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Tim Stevens, J. Mike Blake, Clay Best, Aaron Moody, and Elliott Warnock follow all the news for high school athletes from Wake, Orange, Durham, Chatham and Johnston Counties. 

E-mail: Tim | J. Mike | Clay | Aaron | Elliott

Previewing ECU's recruiting class

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East Carolina rarely wins many accolades on signing days, but under Coach Skip Holtz, it has been winning on the field.

This class fits in that mold.

The group has some gems, although few of the players were on the national recruiting radar.

Damonte Terry of Scotland was a surprise on the North Carolina team in the Shrine Bowl Game of the Carolinas.

“He is outstanding,” said Mike Farrell, a recruiting analyst for rivals.com. “When I saw him, it was hard to believe that East Carolina was the only school to offer. He is big, strong, fast and runs with power.”

New Bern wide receiver Mike Price is one of the top athletes in Eastern North Carolina and is a national class jumper in track and field.

Defensive back Torrance Hunt of Durham Jordan had the fastest 40 times in the state during the Shrine Bowl combines.

The News & Observer will be following recruiting developments
throughout the day. On Monday, analysis of the N.C. State, North Carolina, Duke and Wake Forest classes was posted. Later today, other ACC classes will be presented.

More analysis on all of the ACC classes will be posted on Wednesday.

Following
is a list of players who have made unofficial commitments to East Carolina. Players may sign national letters of intent on Wednesday, which
are official commitments.



East Carolina commitments:

★★ Jimmy Booth • Greenville • 6-3 • 285
Greenville Rose defensive tackle committed to the Pirates in July

★★ Michael Brooks • Yanceyville • 6-3 • 295
Bartlett Yancey tackle already has the size and the speed (5.1 in 40 yards) and should get stronger

★★ Dante Burton • Paterson, N.J. • 6-2 • 215
Tight end was talking with Tennessee, Syracuse and others before visiting Greenville and committing

★★★ Michael Dobson • Mount Airy • 6-0 • 185
Mount Airy runner gained 1,700 yards and scored 34 TDs as senior, but may be defensive back for Pirates

★★ Max Hay • Burlington, N.J. • 6-7 • 310
Huge offensive tackle is expected to make a major impact as he develops

★★ Ty Holmes • Lexington • 6-1 • 207
Pirates were the only school to offer fast safety who had 75 tackles and four interceptions as a junior

★★ Torrance Hunt • Durham • 5-7 • 152
Jordan defensive back, wide receiver had the fastest 40 time of the summer in North Carolina, a stunning 4.29 electronic time. Also could be an outstanding kick returner

★★ Perry James • Mocksville • 6-0 • 180
Davie County cornerback missed 2007 season and Shrine Bowl with injuries; runs a 4.4 40

★★ Rio Johnson • Tyrone, Ga. • 6-2 • 177
Quarterback passed for 1,711 yards and 14 TDs as a junior and for 1,800 yards and 14 TDs as a senior

★★★ Justin Jones • Conyers, Ga. • 6-8 • 234
Tall tight end had committed to Kentucky, but switched to the Pirates
recently. Outstanding basketball player scored 22 points with 18
rebounds and 7 blocks in a game last week.

★★ Lamar McLendon • Fayetteville • 6-1 • 210
Extremely quick (4.5 40) inside linebacker helped Seventy-First to the state 4-A title and chose ECU over Duke.


★★ Matt Milner • Raleigh • 6-4 • 240
Cardinal Gibbons standout has great speed for a down lineman and should fill out

★★★ Zico Pasut • Charlotte • 6-3 • 235
Ardrey Kell tight end picked the Pirates over offers from VPI, Western Carolina, West Virginia and Duke

★★ Mike Price • New Bern • 6-2 • 160
Wide receiver is known for running get routes and catching whatever is thrown his way. 2007 NCHSAA state indoor triple jump champion.

★★ Korey Reynolds • Senatobia, Miss. • 6-3 • 245
Former Boston College commitment switched when Eagles changed coaches

★★★ Giavanni Ruffin • Visalia, Calif. • 6-1 • 210
Visalia (CA) College of the Sequoias runner runs a 4.4 40; rushed for 500 yards and 7 touchdowns in 2008

★★★ Will Simmons • Ahoskie • 6-5 • 322
Hertford County tackle dropped about 50 pounds to develop as an outstanding right tackle prospect

★★★ Damonte Terry • Laurinburg • 6-0 • 188
Extremely explosive runner who can block, run and catch and has natural running ability

★★ Kyle Tudor • Evans, Ga. • 6-3 • 195
Big safety has imposing size and led his team in tackles as a sophomore and junior.

★★★ Kendrick Wiggins • Durham • 5-10 • 181
Southern Durham wide receiver doesn’t have blazing speed, but is elusive and quick

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About the blogger

Tim has covered high school sports for more than 40 years. He is the only active newspaper reporter in the National High School Sports Hall of Fame and is a member of the N.C. High School Athletic Association Hall of Fame. He was the co-author of the original NCHSAA record book. When he not writing about boys and girls, he often is at church or in a theater. Email Tim.
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