Georgia Tech's Paul Johnson visits with Carver's Darren Myles

Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson met on Wednesday with Carver-Atlanta safety Darren Myles, one of the nation's top uncommitted players. What did Johnson have to say? "He said they really want me, and they wanted to know what it was going to take to get me there," Myles told the AJC. Myles said after meeting with Johnson, he has decided to take an official visit to Georgia Tech in January (date to be determined). Myles will take recruiting trips to LSU this weekend and Alabama on Jan. 9. He said his other top schools are Michigan, West Virginia and Purdue. Myles also said he is no longer consideriing UGA.

Top safety not sure what went wrong with UGA

Carver-Atlanta safety Darren Myles, one of the nation's top uncommitted prospects, still isn't sure why he hasn't heard from UGA in recent weeks. He is no longer considering the Bulldogs. "You'd have to ask [UGA], I'm really not sure what is going on," Myles said. "I guess they found someone else they like better at the safety position. They had one commitment at safety [Early County's Shawn Williams], and I knew that they had limited scholarships this year." "I guess they found someone they liked better for that other scholarship at safety, I don't really know." If UGA tried to get back into the picture, would Myles be interested? "No, I don't think so. Georgia has moved on, and so have I." Did Georgia lose a golden opportunity with Myles? That appears to be unlikely. When asked if UGA was ever at the top of his recruiting list, Myles would only go as far to say that the Bulldogs were in his top 10. Myles was visited by Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson on Wednesday and agreed to take an official visit to the ACC school in January. Myles will make recruiting trips to LSU this weekend and Alabama on Jan. 9. He is also considering Michigan, West Virginia and Purdue.

Top 10 most wanted: Best football recruits still on the market

About half of Georgia’s top 25 recruits remain uncommitted. Here are the best 10 still on the market. Three of our reporters then make predictions on their final destinations. Darren Myles, Carver-Atlanta: The only surprise would be if Myles, a Super 11 safety, committed early. He’s very interested in LSU and Georgia, but the sense here is that he’ll be swayed by something in early winter, not the fall. This battle is just beginning. Predictions: Michael Carvell: Georgia Jeff Hood: Georgia Todd Holcomb: LSU Jarvis Jones, Carver-Columbus: The consensus No. 1 recruit in Georgia, Jones is another who’s not likely to commit until after the season. Best guess is that this linebacker will go with Clemson, Florida, Georgia or LSU, but he has not ruled out Miami, Texas or Southern Cal. He could wind up a safety in college. Predictions: Carvell: LSU Hood: Clemson Holcomb: Georgia Jamal Patterson, Henry County: This swift wide receiver told our Michael Carvell this month that he’ll make official visits to Stanford and Central Florida. His other choices are Florida, Tennessee, Clemson, Auburn and Oregon. Great student, which is one reason he made our Super 11 list. Predictions: Carvell: Central Florida Hood: Central Florida Holcomb: Stanford Johnnie Farms, Perry: This Super 11 lineman says he’d like to stay near home. He has gone to camp at Alabama and South Carolina and recently visited Auburn. He’s believed to be an Auburn lean. Predictions: Carvell: Auburn Hood: Auburn Holcomb: Auburn Jonathan Davis, Tucker: Many feel this is the best football player in Georgia, even if his size - 5-8 - doesn’t make him a 5-star recruit. He’s got offers from Oklahoma State, South Carolina, Louisville, Central Florida and UAB, although there’s blog talk that South Carolina may back off after getting commitments from two safeties and two linebackers this month, including Apalachee’s Chaun Gresham. Predictions: Carvell: Oklahoma State Hood: Central Florida Holcomb: Central Florida Branden Smith, Washington: The best corner prospect in Georgia, Smith told us this month that he plans to make his decision Jan. 4 at the Under Armour All-Star game. He’s camped at LSU and Auburn and visited Georgia and Alabama this summer. Predictions: Carvell: Georgia Hood: LSU Holcomb: Georgia Izaan Cross, Flowery Branch: This defensive end told our Jeff Hood last weekend that Clemson just made an offer. We still think he’s a Georgia Tech lean. His Flowery Branch teammate, Daniel Drummond, is a Tech commit, and quarterback Connor Shaw has a Tech offer as a junior and is the brother of current Tech freshman Jaybo Shaw. Predictions: Carvell: Georgia Tech Hood: Georgia Tech Holcomb: Georgia Tech Michael Bowman, Ridgeland: This 6-foot-5 receiver told our Seth Coleman that he’s down to Auburn, Georgia and LSU. Predictions: Carvell: Prep school Hood: Georgia Holcomb: Auburn Julian Burnett, Westside-Macon: This is a linebacker that we rank higher than the recruiting services, who don’t like his height, 5-10. Auburn is perhaps his favorite, but he’s waiting on an offer. Predictions: Carvell: Mississippi Hood: Alabama-Birmingham Holcomb: Auburn Darius Slay, Brunswick: Not the best ‘’prospect’’ because he’s got grade issues that keep some top schools from offering. Georgia hasn’t even visited. But Slay, a cornerback with 4.37 speed, is a player with Super 11 and perhaps NFL talent. Clemson and South Carolina have visited and essentially offered — contingent on Slay coming through academically. Predictions: Carvell: South Carolina Hood: Prep school Holcomb: JUCO

Defending champion LSU tries to raid state's top-rated prospects

LSU's national championship is having a big impact on the school's football recruiting effort in Georgia. Cornerback Branden Smith of Atlanta's Washington High and linebacker Jarvis Jones of Carver High of Columbus, arguably the state's top two prospects, participated in LSU's camp. The Tigers already have commitments from two of the state's top players, Tucker wide receiver Drayton Calhoun and Peachtree Ridge linebacker Kevin Minter. "They [LSU] are the champs, and when the national champion comes after you, then I would think most players would have to take a serious look, " Minter said. LSU always has recruited the state, with five Georgia players on its 2008 roster. But the Tigers are drawing serious interest from several of the state's elite prospects. Attracting Smith and Jones to camp was a coup for LSU coach Les Miles. Also in attendance, but only observing, was Carver of Atlanta's Darren Myles Jr., one of the nation's top safety prospects. "I wanted to go to LSU because I had to see what it was all about, " Smith said. "Everything speaks for itself there. They win national championships; they have great facilities and have a great coaching staff. It was my first time there, and I enjoyed the experience." LSU rarely beats out Georgia in head-to-head battles for home-grown players, but appears to have accomplished that with the commitment from Calhoun, who initially wanted to go to Georgia but committed after visiting LSU last February. Georgia is still recruiting Calhoun, who says he is Baton Rouge-bound. "I'm 100-percent with LSU; it's the best place for me, " he said. Smith and Jones roomed together at the LSU camp. "We talked about a lot of things, such as how recruiting was going and our expecations for our senior season, " Smith said. "We didn't really talk about playing at [LSU together], but we both had a good time."