Former Independence All-American Joe Cox joins staff at Mallard Creek

Former Independence High All-American quarterback Joe Cox is a new teacher and assistant coach at Mallard Creek.

Cox joined the staff in June and is the Mavericks’ quarterback coach.

“He’s been a great addition to our coaching staff,” Mallard Creek coach Mike Palmieri said. “It’s an opportunity to get a guy on campus who is team-oriented and a good young guy to work with our quarterbacks. Joe is a character guy and he’s got a lot of knowledge to share.”

Cox was a 2004 Parade Magazine All-American at Independence, after leading the Patriots to an unbeaten season and state championship. He was a two-time Charlotte Observer offensive player of the year. In two seasons, he threw for more than 8,000 yards. As a senior, rivals.com rated Cox the No. 7 high school quarterback nationally. Cox went onto play at Georgia.

Mallard Creek quarterback Emiere Scaife said working with Cox has been very helpful.

“He’s been a big help so far,” Scaife said. “I can’t wait to see what he does during the season. He and (offensive coordinator Aaron) Brand have been a really good combination. They are two of the best quarterback coaches, period.”

Providence hires new basketball coach Scott Taylor, former Queens University assistant

Providence High athletics director Charles Lansing said he was thrilled to be able to hire new boys basketball coach Scott Taylor.

Taylor, who will teach health and physical education, just finished his fifth season as the top assistant on the Queens University Basketball staff. Taylor, 30, also coached one season at Carson-Newman. Taylor graduated from Florida State, where he was head manager of the men’s basketball team for three years under Steve Robinson and Leonard Hamilton.

 “We had over 50 people apply and he blew us away,” Lansing said of Taylor. “He was very personable and cares about the kids and the school and he will show up at every event. It’s a great, great addition.”

At Providence, he replaces Myron Lowery, who resigned in June. Lansing said Lowery wished to spend more time with his family and has since transferred to N.C. 4A champ Olympic.

The Panthers, who have won nine games in three years, are expected to return several key players, including All-Southwesetern 4A conference star Giovanni Mack, who has recruiting interest from Jacksonville, Santa Clara and Mount Saint Mary’s.

“We’re thrilled to have Scott,” Lansing said. “From talking to him, he’s a teacher of basketball. He’s not going to come in with a system and expect the kids to run it. He’s going to figure out what to do with the kids he has and work for them.”

Suddenly, Charlotte (49ers) starting to look like good spot to Charlotte basketball recruits

I've covered high school basketball in Charlotte for 25 years and seen nearly all of the state's best players who have come through here. And many of them, when they thought about college, never gave the Charlotte 49ers much consideration.

Sometimes they would tell me it was the conference the 49ers were playing in. Charlotte, which is home to more than 26,000 students, wasn't on television enough. They would say the 49ers didn't have enough big rivals.

Some just plain didn't want to stay at home for college.

Whatever it was, it always seemed that the best talents were often trying to go elsewhere.

All of sudden, that seems to be changing.

Thursday afternoon, Northside Christian's Keyshawn Woods committed to Charlotte, choosing the 49ers among 36 Division I offers he had. Woods is ranked No. 9 among N.C. seniors. He ranks among the nation's top 80 players overall.

Already, the 49ers have two home-grown kids on the roster: former Charlotte Christian guard Mitch Warner, a sophomore guard, and former West Mecklenburg standout Terrence Williams, a junior guard.

Another local talent, Shawn Lester of Mooresville, sat out last year due to academics, but hopes to rejoin that team.

Lester and Williams were former All-Observer basketball players in high school, the kind of kids that would often eschew Charlotte in the past. The 49ers have still had some top talent, like former Independence High star Jobey Thomas or former North Meck star DeMarco Johnson. But I always thought that Charlotte should get more.

Charlotte is a great school on a beautiful campus. It offers 92 bachelor degrees, 59 master's and 20 doctoral programs. It has the guts to be special athletically, too.

And now, I sense something different coming, at least in basketball.

Former United Faith star Braxton Ogbueze, a two-time Observer first team talent, was a top 40 national player who went to Florida. His senior year he was considered one of the five best point guards in the country. He's transferred to Charlotte. He has to sit out this season, but will play in 2014-15.

Ditto Bernard Sullivan, a three-time All-Observer pick, who started his career at Clemson. He'll sit out this season and play next.

Former Myers Park guard Ben Cherry has transferred in. He started some games at Tulane previously.

Charlotte's new football team is attracting lots of local talent. Twenty-one players on the 49ers first team are from Mecklenburg County. Another 23 are from neighboring counties in the Charlotte area.

Now, I'm seeing the same local push in basketball.

This is some of the area's top players either choosing to go to Charlotte or coming back, no matter the reason.

Over the next few years, the Charlotte area is going to see an infusion of talent like I've never seen in my time here. The kids in middle school and some in elementary school that I've seen are simply amazing. I think more than a few will be major, major college talents.

This "new" Charlotte will be in position to grab a few, and once the "stars" start going, the 49ers become a destination.

CMS to launch new athletic site for updates, scores

From staff reports:

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools has partnered with National Amateur Sports (NAS) to launch a new website for middle and high school athletics. The district-wide site will strengthen the CMS athletic program by providing a single technology hub for all athletic programs and team communications.

Beginning this school year, each middle and high school will have its own site with information about game scores and highlights, photos, rosters, statistics and team standings. Parents are encouraged to access the site and register to receive information from coaches and athletic directors. They may also choose to pay participation fees online. Athletic supporters will also be able to download an app and follow their favorite team on mobile devices.

“We are truly grateful for our partnership with NAS,” said Sue Doran, CMS director of athletics. “This new site will provide support for the district’s athletic program and enhance communications with our parents, students, coaching staff and supporters.”

The site, www.cmsathleticzone.com is operated by NAS. The technology platform will provide a foundation for automating many athletic administrative tasks required by athletic staff and coaches.

The website will also offer a venue to highlight corporate sponsors that support CMS Athletics. CMS does not pay any cost for the new athletic site. In addition, a portion of the revenue from sponsors will support middle school athletics. In 2010, the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education eliminated funding for middle school athletics and approved a participation fee for middle and high school student-athletes. Fees are collected on a per-sport basis.

“We are thrilled about this opportunity to support the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools athletic program,” said James Shipley, NAS managing partner. “NAS is committed to supporting the needs of CMS by helping to move the athletics programs forward.

Weddington girls basketball star Stephanie Watts commits to UNC

Weddington junior Stephanie Watts, the 2012-13 Observer region girls basketball player of the year, has committed to North Carolina. She had more than 15 major college offers.

Watts, an Associated Press all-state pick, averaged 22.1 points and 9.9 rebounds last season.

East-West All-Star Games recap

BOYS AND GIRLS BASKETBALL

The annual East-West All-Star games were held in Greensboro this week, honoring some of the state’s top seniors from the class of 2013. A few notes involving area players:

-- The East girls basketball team beat the West 67-60 at the Greensboro Coliseum Monday. Charlotte 49ers recruit Mylia Garner of Jordan-Matthews scored 16 points to lead the West.

UNC-Greensboro signee Tyrone Outlaw of Roxboro Person High had 16 points and seven rebounds to the lead the East boys to a 107-84 win over the West. The West got 18 points from Greensboro Dudley guard Sam Hunt.

Area girls players: Alexis Armstrong, Forestview, G; Jasmine Huntley, Porter Ridge, G; Milan Quinn, Berry, F; Imani Williams, Freedom, G
Area boys players: Darren Black, Concord, G; Clay Byrd, East Burke, G; Donte Falls, Shelby, F; Josh Gaither, Statesville, G; Chris Wray, Shelby, F




BOYS AND GIRLS SOCCER

-- The East boys soccer team defeated the West 2-1. Jason Andrejchak of Concord’s Robinson High scored the West goal. The West led 1-0 in the first half before losing.

The girls soccer game ended in a 2-2 tie. Greensboro Grimsley’s Rachel Cox scored a goal for the West and was named MVP.

Area boys players: Jason Andrejchak, Robinson, MF; Conner Hartman, Hickory, MF; James Jackson, Hough, MF/F; Josh Laney, South Meck, D; Ze Yang, West Iredell, D
Area girls players: Amanda Bill, Sun Valley, GK; Jane Cline, Charlotte Catholic, F; Bri Cuevas, Hough, D; Kendall Fischlein, Lake Norman, F; Macy Franklin, St. Stephens, F; Sarah Henson, Hickory, D; Caroline Holmes, St. Stephens, MF;


FOOTBALL

In the football game, the West won 14-7 to avoid an East sweep of the all-star games. A crowd of more than 6,500 watched the game at A.J. Simeon Stadium in High Point. The previous 64 all-star games had been held at Greensboro Grimsley HIgh. Grimsley is undergoing a field renovation project this year.

The West got the winning points on a 79-yard touchdown from David Burgess of Freedom High.

Burgess scored on a screen pass, set up by a block from East Lincoln’s Jesse Earnhardt.

Area players: Julius Bowe, South Iredell, DL; David Burgess, Freedom, RB; Kyree’ Connor, Hickory, OL; Jesse Earnhardt, East Lincoln, WR; Brandon Floyd, South Meck, OL; Brandon Hansen, West Rowan, OL; Zoshua Heilig, Concord, WR; Travon Hunt, Burns; TJ Jefferson, East Rowan, DL; Cody Jones, Huss, P/K; Scott Miller, South Iredell, DB; Joshua Mills, Forestview, OL; Zach Panek, Cuthbertson, OL; Matthew Quigley, Alexander Central, WR; Andre Rice-Dial, Rocky River, QB; Zach Singleton, South Stokes, LB; Logan Stoodley, West Rowan, LB; Tray Watkins, Chase, DL; Clayton Welker, South Caldwell, TE; Marquis Wills, Statesville, DB; Garrett Young, East Lincoln, QB

Hancock named new Mallard Creek basketball coach

Jon Hancock was named the new boys' basketball coach at Mallard Creek, the school's athletic director, Karen McKaig, announced on Tuesday.

Hancock comes to Charlotte from East Burke. During his coaching career, he has gone 283-176 on his way to winning seven conference championships, seven coach-of-the-year honors, two sectional championships and two regional appearances.

Hancock, who was the physical education department chair at East Burke, graduated from Mars Hill, where he scored more than 1,000 career points and served as a captain his junior and senior years.

Hancock takes over the Mavericks' basketball program for David Rutledge, who accepted the Wilmington Ashley job in May. Rutledge was 48-34 at Mallard Creek.