There always will be questions about the merits of the players selected versus those not chosen, but that isn't my point.

This year's coaches selected a team without relying heavily on their own players.

Some years the coaches have taken many of their own players, diluting the overall quality of the North Carolina squad.

That didn't happen this year.

The nine-man North Carolina coaching staff, led by veteran Sam Story of Burlington Williams and including Apex's Bob Wolfe and Durham Riverside's Tommy Blalock, picked only three players from these coaches' teams.

Two of the three play at perennial 4-A power Charlotte Independence. If any team in the state deserved a couple of spots, it was the Patriots.

"We talked about not picking players from our own teams," Story said.

"It is tough, because as coaches we talk about loyalty. But we decided we wanted to pick the very best team that we could."

The Shrine Bowl selection process has changed in recent years and has helped change college football recruiting in the process.

The Shrine coaching staff, which changes every year, organizes a series of combines for players who want to be considered for the game.

The combines not only give the Shrine coaches a face-to-face meeting with prospective all-stars, but also provide unbiased heights, weights and times.

Some high school coaches might occasionally misrepresent a size or speed, anticipating a player's improvement during the season.

Consistent runs at a combine by an impartial timer are usually more credible and are well- received by most college recruiters.

The Triangle will be well represented in the Dec. 15 game in Spartanburg, S.C.

Bunn defensive back Brandon Barnes, labeled the top prospect in the state by most recruiting services and an N.C. State recruit, was chosen.

So was Garner linebacker Reginald Bowens, who has committed to South Carolina, and Pittsboro Northwood defensive back Tobais Palmer, who is an N.C. State recruit.

Duke runner recruit Jay Hollingsworth of Lee County also is on the North Carolina roster.

Undefeated Leesville Road landed a pair of players on the team: quarterback Thomas Wilson and Taylor Gentry, Wilson's favorite receiver.

Wilson has passed for 2,390 yards and has led the Pride to a 10-0 record. At 6 feet 3, 200 pounds, he has good size.

His athletic ability also allows him to be a possible major college prospect as a baseball shortstop.

Nevertheless, Elon University is the only school to make him a solid football scholarship offer.

Leesville coach David Green said he believes there is a perception that players in Wake County are not major-college caliber.

"We need for some Wake County school other than Garner to make consistent runs in the playoffs," Green said.

"Some college recruiters have the feeling that we don't have very good players here because we haven't been going very deep in the playoffs.

"We need to play better."

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