Shrine combines get details

Many of the best high school football players in the state from the junior class will work out Saturday at Apex High School during the N.C. Shrine Bowl Combine.

The Apex stop is one of three Shrine Bowl combines being held in North Carolina.

The combines provide the N.C. Shrine Bowl coaches the chance to see players who might be interested in playing in the annual Shrine Bowl Game of the Carolinas all-star game in December.

Even more important, the combine provides standard times and measurements of the participating players.

The players are weighed and measured. They also are tested in the vertical jump, 40-yard dash, pro agility shuttle and maximum bench press (as many repetitions as possible with 185 pounds).

The players also go through a series of football-related drills, assisted by position coaches.

The results often are used by college football recruiters.

A fast 40-yard dash time, for example, can attract immediate attention.

WILSON TO ECU: Millbrook's Crystal Wilson, a 5-foot-9 basketball forward, signed with East Carolina last week.

Wilson was the Cap Seven 4-A player of the year during her junior season, averaging 17.5 points.

She averaged 15 points during her senior season and was chosen to the all-conference team for the third straight season.

Millbrook posted a 26-5 record this season and lost in the regional semifinals to eventual state 4-A champion Fayetteville Westover. Wilson scored 29 points in the final game.

East Carolina's women were 13-17 last season, including a 7-9 record in Conference USA.

EVANS CHOOSES MEMPHIS: Tyreke Evans, who once was the top-ranked basketball prospect in the class of 2008, signed with Memphis last week.

The 6-6, 215-pound shooting guard at Aston (Pa.) American Christian also had Texas and Villanova among his final three choices.

Evans averaged 32.1 points, 8.8 rebounds and 5.5 assists as a senior.

Evans, who played in the 2006 GlaxoSmithKline Holiday Invitational, was the MVP of the McDonald's All-American game last month in Milwaukee. Evans scored 21 points, grabbed 10 rebounds and had four assists in the East's 107-102 victory.

This is the second year in a row that Memphis coach John Calipari has signed a top-five player.

Last year, Derrick Rose of Chicago picked Memphis. He helped lead the Tigers to the NCAA championship game as a freshman.

MILLBROOK'S BENNETT PICKS GUILFORD: Dustin Bennett, a 5-10, 170-pound football defensive back, has signed with Guilford College in Greensboro.

Bennett was a two-year starter at strong safety for Millbrook and helped the Wildcats to a 10-4 record.

The Wildcats lost to eventual 4-AA championship New Bern 40-38 in the third round of the state playoffs.

Guilford is a member of the NCAA Division III and does not give athletic scholarships. It does, however, provide financial aid.