Phil's competition

Local contestant Phil Stacey faces some formidable challenges in his quest to be the next American Idol. He also faces some lightweights, leading you to believe he has a good chance of making the top 10. Here are the other 11, ranked in order of their threat to Stacey - with America voting, though, nothing is sure.
1. LaKisha Jones: The diva, in a good way; she belts out Aretha and Whitney like she means it, with nary a flaw.

2. Melinda Doolittle: All power and range on stage; all winsome humility after the last note.

3. Blake Lewis: Different (hip-hop and reggae) with great stage presence - things the judges beg for weekly.

4. Stephanie Edwards: A sleeper who has Fantasia-like promise.

5. Chris Sligh: Can cover spectrum of styles; atypical looking for Idol; needs to bring back his biting wit.

6. Jordin Sparks: Big voice; needs to play with arrangements to make songs her own.

7. Gina Glocksen: Consistently good rocker with so-so range.

8. Brandon Rogers: Smooth with solid pitch; too bad we already have plenty of Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson wannabes.

9. Chris Richardson: 'N Sync called: They miss the '90s, too.

10. Haley Scarnato: Perfect for Miss America singing competition, all smiles and Up with People.

11. Sanjaya Malakar: Why, Mama, why?