Kevin Noreen, the state’s 2010 Mr. Basketball, hopes to make a decision on his college choice by week’s end, according to his Minnesota Transitions coach, John Sherman.  Noreen is visiting Oregon, Stanford and Washington this week.  Those schools are under consideration along with Arkansas, Boston College and possibly Northwestern, Sherman said.

In its college football issue now selling on newsstands, Athlon Sports ranked the best schools to coach at from No. 1 Texas through No. 120 Eastern Michigan.  Athlon considered various factors such as proximity to the best high school players and facilities.  After Texas the next 10 schools are USC, Florida, Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Florida Sate, Georgia, LSU, Michigan and Penn Sate.  Minnesota is No. 53.

Gophers linebacker Sam Maresh, a highly publicized in-state recruit two years ago and someone counted on to play this fall, left Minnesota recently because of academics.  Whether Maresh will eventually return to the Gophers isn’t known and coach Tim Brewster wants Maresh to do what is right for him.

“Obviously I love Sam,” Brewster said.  “The only thing I am concerned about is his success as a human being. …”

Former Vikings and Raiders quarterback Rich Gannon has been tutoring Jets quarterback Mark Sanchez who was a rookie last season.

The June issue of Inc. magazine has named the Jets organization as one of the Top 20 Small Company Workplaces in the country.

When the Twins go on the road later this month for three consecutive series against National League teams the absence of the designated hitter will restrict plate appearances by 39-year-old Jim Thome.  Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said during his KSTP Radio Show on Sunday that Thome can’t play first base because of a bad back.

It’s interesting that the Nationals consider No. 1 draft pick Bryce Harper, 17, too valuable as a hitter to continue playing catcher but there is no plan by the Twins to switch catcher and three time batting champ Joe Mauer to another position.

Of the 27 players on the Minnesota Wild roster, eight were selected in the first round of the NHL Entry Draft, including Owen Nolan, the only player taken as the No. 1 overall pick (1990, Quebec Nordiques).  Five Wild players were selected in the seventh round, while five others made it to the NHL after going undrafted.  This year’s draft is June 25-26 in Los Angeles.

Randy Shaver’s charity golf tournament was held on Monday and the KARE 11 sportscaster reported via email that the annual event has generated over $4 million for cancer research since its inception in 1995.  This year’s tournament will raise about $220,000.

The 39^th annual Tapemark Charity Pro-Am tournament will be played tomorrow through Sunday at Southview Country Club.  The longevity of the tournament and monies raised for charity is a testament to the commitment of the Klas family that has also generously supported other causes in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

Jim Holden will be selling copies of Tennis in the Northland for $10 each at the University of Minnesota’s Baseline Center this morning and at Reed-Sweatt Tennis Center in south Minneapolis this afternoon.  The former Northfield tennis coach has written a comprehensive history of boys’ high school tennis in Minnesota.

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At the Vikings Organized Team Activity last week at Winter Park reserve quarterback Tarvaris Jackson was asked in what way is he better than a year ago.  He told Sports Headliners his focus at practice has improved, admitting that at times concentration lapsed in the past.

Watching Brett Favre last season has helped “a lot,” Jackson said.  “The way he prepared,” Jackson said. “The way he took every throw like it was a Super Bowl game throw out here.  So I took that same approach that he took.”

Jackson started 19 games for the Vikings in the three seasons before Favre signed on last summer.  He said if Favre says no to another season, teammates will be disappointed but they also realize they have to move on and “compete.”

What would Jackson’s reaction be? “Get ready to play,” he said.  “Obviously, if he’s not coming back, I am thinking I am going to be the guy. …”

Favre’s close friend and teammate Ryan Longwell isn’t sure if Favre will return.  The two were once teammates in Green Bay and have talked during this off-season but not about a second Vikings season for Favre.  Instead they have chatted about golf and family.

Although Favre will be 41 in October, Longwell won’t dismiss the possibility the Vikings No. 1 quarterback could play even better than last season when his performance ranked among the best of his legendary career.  “I was with him for two of the three (NFL) MVP years (in Green Bay) and he was better last year than he was for any of those years,” Longwell said.

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Who has it right about the Vikings offensive line?  The naysayers or the optimists?

The doubters look at that unit and describe it as problematic.  A weak link last season and something that hasn’t been corrected for 2010.  Sports Illustrated pro football authority Peter King describes the line as “in decline” and a reason he listed the Vikings at No. 13 in his power rankings of NFL teams this spring. https://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/05/16/ranking/1.html

Those with an optimistic view acknowledge the offensive line wasn’t a a major team strength last season, particularly its run blocking.  However, healthier players and more experience will produce a better unit in 2010, according to the glass is half full folks.

Guards Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera played with injured shoulders last season.  The unit also had new starters at center, John Sullivan, and right tackle, Phil Loadholt.  Sullivan was a second year player last season, while Loadholt was a rookie.

The complaints of the critics include that Sullivan is too undersized to be effective at center.  The critics say Herrera is average and left tackle Bryant McKinnie under achieves.  The unit also needs more depth with better reserves.

McKinnie told Sports Headliners healthier players and more experience can translate into a better offensive line.  He also had an answer to King’s statement that the line is in decline.  “Hopefully everybody on the offensive line knows that you can use that as motivation,” he said.

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