Memphis high school golfer Rachel Heck named national junior player of year by AJGA

For Rachel Heck, the hits just keep on coming.

The sophomore at St. Agnes — who won her second straight Division II-AA state championship last month while leading her team to its fourth consecutive team title — has been named player of the year by the American Junior Golf Association.

"Being named Rolex player of the year is a dream come true," she told Golfweek magazine. "I am humbled to be added to the list of amazing golfers who have won this award."

Former winners of the award include Heather Farr, Grace Park, Inbee Park, Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel, and Heck looks poised to one day reach LPGA star status like they did.

Since November, the Stanford commitment has won the Rolex Girls Junior while finishing second in the Thunderbird National and the ANA Junior Inspiration. Heck also went 2-0-2 in the Wyndham Cup and was won all three of her matches at the Ping Junior Solheim Cup.

And of course, she was the youngest player to make the cut at this year's U.S. Open. She's ranked first by the AJGA, second by Junior Golf Scoreboard and third by Golfweek.

Noah Goodwin of Texas became the fifth player to win the boys award two years in succession, joining Tracy Phillips, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Woods and Brian Harman.

Local standouts named to Toyota game

Four local high school football players have been selected to play in the Toyota East-West all-star game, which takes place Dec. 9 in Cookeville.

Germantown had two players chosen, receiver-defensive back Jaylin Williams and offensive tackle Max Martini. St. Benedict athlete Cam Jones was also chosen along with offensive lineman Jerome Carvin of Cordova.

Williams, who has committed to Indiana, entered Friday's game against Whitehaven with 44 catches for 832 yards and 11 touchdowns, four interceptions (two for touchdowns) and a kickoff return touchdown. Martini has committed to Toledo.

Jones, another Indiana commitment, had 25 catches for 535 and seven scores along with a pick-six. Carvin is uncommitted but has offers from a host of schools, including the majority of the SEC.

Mississippi State high on Taylor

From the sound of things, Mississippi State women's basketball fans are about to see what Olive Branch fans have seen for the previous five years.

During media day last week, Bulldogs coach Vic Schaefer singled out Myah Taylor, saying the three-time Commercial Appeal player of the year "was going to be a superstar" in her freshman season.

"Myah has come in and has been a competitor. I love her presence. She's a great teammate ... (and) has a tremendous IQ for the game. Her work ethic is incredible."

The 5-7 Taylor was a third-team USA Today All-American as a senior and a three-time Gatorade Mississippi player of the year.  Last season, she averaged 20.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, 7.2 assists and 6.2 steals while leading Olive Branch to a 33-1 record and the MHSAA Class 6A state title.

The Bulldogs, last season's NCAA runners-up, open the season Nov. 10 against Virginia at home.

Echols lands on preseason squad

Former Mitchell basketball star Naba Echols is one of just five players on the preseason All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference team, the school announced this week.

The 5-11 Echols had a terrific sophomore season at Northern Michigan, leading the Wildcats in scoring (17.6 points per game) while shooting 42 percent from the 3-point line, 48 percent overall and 88 percent from the line. Barring injury, he should surpass the 1,000-point mark sometime this year.

Echols teamed with current University of Memphis captain Jeremiah Martin to lead Mitchell to Class A state titles in 2014 and 2015.

Ex-Mustang on honor roll

Former Houston High soccer standout Charles Blankenship has been named to the AAC weekly honor roll for the first time in his career.

The former Best of the Preps player of the year converted a cross from Burke Fahling in the 40th minute of play that allowed the Tigers to tie South Florida 1-1 last week. The  senior was one of three players on the team with two goals heading into the weekend.

Memphis' final match of the regular season is Nov. 4 against Tulsa at Mike Rose.

RiverKings add rookie forward via trade

The Mississippi RiverKings have acquired forward Daniel Tedesco from Pensacola, completing a deal that began last week when the team picked up Trever Hertz and future considerations from the Ice Flyers.

Tedesco, a rookie from Maple, Ontario, played four years at St. Cloud State and also had a brief tenure with the ECHL's Wichita Thunder in 2016-17. He played in just one game with Pensacola, scoring in a 4-0 victory over Macon last week.

He'll make his home debut when the 'Kings take on Macon at the Landers Center in Southaven on Friday.

Super Bowl champ at FCA breakfast

Former New Orleans Saints player Chris Reis, who helped his team win Super Bowl XLIV with a dramatic play, will be the guest speaker at this year's Fellowship of Christian Athletes/AutoZone Liberty Bowl breakfast.

Reis, who played at Georgia Tech, pounced on an onside kick to start the second half as the Saints went on to defeat the Indianapolis Colts 31-17 to win their only championship on Feb. 7, 2010. The recovery was selected by NFL.com as one of the top 10 Super Bowl plays of the decade.

He later worked with his father, Mike, in writing a book entitled "Recovery of a Lifetime: The Inspirational Journey of a Super Bowl Hero Son and His Father's Battle Against Multiple Addictions." Chris serves as a young adult and students' pastor at Our Savior's Church in Lafayette, La.

This year's breakfast will be held Dec. 27 at the Hilton Memphis at 7:15 a.m. Tickets are $85 or $800 for a table of 10. For more information, visit MemphisFCA.org or call 901-683-3399. 

Sunday Sports Brunch is a weekly look at movers, shakers and newsmakers on the Memphis sports scene, from youth level to the pros. If you have an item of interest, please contact John Varlas at john.varlas@commercialappeal.com.