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A reunion of sorts

 
Published Dec. 9, 2006|Updated Dec. 9, 2006

Call it the Tony Brown Effect. The former Northeast guard, one of the top all-time scorers in Pinellas County history, plans to play in the inaugural St. Petersburg-Northeast alumni basketball game Dec. 16.

That means trouble for the Green Devils, according to one potential opponent.

"We can't stop him," quipped Jim Neader, a 1969 St. Petersburg alum and retired sports agent. "If he wants to score 30, if he wants to score 40, he'll do it. "We couldn't stop him before, we couldn't stop him now

"In my book, he's probably one of the best players to ever come out of the county."

Brown, 40, is a little slower and rounder since he scored 2,198 career points for Northeast in the early '80s. But the teacher at Norwood Secondary School looks forward to renewing old battles with former St. Petersburg foes like Matt Kilgroe and Eddie Anderson.

At 6-6, 275 pounds, Brown may not slash through the key like he did for Saint Louis University and Cedar Rapids of the CBA. But, as he says, "I can still step back and shoot."

Joe Smith can be reached at joesmith@sptimes.com or at (727) 893-8129.

Recruiting Tidbits

Palm Harbor junior forward Adam Pegg received offers from Tennessee Tech and Wofford. ...Oldsmar Christian sophomore guard Chris Perez has offers from Ole Miss and Tennessee Tech. ...Clearwater senior guard Justin Morin started talking with Western Kentucky this past week.

Super Seven

(Records through Friday)

1. Lakewood (6-0): The Spartans' big man in the middle - 6-8 junior Mike Morrison - gives them a slight edge.

2. Clearwater (6-0): Tornadoes gutted through tough two weeks.

3. Largo (4-2): Held fourth-quarter leads in losses to Lakewood and Clearwater.

4. Boca Ciega (4-2) -- Made up for setback to East Lake by pounding St. Petersburg by 39 points Friday night.

5. St. Petersburg (4-2): Sophomore Shamon Cox is among county leaders in points and rebounds.

6. St. Petersburg Catholic (4-0): Guard Tracy Parks has given SPC much-needed shooting touch.

7. Pinellas Park (4-2): Junior forward Jesse Woods is a warrior - and is starring under the radar.

Alumni Update

Cruz Daniels (Clearwater) leads High Point (N.C.) into a matchup at North Carolina tonight at 7. ...Mike O'Donnell, left, (Largo) has UCF (5-0) off to its best start since the 1993-94 season. ...Trevor Ferguson (Oldsmar), who transferred from Pitt, will be eligible to play for N.C. State on Dec. 20

Game of the Week

Wednesday, Clearwater at Lakewood: Which is the best team in the county? The powers battle for bragging rights in a rematch of last year's PCAC title game.

On the Web

Have a question for one of our prep writers? Want to sound off in response to one of our county-by-county writers' blogs? For this and more, check out our high school sports blog at http://blogs.tampabay.com/preps/.

Check it out

Inaugural Northeast- St. Petersburg Alumni Game

When: Dec. 16, 6 p.m.

Where: St. Petersburg High

Cost: $5

Skinny: Former stars from both schools will play in what will become an annual tradition. Northeast alumni interested in playing can call coach Dave Redding (727-570-3138 ext. 1133)