Most talked about Texas middle schooler since Stafford

The most talked about 8th-grader (that's Class of 2015) since Matthew Stafford was throwing junior high passes at Highland Park Middle School is _ without a doubt _ quarterback/basketball player extraordinaire Mickey Mitchell, an ultra-talented 6-7 athlete in Plano.

For whatever it's worth _ when I saw Stafford and Mitchell as middle schoolers _ they were worth all the buzz created. Stafford, of course, led Highland Park to the Class 4A 2005 state title, was a freshman starter at University of Georgia and the No. 1 overall draft pick in the 2009 NFL draft now starts for the Detroit Lions.

The left-handed Mitchell is the same "that's the guy" athlete whom anyone can spot in One -second. He didn't as much play 8th-grade basketball in North Dallas as he did rule it. Mitchell is enrolled at a middle school in Plano which would send him to Plano West and Wolves football coach Mike Hughes obviously is aware of the PISD's new student, who transferred this spring after dominating at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano.

There's still much speculation whether Mitchell will eventually end up at ESD in North Dallas, which recently had basketball star Phil Pressey transfer in two years ago and has former Plano High School quarterback Brock Mansion transfer to ESD for big seasons in '05 and '06 and plays at Cal.

Mitchell moved to North Texas from Florida a couple years ago and plays for the summer select basketball team of billionaire businessman Kenny Troutt. The Troutts have ties to several private schools, including ESD and Prestonwood, but high-profile summer league teams was the front-page story of The Dallas Morning News in January, 2011 in a story about private planes and luxury hotels for a summer schedule around the country.

But Mickey Mitchell is about to be the story all by himself. He can't participate in Plano West spring football because he is only an 8th-grader. But by the time he goes to a few combines, plays 7-on-7 football this summer, you will hear much about Mickey Mitchell before he ever attends a class on a high school campus. The big question is which campus?

More Mitchell..

Mickey's brother _ Michael Mitchell _ is a 6-4, 240-pound sophomore linebacker who is shining at Plano West off-season workouts this spring. He's a major college player as well and was key in Prestonwood Christian winning the TAPPS 5A state title last year. Oh yeah, there's another Mitchell brother in seventh-grade as well.

2011 TCU NIKE Combine stars

North Texas players shined at the TCU Elite 11 competition on Saturday and the NIKE invite only combine Sunday afternoon.

2011 Elite 11 and TCU NIKE Camp MVPs include Allen QB Alec Morris, Arlington RB Tavarreon Dickerson, Owasso (Okla.) WR Keon Hatcher,Duncanville OL Adam Butler, Mansfield DL Hassan Ridgeway, Skyline LB Peter Jinkens and Hendrickson DB Daje Johnson.

Lake Travis & Garland Offensive Coordinators

All because Coppell hired a new volleyball coach and Lake Travis and Garland have new offensive coordinators. (Keep reading..)

Lake Travis hired former Garland offensive coordinator David Collins as new offensive coordinator to orchestrate the Cavs' high-octane, high-speed offense. Collins has been at Garland the last three years making the transition to a spread-formation, shotgun, no-huddle from the Wing T.

Garland has elevated David Walker to OC from being the OL coach with Collins the last three years. Walker has a coaching pedigree back to being with Joe Martin at Allen (Garland HC Jeff Jordan was Martin's DC). David Walker played for the highly regarded Winston Duke at Richardson along with the sons of more than half-dozen sons of Dallas Cowboys players back in the day Walker's dad is former Cowboys lineman Malcolm Walker.

Coppell hired Lake Travis' volleyball state-champion winning Julie Green and Lake Travis OC Matt Green is moving to North Texas and has plans to go into private business rather than get another coaching gig.