Attention to all
Hampton Roads high school senior football players:
Craig Spruill is
looking for you!
Well, maybe not
all of you. But as the Adidas 757 All-Star Football Game prepares for its inaugural
kickoff on December 20th, Spruill is happy to share that there is
still some room on the rosters for what looks to be a high-octane game and an annual highlight of the Peninsula and Southside high school football seasons.
“Right now, were
at about 30-35 players who have confirmed,” says Spruill, the event’s director.
But even as the online announcement, found on the game website at www.adidas757game.com states, there is
room for 70 players on the rosters.
But the slots
are filling up quickly, and the list is turning into a Who’s Who of Hampton Roads
high school gridiron stars. Phoebus’
Harry Lewis, who recently committed to Virginia Tech is on the list. So is
Bethel QB Beau Morgan, Ocean Lakes guard Hudson Dunaway, and Hickory tight end
(and U. VA commit) Richard Burney Jr.
But this game is
about diversity, and one may play for any high school team to accept an
invitation. Spruill’s wish list of players encompasses Peninsula, Southside,
private schools and Bay Rivers District teams.
On a grander
scale, the event is all about helping the community.
To kick off the
series of events leading up to the game, four game participants, Ben DeBastiani
of Indian River; Menchville’s Xavier Keys, Blake LaRussa from Bishop Sullivan
Catholic, and Landstown’s Eric Magwood, paid a visit to the Norfolk CHKD last
Saturday, where they spent an early afternoon spending time, playing games and
presenting toys to local youths.
The toys were
sponsored by Walmart and reflect the heavy corporate backing for the event.
With the impetus of sponsorship director Oliver Walmon, at least a dozen
businesses have thrown their backing into the event. One, Buffalo Wild Wings,
will host a pre-game dinner for the players and families.
But in the
spirit of its mission to encourage community involvement, social responsibility
and academic excellence, there will be more to the Adidias757 than football.
First Advantage Credit Union will host a Financial Literary Workshop on the day
before the game.
Says Spruill,
“our players will be going to college next year, and we want them to be
prepared for their personal financial responsibilities. First Advantage will be
teaching them about the importance of credit scores, personal budgeting, and
other areas.”
While the
Hampton Roads community is sure to benefit from the game, it is also a unique
opportunity for players to test their mettle against the cream of the local crop.
In the past, the few outlets for high school senior players have included
spring combines and the Virginia High School Coaches All-Star Game, which has been held in July. For the borderline college prospect, the December date might
be crucial.
“We wanted to
play the game while the kids are still in fairly good football shape,” added
Spruill.
And given the
nature of college scholarships, an opportunity to excel in December may allow
colleges to find a few more scholarship athletes before their allotment of
athletic money runs out.
That’s why so
many schools are interested in being involved with the game.
Says Walmon, “We
have commitments from the University of Connecticut, U. VA, Virginia Tech, ODU,
Norfolk State – really, just about every college team around here wants to see
this game.”
 | |
(L to R): Blake LaRussa, Bishop Sullivan; Ben DeBastiani, Indian River; Craig Spruill; Eric Magwood, Landstown; Xavier Keys, Menchville — at CHKD, Norfolk.
|
Spruill found a
solution to that problem.
“We will be
broadcasting the game on Huddle (www.hudl.com)
and hopefully get some time with Cox Cable, so that the Division I coaches can
watch the game on TV.”
For more
information on attending or playing in the game, please visit the website. You can also log in to the
game’s Facebook page by searching “Adidas 757 All-Star Football Game”
Great article, thanks Jim!
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