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The Heaps family publicist released the following news overnight, confirming some preliminary information I was given on Wednesday:
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"HEAPS COMMITS—THURSDAY, 2PM"
Iggy's is the place to "Expect the Unexpected"
SALT LAKE CITY, JUNE 4, 2009 — Jake Heaps, the number one quarterback in the country (scout.com), and current starting Quarterback at Skyline High School in Washington State, will announce his university of choice later today, at Iggy's Sports Grill, at 2:00 pm Mountain Time.
Iggy's Sports Grill (423 W. 300 S., in downtown Salt Lake City), will not only be the site of Heaps' announcement, but two additional announcements. When asked to comment about the additional news announcements, Heaps said only, "Expect the unexpected."
Heaps and other press conference participants will be available after the event on a limited basis.
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As such, I would expect more than a few BYU fans to be on hand this afternoon in Salt Lake City when Heaps and the additional players make their announcements. From what I understand, Jake was the "ringleader" in making sure the other announcements coincided with his decision.
I will be on the road headed out of town seeing to a family commitment at the time of the press conference, but ksl.com will update with video as soon as it has been processed. And of course, stay with KSL Newsradio and KSL Channel 5 for coverage later in the afternoon.
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In addition to Utah's media confirmations, the Seattle Times is reporting that Heaps "has picked Brigham Young University over Washington," according to two sources.
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The Seattle Post-Intelligencer put it this way:
"Any drama over where highly-recruited Skyline High quarterback Jake Heaps is headed ended with his newest press release announcement Thursday morning that the gathering will be held in Salt Lake City, about 40 miles from the BYU campus in Provo, Utah.
With several Utah media outlets already reporting that Heaps was committing to BYU, the location of today's ceremony certainly cements that deal...
...the "unexpected" in this case likely will involve other recruits committing to BYU along with Heaps, given the school is hosting a "junior day" on Friday with other top high school prospects visiting Provo as well.
...(Speculation is) that Ross Apo, one of the nation's top wide receivers who had previously committed to Texas, will be in Provo this weekend and has become good friends with Heaps during the recruiting process.
Certainly with the announcement coming in the shadow of BYU, the unexpected won't involve where Heaps himself is headed."
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Yes, this amounts to a lot of hype and hoopla, but the fact is BYU is indeed acquiring one of the premier young quarterbacking talents of the current decade. I've yet to encounter anyone knowledgeable in the high school/college game who doesn't think Heaps is a "can't miss" prospect. While there are cautionary tales around every corner when it comes to recruiting quarterbacks (Ben Olson comes to mind), Heaps' acquisition would have to rank among the most important organizational and tactical achievements of the nascent Bronco Mendenhall era.
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