Adu future of American soccer

The player considered the future of American soccer can barely get into a PG-13 movie and that's a good thing. It finally means the United States may be catching up to the rest of the world.

Freddy Adu, a 13-year-old from Potomac, Md., is expected to start for the U-23 National Team in its qualifying game against Jamaica on March 5 in Guatemala, the New York Times reported last week. Adu's mother, Emilia, was granted citizenship which makes him eligible to play for the U.S.

If Adu starts against Jamaica, he would be the youngest player to wear a United States team jersey. From what I've heard, the kid is just phenomenal and could make Landon Donovan shine his shoes.

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Joe Zaher, the former Bishop Gorman star who died in a car accident in his native Las Vegas on Dec. 1, was named to the Soccer America All Freshman Team. Zaher, who led the Gaels the 4A state title in 2001, led Oregon State to its first NCAA Tournament ever, scoring 10 goals during his freshman campaign

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Zaher's brother, Mike, also seems to be a decent player. Mike Zaher, a Gorman senior who helped lead the school back to the state title game in December, was one of 18 players named an NSCAA All American in the U-17 age group.

Freddy Adu was named an NSCAA All American in the U-15 age group.

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The Feather River men's basketball team has achieved great success this year with the help of numerous Nevada players. The Eagles were 21-8 this season going into their game on Friday night against Butte College in Oroville, Calif. They have been ranked in the top 20 in the coaches poll of the California Community College Men's Basketball Association most of the year.

Adam McKenzie and Ryan Buttner, two former Carson High stars who are freshman at Feather River, are logging significant minutes. Buttner is averaging 11.4 ppg, fourth best on the team. Buttner, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard, leads the team in 3-pointers made with 68 and is shooting 35 percent from behind-the-arc (68-of-195).

McKenzie is averaging 4.3 ppg. Freshman Dustin Hall, who played at Reed last season, is averaging 5.7 ppg.

The Eagles' leading scorer is sophomore Wendell West, who led Western to its upset of nationally ranked Gorman in 2001 4A state title game, is averaging almost 15.0 ppg.

In all, there are seven Nevada players on the Eagles' roster, including Hug High graduate Tauren Weaver. Carson coach Bruce Barnes, who has talked with both McKenzie and Buttner this season, said he thinks that after an eye-opening start, both players have made the transition.

"I think they quickly realized that junior college is a higher level than thought it would be," Barnes said.

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Erin Stieber, a former Carson High star, is averaging 8 ppg and 4 apg for the Lassen College women's basketball team, Nevadaprep.com reported. Two other Northern Nevada players, Tara Davis of Lowry and Zule Cerritos of Hug, have helped the Cougars to a 19-10 record, according to the website. Davis is in the top 10 in four categories in the Golden Valley Conference and Cerritos is averaging 9.0 ppg and 5.0 apg.

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It seems as though several people were miffed at Bruce Barnes' comment in my column last week. He said something like if Carson wins the Sierra League title they should rename Morse Burley Gymnasium to Bruce Barnes Gymnasium. Please understand that the comment was completely tongue-in-cheek and there wasn't one shred of truth in that statement. He was joking.

Although, if he leads the Senators to the state title, Bruce Barnes Court at Morse Burley Gymnasium has a nice ring to it.

Jeremy Evans is a Nevada Appeal sportswriter.