura said. “Not necessarily just one person but it’s a family thing — the coaches make you feel like you’re at home.

“It’s a weight off my shoulders as I close down my recruiting,” he continued. “I’m proud to be an Eagle.”

Source Article

The post Stockbridge High’s Abu Bangura Jr., Mike Price commit to continue football careers appeared first on SAFFERTHAL.

Read full post at: http://www.safferthal.com/stockbridge-highs-abu-bangura-jr-mike-price-commit-to-continue-football-careers/

Stockbridge youth soccer team finishes second at Georgia State Games

KENNESAW — Soccer was reintroduced to this year’s Georgia State Games championship lineup after a 15-year hiatus. This past weekend at Kennesaw Mountain High School, soccer’s return for youth rec teams proved to be a nice stepping stone for years to come.

The four youth rec teams that competed at the weekend event were three U12 teams and one U10 team. Atlanta Fire earned a gold; Stockbridge United earned a silver; and MUSA Eagles was awarded a bronze medal. The All In FC The Union U10 team automatically earned a gold medal for being the only contender in that age group.

The teams who received a medal (gold, silver and bronze) qualify for the National State Games of America (SGA) being held this year in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the first week in August. “After its hiatus, we are excited to have brought back the game of soccer,” Georgia Games Executive Director Eric Pfeifer said. “A small, competitive environment made playing the game not as intimidating, but just as fun.”

The Georgia State Games was founded in 1989. Through sponsorships the organization has been able to maintain the tradition. The championships are an Olympic-style, multi-sports festival that holds events and tournaments.

Georgia Games strives to make this season their biggest yet with additions to their list of championships, and a continuance of the celebration of an Olympic atmosphere throughout the state of Georgia. All of Georgia’s residents are eligible to register and compete in this open invitation, state sports festival.

For more information on the sporting events and the dates they’re taking place, visit the Georgia Games website at www.georgiagames.org , or if you have any questions regarding the other state championships, please contact the Georgia Games via email at info@georgiagames.org or call the Georgia Games at 770-528-3580.

Source Article

The post Stockbridge youth soccer team finishes second at Georgia State Games appeared first on SAFFERTHAL.

Read full post at: http://www.safferthal.com/stockbridge-youth-soccer-team-finishes-second-at-georgia-state-games/

Michigan State adds CB/WR Shakur Brown to 2017 recruiting class

Michigan State football coach Mark Dantonio discusses his recruiting class Wednesday in East Lansing. Video by Carlos Monarrez/DFP

EAST LANSING – Michigan State picked up a late commitment Saturday from a place it has built a strong connection to in recent years.

Shakur Brown, a wide receiver and cornerback from Woodland High in Stockbridge, Georgia, announced he has committed to join the Spartans this fall – a rare June addition to an already-established recruiting class while coaches are working on 2018 prospects.

Brown is considered a three-star athlete by ESPN.com, 247Sports.com and Rivals.com. He had committed to West Virginia in January, but never signed with the Mountaineers and kept his recruitment open. Brown also had offers from Minnesota, Purdue, Tennessee, Ole Miss and Kentucky among others.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Brown was named to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution’s Class 5A all-state team at defensive back. He also was the Region 4-AAAAA Special Teams Player of the Year and was a first-team all-county selection by the Henry Herald. He joins athlete Connor Heyward and defensive back Tre Person from Georgia in the Spartans’ 26-player 2017 class.

The Spartans also added kicker Cole Hahn as a 2017 scholarship signee in late April.

Brown will help MSU offset some of the recent losses, including safety Kenney Lyke and cornerback/wide receiver Kaleel Gaines leaving the program the previous two days.

MSU currently has six players for its 2018 recruiting class: four-star linebacker Michael Dowell from St. Edward’s in suburban Cleveland; four-star athlete Xavier Henderson and four-star tight end Trenton Gillison, both from Pickerington (Ohio) Central; three-star quarterback Theo Day from Dearborn Divine Child; three-star cornerback Christian Jackson from Marietta (Ga.) Lassiter; and three-star linebacker Edward Warinner from Olentangy (Ohio) Liberty High.

Download our Spartans Xtra app for free on Apple and Android devices!

Source Article

The post Michigan State adds CB/WR Shakur Brown to 2017 recruiting class appeared first on SAFFERTHAL.

Read full post at: http://www.safferthal.com/michigan-state-adds-cbwr-shakur-brown-to-2017-recruiting-class/

This week in Michigan recruiting: 5-star Georgia DE Chris Hinton visits Ann Arbor

Michigan hosted Chris Hinton, a 2019 five-star defensive end, for a visit this week.

ANN ARBOR – Michigan kicked off its summer satellite camp tour on Friday at Mercer University in Georgia.

That followed a visit to Ann Arbor this week from one of the state’s top prospects in Chris Hinton, a 2019 five-star defensive end from Greater Atlanta Christian School in Norcross, Ga.

At 6-foot-4 and 265 pounds, Hinton is the No. 2 strong-side defensive end and No. 13 player overall in the 2019 class, according to 247Sports Composite rankings, and this was his second trip to Ann Arbor. He has more than 20 offers, including Michigan, Alabama, Georgia and Stanford, and visited Ann Arbor with his younger brother Myles Hinton, a 6-6, 300-pound 2020 offensive tackle from Greater Atlanta Christian who already has an offer from Michigan.

Hinton told Scout.com that the trip allowed him to explore Michigan’s academic facilities, as well as talk to the coaching staff, and he’s very interested in the Wolverines.

"It’s second to none," he told Scout.com of Michigan’s academics. "The alumni base is amazing and supports you when you are done with football. They give you a lot of support so that you can be successful in class. Also, a Michigan degree is highly considered amongst a lot of people and businesses."

Hinton’s dad, Christopher Hinton Sr., went to Northwestern and played 13 seasons in the NFL (1983-95) as an offensive lineman.

Error loading player: No playable sources found

Loading

00:00 / 09:18

Sophomore year

48 Play

Class addition: Michigan landed its third in-state recruit for its 2018 class when Ryan Hayes, a four-star offensive tackle/tight end from Traverse City West High School, committed on Saturday.

"It just felt right from my first visit and I just loved everything about it there," Hayes told 247Sports.

At 6-7 and 252 pounds, Hayes is the No. 4 recruit in Michigan, No. 17 offensive tackle and No. 214 player overall in the 2018 class. He picked Michigan over Notre Dame, Michigan State and others.

The Wolverines now have 10 players committed to their 2018 class, including three from Michigan in Hayes, four-star defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and four-star offensive tackle Jalen Mayfield. The other commits are four-star guard Emil Ekiyor, four-star cornerback Myles Sims, four-star linebacker/safety Otis Reese, four-star quarterback Joe Milton, three-star running back Christian Turner and three-star cornerbacks and twin brothers Gemon and German Green.

Visiting recruits: James Ohonba, a 2018 four-star offensive tackle from Woodland High School in Stockbridge, Ga., is on a visit to Michigan through Saturday, according to a report by Rivals.com.

At 6-5 and 320 pounds, Ohonba is the No. 23 offensive tackle and No. 306 player overall in the 2018 class. On May 18, he announced a top four of LSU, USC, Alabama and Michigan.

Noah Cain, a 2019 five-star running back from IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., told Scout.com that he will visit Michigan from June 22-25. The Wolverines will host their "1-Day Elite Camp" on June 23.

At 5-11 and 207 pounds, Cain is the No. 1 running back and No. 22 player overall in the 2019 class. He has at least 20 offers, including Michigan, LSU, Miami and Ohio State.

Making/missing the cut: Micah Parsons, a 2018 five-star defensive end from Harrisburg High School in Pennsylvania, announced a top nine of Ohio State, Florida, Nebraska, Miami, Florida State, Alabama, Michigan, Georgia and Penn State. At 6-3 and 235 pounds, Parsons is the No. 1 weak-side defensive end and No. 3 player overall in the 2018 class. He committed to Penn State in February 2016 but decommitted in April.

Kamryn Babb, a 2018 four-star wide receiver from Christian Brothers College High School in St. Louis, announced a top nine of LSU, Alabama, Ole Miss, Ohio State, USC, Missouri, Michigan, Nebraska and Notre Dame. At 6-1 and 189 pounds, Babb is the No. 9 receiver and No. 47 player overall in the 2018 class.

Talanoa Hufanga, a 2018 four-star athlete from Crescent Valley High School in Oregon, announced a top 10 of Utah, Oregon, Alabama, Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oregon State, Michigan, UCLA, USC and Washington. At 6-0 and 193 pounds, Hufanga is the No. 2 athlete and No. 92 player overall in the 2018 class.

Lawrence Keys III, a 2018 four-star receiver from McDonogh 35 High School in New Orleans, announced a top 13 of Houston, Texas Tech, TCU, Oklahoma, Alabama, LSU, Michigan, Arkansas, UTSA, Notre Dame, Colorado State, Auburn and Nebraska. At 5-10 and 160 pounds, Keys is the No. 39 receiver and No. 196 player overall in the 2018 class.

Michigan is out of the running for Asa Martin, a 2018 four-star running back from Austin High School in Alabama, who announced a final three of Florida, Auburn and Alabama. At 5-11 and 195 pounds, Martin is the No. 11 running back and No. 225 player overall in the 2018 class.

Source Article

The post This week in Michigan recruiting: 5-star Georgia DE Chris Hinton visits Ann Arbor appeared first on SAFFERTHAL.

Read full post at: http://www.safferthal.com/this-week-in-michigan-recruiting-5-star-georgia-de-chris-hinton-visits-ann-arbor/