I'll be the first to tell you all that I love my job - I really do. Covering games, meeting new people daily and telling their stories is like nothing else.

But I can't be everywhere.

So here's my pitch: if you're a player and you're headed to college to play basketball, let me know. And I'll reciprocate with some much-deserved coverage. This goes for coaches and parents, too, or simply anyone who can confirm a student-athlete's commitment to a school (Division I, II, III or otherwise).

I'd like to think I have a good relationship with most - if not all - of the coaches in Delaware County. But in case something slips by me or the coaches (Hey, we're all busy. It can happen), just drop me a line either through e-mail or right here on the blog. And I'll make sure that player gets some ink ASAP.

IN PLAYOFF NEWS
The District One Class AAAA championship might have been pushed back to Sunday, but there are some good games out there today. Here are my must-see tilts.

• AAAA: Ridley vs. Souderton, 1 p.m., at Plymouth Whitemarsh. Going into states on a winning note will be on Ridley's mind.
• AAAA: Penn Wood vs. Pennsbury, 1 p.m., at Norristown. The third seed in states is on the line.
• AAA: Holy Ghost Prep vs. Upper Moreland, 1 p.m., at William Tennent. Gotta pull for HGP, my alma mater, in this one. Winner gets a berth in the state bracket.

It appears recruiting services are making their marks on youth basketball players earlier and earlier these days.

The Dallas Morning News reports today that, according to recruiting service HoopScoop.com, some of the nation's top elementary school basketball players hail from Texas. My question is this: When did recruiting services begin rating kids before reaching high school?

Then I remembered how Sebastian Telfair (pictured) was heralded among national media only years ago. He was ranked among the nation's top fourth-, fifth- and sixth-graders before heading to Brooklyn's Lincoln High. In the end, he's a middle-of-the road NBA player averaging 7.5 points per game.

So is all the attention necessary? Does it set the bar too high? Does it only set these kids up for failure and missed expectations? I welcome your thoughts.

In Saturday's playoff games:
I was at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Saturday, where Radnor's season came to an end. The Red Raiders weren't alone. Also in the District One Class AAA tournament, Springfield's season concluded in defeat.

Elsewhere, Monsignor Bonner and Delco Christian advanced to the second rounds of their respective tournaments. The Friars knocked off Neumann-Goretti in the Catholic League playoffs, while the Knights took down Renaissance Academy in the District One Class A tourney. Check out Matt Smith's report on the Radnor/Holy Ghost game and Terry Toohey's account from the Delco Christian game.

I've been in the office for only a couple minutes but here's what I've learned concerning tonight's area basketball games:

• POSTPONED: Class AAA - Harriton at Marple Newtown. Snow caused the cancellation of classes today leading to tonight's postponement. The game will be played Thursday.
• ANNOUNCED: Class A - The eight-team Class A bracket will be announced Thursday, and I'm hearing that Delco Christian could be seeded among the top 4. Stay tuned.
• STILL ON: Class AAAA - Central Bucks West at Ridley. Despite popular belief (and the district Web site, which says the game is Thursday), this one will be played tonight. Ridley coach Keith Heinerichs assures me of it.

More to come in playoff hoops tonight and tomorrow. Stick to the blog.

Ushering in the playoffs is like celebrating two birthdays in the same year. It's that much fun. I'm sure there are plenty of over-prepared coaches, nervous parents and anxious players who'd contest that statement.

The District One Class AAAA playoffs begin tonight, with nine Delaware County teams trying to keep their seasons alive. For a full schedule of the games, check out the print edition of the Daily Times. I'll be at the Lower Merion/Academy Park game, so pick up Saturday's paper for more on that.

In terms of playoff previews, I wrote one for each of tonight's games in addition to a feature on Ridley senior Dan Robinson, who carries the offensive load for the Green Raiders. There's also a story recapping readers on the District One Class AAA playoff field, which was announced Thursday.

Enjoy tonight's games. It's the time of year for good basketball.

The 12-team field for next week's District One Class AAA bracket was announced Thursday morning, and three Delaware County teams made the cut:

No. 8 Marple Newtown (9-15) vs. No. 9 Harriton (7-17)
No. 10 Radnor (6-18) vs. No. 7 Phoenixville (11-13)
No. 11 Springfield (5-19) vs. No. 6 Upper Perkiomen (16-8)

First-round matchups will be played Wednesday, Feb. 13, with the higher seed hosting. A storyline to follow is with Springfield, which looks to defend its district title. For more on the Class AAA bracket, pick up Friday's Daily Times.

Chester senior Russell Johnson participated in practice Tuesday and could be ready for Friday's playoff game, point guard Karon Burton said late Tuesday night.

Johnson, a forward, started all of the Clippers' games this season except the final four. He has been sidelined since twisting his ankle in a pick-up basketball game last month. Burton said Johnson "got some running in" Tuesday. Burton expects Johnson to be ready for Friday's District One Class AAAA first-round game against 32nd-seeded Methacton.

"He suited up for practice and he looked good," Burton said.

IN OTHER NEWS: The seedings for the District One Class AAA tournament will be released Thursday. Four Delco teams are in Class AAA (Marple Newtown, Radnor, Springfield and Sun Valley) so it looks like a few could land a spot in the tournament when the 12-team field is announced.

Also, I wanted to offer belated kudos to the Bucks County Courier Times, which organized a tournament two weeks ago for one of its sportwriters who passed away of cancer in December. The proceeds of the tournament - named the Jason Haslam Classic - benefited cancer research. Jason was one of my friends from Temple University and had a hand in my development in this business. Thanks to the BCCT for getting the tournament off the ground.