Top Players

The nation's top lacrosse players, most of them out of college, will compete for 26 spots on the U.S. men's team during a four-day tryout starting today at Rutgers.The U.S. team, which will be selected early next week, will defend its title in the quadrennial World Championships July 20-30, 1994, in Manchester, England. The United States defeated Canada in the final of the 1990 tournament, which also included England and Australia.The 121 candidates include 30 attackmen, 43 midfielders, 36 defensemen and 12 goalies.

The NFL Network has started to slowly reveal its list of the top 100 players of the 2012 season. But knowing how little thought some players give while filling out their ballots, I have a hard time taking that list seriously. The list that interested me more was the top 101 players of 2012 from the guys over at Pro Football Focus . Six PFF analysts put together the list, and they say they based it not on the reputation of players but solely on how they played in the 2012. They also tried to treat each position equally so the top 20 guys aren't quarterbacks.

POTOMAC -- Since coming to the Tournament Players Club a Avenel six years ago, the Kemper Open has been able to stir a lot more interest among the area's golf fans than among the big names on the PGA Tour.There have been any number of reasons why many of the top players have avoided Avenel. Some didn't like that it was opened a year or two too early. Others thought it was tricked up a bit too much. Then it became too easy.The field for this year's $1.3 million tournament, which begins today and runs through Sunday, is not studded with stars.

Kelly, Crane among finalists for Yeardley Love Unsung Hero Award North Carolina junior midfielder Frankie Kelly (Calvert Hall) and Loyola freshman defenseman Jason Crane (Chesapeake-Anne Arundel), North Carolina junior defender Zoe Skinner (Towson High) and Notre Dame junior defender Molly Shawhan , who lives in Fulton, are among the 10 finalists for the Yeardley Reynolds Love Unsung Hero Award. Established in 2011 in honor of the late Virginia player, a Cockeysville native, the award recognizes the selfless acts of initiative and commitment by Division I lacrosse players.

The site has changed, but the times and purpose of Sunday's first ever Baltimore Catholic League Preseason Basketball Showcase have not. Archbishop Spalding High School in Severn will host the doubleheader involving the BCL's top junior and senior players. The junior all-stars will play at 1:30 p.m. followed by the senior stars at 2:45 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for students. Taking a page from similar games played in New York and Philadelphia, the BCL, which begins its 31st season this winter, hopes to provide exposure for its top players as selected by the league's eight coaches.

Gentlemen, start your Brinks trucks.That may be the most appropriate way to open the NFL's sixth annual free-agency signing period today, because it's likely to be a dash for cash.The salary cap, first announced at $51.5 million per team Tuesday, has moved up to $52.388 million after an accounting ruling by the special master, so each team will have almost $11 million more to spend than last year, when the cap was $41.45 million.With 30 teams, that means more than $300 million more could be poured into the pockets of the players this year, and more increases are certain in future years because of the league's $17.6 billion television deal.

In 23 years of coaching Centennial boys basketball, Jim Hill can't recall a challenge that is similar to the one that is now upon him this season. This he does know: It's a welcome challenge. With five of his six top players gone from last year's surprise county title team, Hill and his staff have the chance to teach the basics of basketball. He's encouraged by the response he's received from an inexperienced, but eager group. "We're starting at square one with our team-defense philosophy," said Hill, who has guided the Eagles' program to six county titles.

Annapolis Panthers1996 record: 9-4.Coach: Stephanie Rowland Hunt.Top players: Mattie Phillips, Jr., A; Kaitlin Stone, Jr., A; Amy Deans, Sr., D; Susan Wynkroop, Sr., D; Emily Childs, So., G.Outlook: Talk to Hunt about the upcoming season and time and time again she'll mention how excited her Panthers are to get things started. Last year's 9-4 season -- Hunt's first as head coach -- is a big reason why. The 11 varsity players returning from that squad is another. A strong defense played a big role in last year's success and with Deans and Wynkroop back to lead the way, along with the emergence of Childs in goal, it will once again be a tough chore for opposing offenses to score goals.

Public schoolsCarver A&T Wildcats1997-98 record: 6-15Coach: Russ HarlessTop players: Ronnie Sherrill, 6-4, Sr., C; Wesley Anderson, 6-2, Sr., F; Brandon Morris, 5-9, Jr., GOutlook: This will be another rebuilding year for third-year coach Harless after graduating nine players. Sherrill, the only starter back, gives Carver adequate size inside.Catonsville Comets1997-98 record: 13-11Coach: Jim RhoadsTop players: Jason Yachera, 6-3, Sr., F; Stephen Roblin, 5-10, Jr., G; Sam Adams, 5-11, Sr., G; William Augustono, 6-0, Jr., F.Outlook: The Comets emphasize playing up-tempo.

Arlington Baptist Eagles1992 record: 8-4. Coach: Dave Lawson.Top players: Jarrett Watson, Soph., CF; Steve Reese, Sr., SS; Bret Anderson, Sr., P.Outlook: The Eagles leave the MSA this year in favor of the Christian Schools Athletic Association, which features some MSA-caliber teams, mostly in the Washington suburbs. They lost just two starters and should be in contention for the title. Watson, an All-MSA C Conference outfielder as a freshman, will lead the way.Calvert Hall Cardinals1992 record: 19-8.

C.J. Fair is all too familiar with the history of former high school players from Baltimore who left Syracuse early for the NBA. This week, the 6-8 junior forward follows Carmelo Anthony, who as a freshman a decade ago led the Orange to its only national college basketball championship before embarking on his professional career. But Fair, who helped Syracuse reach the Final Four for the first time since 2003 with wins over Indiana and Marquette last week at the Verizon Center in Washington, is even more familiar with another former Baltimore star who also left after being one of the top freshmen in the Big East.

When: Friday, 7:30 p.m. Where: Marvin F. Wilson Stadium, Prince George's Sports and Learning Complex, Landover Coaches: Anthony Burgos (Franklin), Baltimore; Lance Clelland (South River), Washington Last meeting: Washington won, 14-6 Series: Washington leads, 3-1 KEY LOCAL PLAYERS TO WATCH Baltimore : Deryk Kern, QB, Westminster; Michael Anderson, ATH, Howard; Reggie Ellis, ATH, Franklin; Derrick Kittrell, ATH, New Town; Bradley Metcalf, ATH, Westminster; Keyon Pinnock, ATH, Atholton; Eric Latham, RB, Perry Hall; Isaiah Gillis, WR, Harford Tech; Donnie Knox, C, Century; Brady Orem, C, Franklin; Alec Auwaerter, OG, St. Paul's; Ned Emala, OG, Gilman; Sam Evans, OG, Loyola; Dariz Hill, OG, Dunbar; Moise Larose, OT, Wilde Lake; J.P. McManus, OT, Calvert Hall; Marvin Gross, DE, Dunbar; Nik D'Avanzo, DT, Archbishop Curley; Frank Kozlowski, DT, North Harford; Mike Jones , DB, Milford Mill; Kyle McEachern, DB, Milford Mill; DeAndre' Lane, DB, Catonsville; Wyatt Dickerson, S, Gilman; Kennedy Frazier, S, Calvert Hall; Stephan Osong, S, River Hill; Jay Patti, K, Hereford Washington : Connor Cox, QB, South River; Jack Gordon, QB, Arundel; Lavon Chaney, ATH, South River; Kevin Johnson , OL, Meade; Fiyin Makinde, OG, St. Vincent Pallotti; Michael Minter, OT, Severna Park; Malik Dorsey, DT, Meade; Mike Williams, DT, Archbishop Spalding; Elvis Dennah, LB, Annapolis Area Christian; Perez Mackell, DB, Annapolis Area...

Calvert Hall senior attackman Patrick Kelly, The Sun's All-Metro Player of the Year, has been named the C. Markland Kelly Award winner as Maryland's top high school lacrosse player. The North Carolina-bound Kelly led the No. 1 Cardinals (16-2) to the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference championship with 44 goals and 41 assists this season. The Kelly Award is in its 65th year and the winner is selected by a committee chosen from the Maryland State Lacrosse Coaches Association and media representatives.

Varsity baseball N. Harford's Mooney is top player in state North Harford senior pitcher Kevin Mooney was named the Gatorade Maryland Baseball Player of the Year on Wednesday. Mooney, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound right-hander who has signed a letter of intent to play at Maryland, was 9-1 with a 0.30 ERA and 114 strikeouts in 64 innings, leading the Hawks (23-3) to the Class 3A state final. A Maryland High School Coaches Association Pre-Season All-State selection, Mooney also batted .361 with 30 RBIs and a 1.191 OPS. He has a 4.06 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society.

Hereford shortstop Jay Patti has been named the Baltimore County Player of the Year by the county's baseball coaches. "He's a hard worker and probably the most humble, skilled player we've ever had," Hereford coach Todd Hartshorn said. "He respects the game, the players on the field and he's easy to coach. If my daughter was 18, she'd be dating him. " Patti, a junior, batted .574 with 8 doubles, 3 triples 2 home runs and 22 RBIs. He also had 8 stolen bases, a .907 slugging percentage and an on-base percentage of .625.

Maryland junior midfielder Katie Schwarzmann (Century), who has 63goals this season, the 10th-highest mark in school history, was named Atlantic Coast Conference Offensive Player on Friday. Boston College attacker Covie Stanwick (Notre Dame Prep) was named Freshman of the Year. Big East: Loyola's Marlee Paton was named Midfielder of the Year and the Greyhounds' Kellye Gallagher was selected as Defensive Player of the Year. Ana Heneberry (Dulaney)

The first round of the 2012 NFL draft is three weeks away, and the Ravens have a similar list of needs as they did when free agency began four weeks ago. In some cases, like with the offensive line, their holes have become even more pronounced. The Ravens don't have an experienced left guard or long-term answers at center or left tackle. They also haven't added an impact pass rusher, another wide receiver or an explosive kick returner. And they haven't addressed depth concerns at running back, linebacker, defensive line and safety.

Keeping Virginia's Steele Stanwick off the scoreboard is a task easier said than done, but on Saturday, that job is likely to fall into the hands of Johns Hopkins' Tucker Durkin. The junior defenseman for the No. 2 Blue Jays has shadowed some of the game's top players, but acknowledged that the 2011 Tewaaraton Award winner and senior attackman for the No. 1 Cavaliers requires a different approach. “Obviously, he's one of the best players in the country,” Durkin said Wednesday.