Marquis Melvin, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound defensive back/wide receiver at Whiteville, has committed to Duke.

Melvin played on a Whiteville team that finished 9-4 and reached the third round of the state football playoffs.

"He is extremely strong and fast," said Whiteville coach Mark Little. "He bench presses 320 and runs a 4.5 [in the 40]."

HAMRICK IN CAMP: Garner junior football quarterback Adam Hamrick is participating in a quarterback camp at the Miami Dolphins' training site in Davie, Fla.

About 70 high school quarterbacks are expected to work out. The very best may get an invitation to the Elite 11 camp in California this summer.

Hamrick also is scheduled to attend the Nike Camp on April 18 in Charlottesville, Va.

"I'm going to see some of the best high school players in the country," said the 6-foot, 190-pound Hamrick.

"I've been working hard in the offseason, and I will see if the work is paying off."

Hamrick completed 120 of 234 passes for 1,808 yards and 24 touchdowns while helping lead Garner to a 10-3 record.

AMAZING STAT: California had 379 high school football players receive major college football scholarships this spring, according to Prepstar Magazine.

Texas had 312 and Florida 209. Add in Georgia's 116 and Ohio's 105 and those five state's had almost as many football recruits (1,121) as the rest of the states combined (1,133).

North Carolina had 42 players receive major college scholarships.

SHRINE BOWL WORKOUTS: High school football players interested in playing for the North Carolina team in next December's Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas Game may participate in one of a series of combines this spring.

The workouts will be at Scotland County (April 15), Jamestown Ragsdale (May 1), Greene Central (May 8), Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte (May 15) and Asheville Reynolds (May 22).

The combines give the Shrine Bowl coaching staff a firsthand look at players. Information from the workouts will be shared with college coaches.

HOW DID THAT HAPPEN? West Brunswick's Cedric Simmons, a 6-10 N.C. State basketball recruit, would have been my pick as the North Carolina high school boys state player of the year.

But I didn't vote, and Simmons didn't even make one of The Associated Press' top 13.

Neither did Garner's James Mays, a Clemson recruit.

Neither was nominated for the team, which was selected by media members from across the state.

Josh King, the state's all-time leading 3-point scorer, led Trinity to the state title and deserved the AP honor as the state player of the year, but Simmons was the best player in the state.

HABEL TO EMORY & HENRY: Lauren Habel, a 5-6 shooting guard at Leesville Road, has signed with Emory and Henry University in Emory, Va.

Habel averaged 13 points, three rebounds, three steals and two assists. She made 61 3-point shots last year.

BUNN RECRUITS: Bunn recently had two players sign with Fayetteville State in football: offensive lineman Derek Privette (6-3, 280) and linebacker Thomas Dew (6-1, 220).

Get $150+ in coupons in every Sunday N&O. Click here for convenient home delivery.