We can make no assurances about which players will make it to the professional ranks, but these four St. Louis-area players stand a good chance. They might not have the best statistics, but their natural athletic talent makes them a force. Here's a brief introduction:

Basketball

Name: Tyler Griffey

School: Lafayette

Year in school: Sophomore

What you should know: This 6-foot-8 forward will play at a top Division I school, but he needs to get stronger.

Pertinent statistics: Averaged 13.3 points as a freshman and 15 this season. He also averages 6.8 rebounds.

Interesting Internet tidbit: Has his own website: www.tylergriffey.net

First Post-Dispatch mention: Dec. 18, 2000. Team Reebok won the boys fourth-grade division of the Herculaneum Black Cat Classic.

Soccer

Name: Mike Roach

School: Chaminade

Year in school: Senior

What you should know: A forward, Roach overcame a serious car accident in 2005 to lead Chaminade to the Missouri Class 3 soccer title this season. The All-American will attend Indiana University.

Interesting Internet tidbit: After the accident, Roach was profiled in Rise magazine, a national publication covering high school sports.

Pertinent statistics: Led the Red Devils with 17 goals and 19 assists.

First Post-Dispatch mention: September 2005. He scored on a penalty kick in a 2-1 victory against CBC.



Football

Name: Jason Ford

School: Althoff Catholic

Year in School: Junior

What you should know: According to Rivals.com, he has already fielded scholarship offers from Kansas State and Kansas. He runs a 4.42 40-yard dash.

Interesting Internet tidbit: Keeps what looks to be a rarely updated profile on the networking site xanga.com. At the top of his page, he asks, "Who can STOP J-Ford?"

Pertinent statistics: Gained 1,545 yards and scored 18 touchdowns this season. Has amassed 4,642 yards and 53 touchdowns in three seasons with the varsity.

First Post-Dispatch mention: Aug. 28, 2004. In his first high school game, the freshman carried 20 times for 113 yards as Althoff beat Triad 20-19.

Baseball

Name: Tim Melville

School: Holt

Year in school: Junior

What you should know: After recovering from shoulder problems, he pitched six innings for the Richmond Braves, his travel team, in October at the WWBA World Championship.

Interesting Internet tidbit: Tim keeps a profile on the social networking site facebook.com. His main picture is similar to the one on the cover of today's sports section.

Pertinent statistics: Injured for most of his sophomore year, he pitched just five innings but hit .355, mostly as a designated hitter. As a freshman, he was 5-1 with a 1.09 ERA.

First Post-Dispatch mention: April 6, 2005. Fort Zumwalt South's Eric Czmowski greeted the freshman reliever by hitting a three-RBI double.