Leading off today: With the early-signing period still a month away, many top basketball prospects are closing in on decicions about the future.
Two major women's Division I recruits have made up their minds, announcing college decisions this week.
Guard/forward Shenise Johnson, easily the best prospect to ever come out of Section 5, said Thursday that she will sign a Letter of Intent next month with the University of Miami.
The two-time Democrat and Chronicle player of the year, who's led Rush-Henrietta to consecutive NYSPHSAA Class AA crowns, only visited Miami and Syracuse before making her choice. She previously had also considered Boston College, Georgia and Louisiana State.
Miami has been making a living off of Rochester-area recruits recently. Former Monroe Community College stars Renee Taylor and Maurita Reid were Miami's top scorers last season.
Meantime, Commack point guard Sammy Prahalis, who has rolled up 1,742 points in five seasons, has given a thumbs-up to Ohio State. The three-time All-Long Island selection, who's been compared to Sue Bird and Nicole Kaczmarski, announced her selection earlier this week.
Mahopac players step up: Mahopac varsity boys basketball players started a petition drive yesterday asking the school board to reconsider its decision not to appoint Phil Diasparra as coach.
The Journal News reported the board voted 5-4 against hiring Diasparra, who was backed by AD Frank Miele and Superintendent Robert Reidy.
"We all know that Coach Diasparra is a great coach and we had a lot of respect for him," Mahopac junior Tim Taps told the paper. "We were really disappointed that he didn't get the job."
Board president Penny Swift would not comment on the vote but said that there has been some feedback in support of the board.
Diasparra spent eight seasons as an assistant basketball coach at Mahopac until 2005 and 10 years as an assistant