Thursday, Aug. 2, 2012: Old Dominion scoops up another New York prospect

   The Monarchs have scooped up one of the players who is expected to dominate Section 5 football headlines this fall, landing a verbal commitment from Rush-Henrietta quarterback and defensive back Chauncey Scissum, multiple sources confirmed this week.

   Though Scissum isn't regarded as elite on a national level, some high-profile schools were awed by his performance on defense in an April camp in Columbus, Ohio, and he could conceivably scored offers from Big East and ACC schools rather than a slew of MAC programs if he'd waited.

   ODU may not be on the football radar at the moment, but the school has been upgrading and will be joining Conference USA in 2013. The Monarchs also have a commitment from two-way McQuaid lineman Casey Cullen. The common denominator is ODU assistant coach Ron Whitcomb, a former East Rochester standout quarterback.

   Another commitment: What was supposed to be a horrific year for recruiting has a chance to turn out OK based on what he're seeing in summer football commitments. The latest news came when The New York Post reported this morning that Christ the King running back James Coleman has picked the University at Buffalo.

   “I felt like Buffalo committed to me first,” Coleman told the paper. “I can succeed there, do big things. They weren’t scared to come after me.”

   I'll try to pull the list together this week, but I believe that makes nine BCS commitments so far for the Class of 2013. I still don't think we can reach 20, but my original concerns that we might have trouble getting past a dozen are almost certainly too pessimistic.

   Speaking of recruiting: The various Twitter uproars out of London last week reminded me to throw out a plug for Zach Braziller of The New York Post, who did a good piece last month about the big recent change in college recruiting. As of last June 15, college basketball coaches are permitted unlimited contact with rising juniors via phone calls, texts, Twitter, Facebook and other social media.

   Braziller cited instances of prospects receiving messages from more than a dozen schools that first night.

   The story noted that not-unreasonable assumption that younger coaches may gain an edge because they're likely to be more familiar with the technology. It'll bear watching as time foes on.

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   Reporters who have a top prospect residing in their neck of the woods would do well to check in to see which schools are making early inroads.

   What a career: NYCapitalSports.net recently honored Greenwich's Dani DeGregory with its Career Achievement Award based on her dominating play in field hockey, basketball and softball. She's a nine-time all-state selection, including player of the year recognition in softball and basketball as a senior.

   She holds Section 2 field hockey records for goals in a season (49) and a career (111) and scored 1,684 career points on the basketball court among a multitude of other achievements.

   Extra points: NYCapitalSports.net's second annual charity golf outing, which helps benefit the Stride adaptive sports program is Aug. 10 at Stadium Golf Club in the capital region. Sign-up information is available online.