According to the Phoenix News, Phoenixville big man George Harper has decided to quit the team only days before the District One Class AAA playoffs begin.

This makes the bracket wide open.

The story, from one of the Daily Times' sister papers, makes the case that Harper, a 6-7 junior power forward, left the Phantoms following their loss Friday in the Pioneer Athletic Conference playoffs. The story cites that Harper, an American Christian transfer, had difficulties with coaches and teammates, and academic and disciplinary pitfalls.

This is a huge blow for the Phantoms (18-5, 11-2), who won the regular-season title in the PAC-10's small-schools division. They are the Class AAA top seed and, on Saturday, will face the winner of a first-round game between No. 8 Octorara and No. 9 Pottstown.

What does this mean for Delaware County teams?

Well, fourth-seeded Marple Newtown certainly has an easier route to the district final, with the Phantoms out of the picture. (Harper torched the Tigers for 14 points in the title game of their holiday tournament. Harper, who has received recruiting interest from Georgetown and Seton Hall, was the tourney's MVP.)

And on the other side of the bracket, it's one less team No. 6 Strath Haven and No. 7 Springfield will have to contend with, should they string a few wins together.

The District One Class AAA and Class A brackets were announced Friday, and four Delaware County teams made the cut:

Class AAA
No. 11 Upper Moreland at No. 6 Strath Haven (first round)
No. 10 Lower Moreland at No. 7 Springfield (first round)
No. 4 Marple Newtown vs. No. 8/9 winner (second round)

Class A
No. 11 Calvary Christian at No. 6 Delco Christian (first round)

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In the Catholic League playoffs, we're looking at Archbishop Carroll and Monsignor Bonner trying to advance to the semifinal round. Both play Saturday. Carroll is at Cardinal O'Hara, where it will face West Catholic. Bonner is at Archbishop Ryan, taking on North Catholic.

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The Bicentennial Athletic League is coordinating its playoff system this weekend to determine a champion. The top two teams from the league's Constitutional Division cross over to face the top teams from the Independence Division. Here is a look at Friday's opening round:

• Delco Christian (No. 2-CD) at Holy Ghost Prep (No. 1-ID)
• Christopher Dock (No. 2-ID) at Girard College (No. 1-CD)

The championship is Saturday.

The District One boys soccer playoffs - like the Phillies and the World Series - will have to wait another day.

The first snowfall of the year has brought about the cancellation of a pair of games with Delco ties.

The Class A semifinal between Delco Christian and New Hope-Solebury will be played Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. at Harry S Truman High School, in Levittown.

The Class AA semifinal between Springfield and Holy Ghost Prep also will be played Wednesday at 5:45 p.m. This one has been moved to Conestoga High School, a little closer to home in Treddyfrin.

Pick up a copy of Wednesday's Daily Times for the latest.

The District One boys soccer Classes AAA, AA and A brackets were announced Sunday, and six Delco teams made the cut. Here are the matchups:

Tuesday - Class AAA
24 RADNOR at 9 Pennridge, 7 p.m.
21 PENN WOOD at 12 Neshaminy, 7 p.m.
23 West Chester East at 10 UPPER DARBY, 7 p.m.
27 Cheltenham at 6 STRATH HAVEN, 7 p.m.

Wednesday - Class AA
5 Harriton at 4 SPRINGFIELD, TBD

Wednesday - Class A
8 Plumstead Christian at 1 DELCO CHRISTIAN, 3 p.m.

Keep an eye out for more coverage of the boys soccer playoffs in Monday's edition of the Daily Times.

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.

The Springfield Cougars have won six games this season. Fortunately for them, three of them have come in a row, ever since taking a 3-19 mark into the final week of the season.

Coach Kevin McCormick's crew is headed to the district quarterfinals, where they will play No. 3 Great Valley. Three weeks ago, I'm not sure anyone would have believed this possible, but hand it to the Cougars - they're playing their best ball right now.

MAKE-UPS ON TAP: Two Class AAA games, originally scheduled for Wednesday, will be played today. No. 9 Harriton is at No. 8 Marple Newtown, and No. 10 Radnor is at No. 7 Phoenixville.

THREE TEAMS MAKE STATES: In Class AAAA, three teams are moving onto states after posting second-round wins. No. 1 Chester, forward Shawn Oakman (pictured) and No. 5 Penn Wood and No. 6 Ridley have picked up berths in the PIAA playoff bracket. From here on out, each of District One's eight state-bound teams will play three games for seeding purposes. The sad reality? One of those eight teams will lose three straight games in February and still make the state tournament.

ALL-DELCO UPDATE: I'm enjoying the feedback from my open-door policy with All-Delco selections. Like I've said, I'll never close my ears to a fan's pitch for a player (or two). Plus I welcome the message board-style posting you - the readers - have made possible. Keep it up. And, for clarity's sake, the team has six players: Player of the Year and the top five players assigned by position. So using those guidelines, get in your suggestions.

TEAM COVERAGE: If you're a boys basketball fan in Delaware County, pick up a copy of today's Daily Times. You'll definitely be getting your money's worth. Villanova beat writer Terry Toohey was at Ridley, Eagles beat writer Bob Grotz covered the Catholic League play-in game, I was at Chester and we had a write-up on Glen Mills.

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.

The big news Thursday night was Lower Merion getting one step closer toward clinching the regular-season title in the Central League. The Aces' win over Radnor coupled with Haverford completing a season-sweep over Ridley puts Lower Merion in the driver's seat. Lower Merion and Ridley play one another Saturday, which could determine whether the teams share the crown or LM gets it outright.

Of course, there were some other goings-on from the hardwood:

• Springfield, behind 20 points from Lou Meindl, snapped an 11-game losing streak and knocked off Upper Darby.
• Glen Mills took a 30-24 lead against Chester into halftime before the Clippers snapped out of it and stifled the Bulls. The win solidifies a perfect 10-0 season in Del Val League play for Chester.
• Cardinal O'Hara got thumped by Neumann-Goretti, 85-49. If the Lions had any inkling of sneaking into the Catholic League playoffs, that's out the window now.

More to come Friday night, when I'll be blogging live (wireless Internet permitting) from Villanova's Pavilion and the Primetime Shootout. Don't miss it.

Delaware County's third-leading scorer took a breather Wednesday night. Ridley's Dan Robinson missed the Green Raiders' 62-42 Central League win over Springfield.

The cause? Robinson is suffering from broken skin under his right arm, something his coach says will not keep the 6-foot-7 senior forward out of the lineup for long. In fact, Ridley coach Keith Heinerichs said he expects Robinson to play in Friday's game at Strath Haven.

"It's a day-by-day thing is what I'm told," Heinerichs said by phone Wednesday. "I'm going to pull a Bill Belichick thing here and just say 'I don't know' because I don't. We hope it's nothing serious and we don't think it is."

Robinson averages nearly 20 points per game for the Green Raiders (17-3, 12-2). Shamar Harris and Steve Egee picked up the scoring load in Robinson's absence Wednesday, scoring 25 and 15 points respectively.