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The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:43 p.m., Sunday, January 4, 2009

Preps: USC recruit stars in high school All-America game

Associated Press

ORLANDO, Fla. — Prep quarterback Matt Barkley, who has verbally committed to Southern California, threw for two early touchdown passes to lead his White Team to a 27-16 victory over the Black Team tonight at the Under Armour All-America High School Football Game.

Three players from Hawai'i — Punahou linebacker Manti Te'o and receiver Robbie Toma and Kapolei offensive lineman Stan Hasiak — played for the White Team.

Barkley, from Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., hit Marlon Brown of Memphis for a 71-yard score on the game's first possession, then followed with a 35-yard TD pass to Jamal Reid, who is headed to the University of Miami.

Russell Shepard of Houston, who is going to LSU, threw a 92-yard touchdown pass and ran for a 15-yard score for the Black Team.

Six players in the game used the ESPN telecast as a forum to announce where they will play college football. Nothing becomes official until Feb. 4, national signing day.

Touted safety Ray Ray Armstrong and defensive end Dyron Dye, both from the state championship team at Seminole High School in Sanford, Florida, picked the University of Miami. Wide receiver Andre Debose, also from Sanford, chose the University of Florida.

John Martinez, an offensive guard from Salt Lake City, verbally committed to USC, where he will join Barkley and three others who played Sunday night.

"USC is the right choice for me. It's the place to be," Martinez said. "There is no other place to go. It's just the best fit."

Center Mark Brazinski of Immaculata High School in Somerville, N.J., decided on California. Cornerback Branden Smith of Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta said he'll attend Georgia.

Three players in the game had already committed to Florida and three more are headed to Oklahoma, the two teams in Thursday night's national championship game.

Te'o, regarded as one of the top senior linebackers in the country, has not made a commitment, but has narrowed his choices to USC, UCLA, Stanford, BYU and Notre Dame. Toma and Hasiak have verbally committed to UCLA.

Toma won the Hands Competition at the Burger King All-American Varsity Skills Challenge at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex Saturday.

Toma, 5 feet 10, 170-pounds, caught every pass thrown to him and finished the course in 27.348 seconds, according to ESPN.