Judge Memorial's boys basketball team, 15-6 this season, begins play Thursday in the National Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Cumberland, Md.
Coach Jim Yerkovich's Bulldogs will meet national powerhouse DeMatha of Hyattsville, Md., in the first round of the eight-team tournament that concludes Saturday. Other participating squads include Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), St. Thomas Aquinas (Canada), Gonzaga Prep (Washington, D.C.), Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Penn.), St. Francis Academy (Baltimore) and host Bishop Walsh.
Thirteen high school football scholar-athletes and NFL quarterback Scott Mitchell will be honored by the Utah Chapter of the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Inc., at a banquet March 29 at the Provo Park Hotel.
The high school athletes, chosen from 3A, 4A and 5A classifications, were selected for their accomplishments on the football field, in the classroom and in the community.
Honorees for the second-annual banquet include Tim Welch (American Fork), Dustin McQuivey (Bountiful), Mike Sumko (Box Elder), Kelly Chatterton (Davis), Mike Anderson (Logan), T.J. Hess (Mountain Crest), Jonathan Guenter (Orem), Lance Sorenson (Skyline), Gregg Marshall (Sky View), Brad Barben (Snow Canyon), Tyler Gibbons (Uintah), Michael Kendall (Weber) and Matthew Steinfeldt (West Jordan).
Tickets for the banquet are $20 and are available by calling 378-4911.
"The achievements of these young men are truly remarkable," said chapter president Bill Anderson. "Nearly all are first or second-team all-state players. Each has a grade point average of 3.85 or better, and two are class valedictorians. They are student-body presidents, Sterling Scholars, Eagle Scouts and outstanding leaders in their churches and communities."
Mitchell, a former Springville High star athletes, had an impressive season quarterbacking the Detroit Lions. He will receive the "Distinguished American" award from the Utah Chapter and will speak at the banquet. Steve Young received the award last year. Former NFL quarterback Gifford Nielsen, who is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame, will emcee the event.
One of the high school honorees will be awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Far West Bank.
FUTURE FALCON: Skyline High quarterback Gus Papanikolas, who guided the Eagles to the 5A state championship, has committed to attend and play for the Air Force Academy prep school. The first team all-stater racked up 1,700 yards of total offense and 24 touchdowns as a senior.