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John-Michael Deeds has a warning for those wishing to contact the Northside High School athletics director.

"People will call in and ask for Mr. Deeds and I pick up the phone," he said. "I think that's kind of comical."

The surname of Northside's new AD does have a familiar ring to it. Deeds, 26, will take over for his father, Ed, when the elder Deeds' retirement becomes effective June 30.

The younger Deeds appears to have been groomed for the job.

Deeds has a degree in sports management from James Madison, where he was a member of the Dukes' NCAA Division I-AA national championship football team despite an injury-plagued career.

Deeds played basketball at Northside before transferring to Cave Spring for his junior and senior years. He played football at Cave Spring as a senior.

Deeds has been coaching JV football at Northside for the last four years and has been learning the ropes of the Vikings' AD position, supervising the school's winter sports programs while attending several Blue Ridge District and Region III meetings.

Ed Deeds, who has battled vertigo in recent years, is finishing his 17th year as Northside's AD. The younger Deeds says his style will be different from his father's.

"He always preferred to get his hands dirty," the younger Deeds said.

"I'm more the kind of person who will be in the office doing something on the computer.

VHSL to determine AAA football sites

The VHSL Executive Committee will vote today to determine where the Group AAA Division 6 and Division 5 football championship games will be played in December.

The championship games are moving from UVa's Scott Stadium after a one-year fling.

The VHSL is considering three proposals: 1) playing all four games on the same day, two at Virginia State University in Ettrick and two at the Virginia Beach Sports Plex; 2) playing all four championship games in Virginia Beach, two on Friday night and two on Saturday afternoon; and 3) playing all four games at Virginia Tech's Lane Stadium.

Timesland players headline West team

Nine Timesland players including three from defending VHSL Group AA champion Blacksburg have been selected to play in the Virginia High School Coaches Association East-West all-star game July 2 in Newport News.

Defenders Stephen Brewster and Jeremy Williams, and midfielder Michael Breske of Blacksburg will play for the West squad.

Cave Spring's Luigi Greco and Michael Cilek, Radford's Alex Khandan-Barani and Nao Masuda, and Jefferson Forest's Timothy Bullock and Scott Zaring also were picked to play for the West squad.

The next level

Giles basketball star Cody Griffith will take his game to Bridgewater next season.

Griffith finished second on Giles' career scoring list with 1,080 points and set school records with 93 career 3-pointers and 172 steals.

The 5-foot-11 guard also finished No. 2 on the Spartans' career list with 292 assists. He scored 102 points over a three-game span and was named Three Rivers District player of the year.

Two other Three Rivers athletes also are headed to Ferrum; Glenvar's K.J. Ford for football and the Highlanders' Jim McGuire for football and baseball.

n Patrick Henry running back Brandon Keith has received a full academic scholarship to Emory & Henry, where he will play football. Keith also might play basketball for the Wasps.

Keith rushed for 569 yards and eight touchdowns as a senior for PH. He shot 38 percent from 3-point range for the Patriots' basketball team.

n William Byrd pitcher Travis Coffman will play next year at Patrick Henry Community College in Martinsville, which will be in its first year as a full-fledged JUCO program in 2008-09.

Coffman will be joined at PHCC by 2007 Byrd graduates Brandon Chocklette and Lance Kennedy.

n Radford goalkeeper Desi Simmons, who helped the Bobcats to the 2007 Group A girls' soccer title, will play next year at Division III Maryville (Tenn.). Simmons owns a 0.65 goals against average in four seasons for Radford. She also ranks No. 2 on the Timesland track and field list this spring in the shot put and discus.

n William Byrd catcher Ashlee Dillard has landed a scholarship to Carson-Newman (Tenn.). Dillard serves as Byrd's SCA president.

n Blacksburg running back Latrell Keys will play football next year at Ferrum. Keys rushed for 967 yards and 15 touchdowns last fall for the Bruins.