Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy hosts Manchester High School in a boys basketball game.

The 2010 Hoban football team opens with Garfield on a Thursday night later this fall and Hoban coach Ralph Orsini is very optimistic about the group returning for the Knights for the upcoming season.

"Overall, we have a number of young talented players who are anxious to step in and show us what they can do," Orsini said in an e-mail. "We have the potential to have a very competitive team that can be outstanding in 2010."

North Canton Hoover running back Erick Howard is one of three Ohio players named to the Parade All-American football team.

The others are Jordan Hicks from Lakota West near Cincinnati and Latwan Anderson of Cleveland Glenville. Fifty-eight players were named to the team, which will be in the Parade magazine in Sunday's Akron Beacon Journal.

Massillon junior WR Devin Smith (6-2, 175) has reportedly been offered by Michigan State, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Smith also has offers from Toledo and Ball State.

The Manchester Lady Panthers host Canton Central Catholic in a high school basketball game in New Franklin.

Walsh Jesuit baseball player Tyler Skulina was recently named the 2009 PUKKA Ohio Player of the Year at the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association annual Hall of Fame Banquet.

Skulina, a senior right-handed pitcher, helped the Warriors to a 2008 state championship and a 2009 state runner up. he is committed to the University of Virginia and is arguably the most decorated player in Walsh Jesuit High School Baseball history, according to his coach Chris Kaczmar.

The Barberton Magics traveled to Bath Township to take on the Revere Minutemen in a high school basketball game.

North Canton Hoover fans packed the Jackson High School gym for a basketball game that went into overtime. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com)

Hudson senior QB Richie Piekarski (6-3, 206) reportedly has offers from Mercyhurst College, Notre Dame College, University of Dayton and Duquesne, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Dublin Jerome senior OLB Steve Mehrer (6-1, 218) has reportedly made an oral commitment to play at Kent State, according to ScoutingOhio.com.

Mehrer also reportedly had offers from Marshall, Central Michigan, Indiana, Bowling Green, Toledo and Eastern Michigan.

Manchester travels to Canton Memorial Field House to face Timken High School in a boys basketball game.

Garfield travels to Kenmore High School for a boys city series basketball game. (Mike Cardew/Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com)

Rich Nowak may not be the head football coach at Brunswick, but that does not preclude him from coaching there or somewhere else.  Nowak was head coach twice for the Blue Devils, racking up 152 wins.

"I'm most proud of the fact we have made the playoffs the past nine straight years," Nowak said. "It is just time for me to give up teaching and being a head coach. Being a head coach is practically a full-time job."

Mogadore hosts Woodridge High School basketball in a boys game played at Mogadore High School.

Kent State has offered a scholarship to Cincinnati Colerain junior running back Tyler Williams, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Williams, who is 5-8 and 155 pounds, rushed for 893 yards and eight touchdowns for Colerain last season.

Springfield High School hosts Norton High School for a boys basketball game.

East High School hosts Kenmore High School in a boys' basketball game played at Central Hower. (Phil Masturzo/Akron Beacon Journal/Ohio.com)

The Orrville football team made the Division IV playoffs this past fall and coach Doug Davault believes the postseason will still be a legitimate goal in 2010.

Orrville loses 17 seniors to graduation (12 starters plus the punter, placekicker, long snapper, punt returner and kickoff returners). The team has to replace five players on offense and seven on defense. Also, the team will lose the top three receivers, QB, defensive line and all but one in the defensive secondary.

Orrville senior QB Joe Besancon is looking at Heidelberg, Baldwin-Wallace and Ohio Dominican, according to Orrville football coach Doug Davault.

Senior WR-DB Dillon Corbett is looking at Ashland, Findlay and Ohio Dominican among others.

The Buchtel Griffins are 7-0 after a big 80-61 win against Olmsted Falls Sunday during the Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic at the Wolstein Center at Cleveland State University.

Senior guard Jason Pitts scored 37 points for the Griffins and was named the Player of the Game.

Coverage of Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy wrestling at Walsh Jesuit High School. The CVCA Royals won 54-13 and a Walsh wrestler won his 100th high school match.

Firestone senior forward and captain James Wimberly will miss the next 6 to 8 weeks after breaking a bone in his foot Tuesday against Walsh Jesuit. The 6-foot-7 Wimberly was Firestone's leading scorer, averaging 20.5 points and 10.5 rebounds a game.

``This is a tremendous blow not only to James but Firestone basketball as well,'' said Falcons coach Joe Wojcik. ``James was having a great year and getting serious looks from colleges throughout the state. Besides his points and rebounds, James' leadership skills will be greatly missed. All those associated with Firestone basketball feel for James and wish him a speedy recovery.''

Garfield senior CB Davonne Dixon (5-10, 170) and senior OL-DT Sheldon Spaulding (6-1, 225) are receiving a lot of attention from Division II, Division III and NAIA college football programs, according to Garfield coach Bob Sax.

Wadsworth is tied for the No. 1 spot with Lakewood St. Edward in the Ohio High School Wrestling Coaches Association State Poll Division I this week. The Grizzlies have two first-place votes.

Perry is ranked No. 5 and Twinsburg is No. 7.

All season long, the Firestone and Kenmore girls basketball teams have been putting up big numbers. Firestone is 9-1 overall and 5-0 in the City and Kenmore (8-2, 5-0) is led by senior guard Shanequa Williams, who is averaging almost 35 points a game.

The two teams will matchup 7 p.m. Thursday at Kenmore in a game that should be very competitive and entertaining.

Massillon junior WR Devin Smith (6-2, 175) has reportedly been offered by Ball State, according to ScoutingOhio.com. Smith also reportedly has an offer from Toledo.

Garfield senior RB Tyson Gulley is the first Garfield football player selected for the North-South game since former Garfield standout Eli Ward, who played in the game in 1999. Ward was later a safety at Minnesota.

Garfield senior RB Tyson Gulley has been selected to participate in the North-South All-Star Game April 23 at Ohio Stadium. The game is scheduled for 5 p.m.

Gulley, one of the area's top players this season, is orally committed to Syrcause.

Massillon junior WR Justin Olack (6-4, 195) has reportedly been offered by Ball State, according to ScoutingOhio.com. Olack also reportedly has an offer from Toledo, according to the site.

The Classic in the Country VII girls' basketball event will be Jan. 16-18 at Berlin Hiland High School in Berlin, Ohio.

Several area teams will compete in this annual event.