George Mason, San Diego and Pepperdine have emerged as possible college choices for Simi Valley point guard Lorne Jackson.
Jackson, who averaged 22.9 points for the Marmonte League champions, is expected to make a recruiting visit to George Mason next week.
Jackson is playing in the San Fernando Valley all-star game on April 13 at Cal State Northridge. He attended a banquet for the game Monday night. Also there was Palmdale Knight forward Paul George, who said he is considering Fresno State and Pepperdine and also has heard from Georgetown.
According to the Daily News, Valencia middle blocker Jim Baughman has committed to Long Beach State. Baughman is a former All-Foothill League selection in volleyball and basketball. He joins teammate Derrick Trent, who has already committed to the 49ers.
In addition, senior teammate Jamey Ker has again been chosen to represent the U.S. Boys' Youth National Training Team this summer. However, the UCLA-bound senior is planning to forgo his invitation and will instead play out his final club season with Santa Clarita Synergy.
Valencia is the top-ranked team in the nation, according to StudentSportsVolleyball.com, and is favored to win its fourth Southern Section division title in six years. The Vikings are also riding a 65-match league winning streak.
Former Mater Dei basketball standout Taylor King has decided to leave Duke after his freshman season.
Mater Dei Coach Gary McKnight confirmed Monday night that King has asked for and received his release from the Durham, N.C., university.
King had orginaillay committed to UCLA when he was an incoming freshman at Mater Dei but had a change of heart.
King's father, Steve, said his son will seek to transfer to a high-profile program that better fits his offensive strengths. He averaged 5.5 points and played in 34 games for Duke.
USC could be a possibility because the Trojans actively recruited him out of high school. Gonzaga and Villanova also pursued King.
Figuring a day on the links was better than a day on the diamond, that he'd rather hit his way out of a rough instead of a slump, and that he'd rather tee off on a fairway instead of in a batting cage, Josh Hurst made a seamless transition from baseball to golf, it seems.
There's a nice note in the OC Register about Hurst's decision, and the impact he has had at Dana Hills. There's also some tidbits about El Toro's great start and a Foothill injury that took place away from the golf course (don't they all?).
That lacrosse team from Maryland that's supposed to be so good went 1-1 in Orange County, 1-0 down in San Diego. Mount St. Joseph defeated previously unbeaten Corona del Mar, 12-7, on Saturday. It had lost to St. Margaret's in overtime, 8-7, on Friday.
There's a need for high school football officials for the coming season. If you're interested, they'll train you and pay you, too.
For information about joining the Los Angeles unit from the City Section, try tcritt@pacbell.net. For information about joining the San Fernando Valley or Santa Clarita Valley unit, try (818) 371-6487 or lites4you@aol.com
I just got off the phone with Nordhoff AD Dick Sebek, and he said the school is expected to name a new football coach in two or three weeks. Sebek said he has received a "considerable amount of interest" and the administration will begin interviews with potential candidates after Tuesday's application deadline passes.
After weeks of turmoil following the dismissal of former coach Jerry Chou, Eagle Rock has named Johnny Lopez as his replacement, Principal Salvador Velasco said Monday.
Lopez was an assistant coach last season at East Los Angeles College and previously coached at Pasadena Marshall, according to Velasco.
Eagle Rock players have been protesting Chou's firing, and it remains to be seen if Lopez can gain the support of his players and the program's boosters.
Well, if you actually believed someone other than the UCLA-bound guard was in the running for his honor, you must have been living in some sort of twisted, alternate reality. Holiday is definitely one of the top players in the nation, and after leading the Vikings to another state Division IV title and showing off in front of the ESPN cameras at the McDonald's All-American game, no one deserves these awards more.
Hmm ... I wonder who The Times will pick as the Southland's top boys' basketball player? Be sure to check out Varsity Times in Wednesday's sports section.
There are a lot of great ballplayers out there and I'm kind of stumped as to who will be the first Southland guy taken in June's amateur draft. Maybe you can help sway my opinion.
Please use the comment board to elaborate on your opinions. Also, if you have a question you think we should post, feel free to put it up on the comment board. I'm not promising we'll use it, but I want to know what questions you in the blogosphere are asking.
The story of the week has to be the two tournament championships Simi Valley won during its Central Coast getaway over spring break.
On Wednesday, the Pioneers beat Marmonte League rival Thousand Oaks, 7-6, to earn the Best of the West tournament title before beating a talented Sutter squad, 5-1, in the Arroyo Grande tournament championship game.
The undefeated Pioneers could be the best team in the S.F. Valley/North region, but it's difficult to say since Thousand Oaks, Valencia and Hart are all loaded with talent. In fact, there seems to be a chasm forming between these four teams and the rest of the region's bests, with Camarillo stuck in limbo. We'll see if that changes in the weeks ahead.
There were nearly 95 quarterbacks who came out to the Steve Clarkson QB Academy last weekend at Glendale College, but the player who had Clarkson gushing was a 6-foot-4 junior wide receiver from Los Angeles Wilson, Anthony Denham.
"He had unbelievable athleticism and speed," Clarkson said of Denham, who caught nine touchdown passes last season.
Here's the schedule for baseball games in the Southland today and tonight. Start times for non-tournament games are usually around 3 p.m. (unless noted), but if you need specifics, contact the schools.
CITY
COLISEUM
Crenshaw at Jefferson
Dorsey at Manual Arts
Locke at Fremont
CROSSTOWN
Community Harvest at Middle College
Harbor Teacher Prep at Los Angeles CES
Having done a blog or two about Shaquelle Evans in the past, I can say with some certainty that the receiver from Inglewood is one of the most sought-after Class of 2009 football prospects in the nation. Everyone is courting this kid. No joke.
You can count USC as one of the more interested parties . And it appears the feeling is mutual after reading these quotes. While Evans hasn't officially announced a favorite among his suitors, the Trojans should be considered just that.
This story on Matt Hobgood of Norco caught my eye. He gave up football after his freshman year to focus on baseball.
Hobgood, a junior, said he enjoyed football and the pageantry that surrounds the program, he just didn't want to live in Norco's smelly weight room and grow into a big, sweaty lineman.
Not when he could be taking BP and catching rays on the less noxious ball field (if you're not familiar with the area, they have lots of livestock on campus, but I'd take the smell of manure over sweat, by a nose).
Former Chaminade first baseman Casey Haerther went seven for seven on Saturday in UCLA's 20-8 Pacific 10 Conference victory over Arizona. It was the best single-game performance in Bruin history.
Haerther, a sophomore, had four doubles and four RBIs.
As expected, the best races Saturday at the Pasadena Games were the shortest.
Charles Saseun of Rancho Cucamonga, the state runner-up in the boys' 100 meters last June, stepped into the blocks against third-place finisher Randall Carroll of Los Angeles Cathedral at Pasadena City College, and Saseun must've blinked because Carroll beat him out of the blocks, according to this in-depth report on the meet.
Saseun was able to close the gap, but Carroll still won in 10.70 seconds. Saseun finished second in 10.77.
These two are only juniors, so this rivalry still has plenty of legs.
No one is having a better individual baseball season than 6-foot-4 senior catcher Kyle Skipworth of Riverside Patriot.
His team is 15-0, and he is on a streak of 16 hits in his last 16 at-bats. He also has reached base in 23 consecutive at-bats. On the season, he's batting .667 (32 for 48) with seven home runs and 27 runs batted in.
In his last five games, he was five for five against Peninsula, four for four against Bloomington, one for one against Norte Vista and Kaiser and four for four against Summit.
To say the least, his performance helps explain why he's going to be a first-round draft choice in June.
A month and a day after being swept by Venice in its season opener, Sylmar exacted a measure of revenge by ousting the Gondos, 25-19, in the finals of their own tournament on Saturday.
Sylmar trailed, 15-12, until Tyler Honeycutt reeled off seven straight points on his serve to give the Spartans a lead they would never relinquish. Honeycutt was an all-tournament choice and teammate Felipe Garcia was voted most valuable player. Ryan Machado made all-tournament for Venice.
All good things must come to an end. Or, for everyone in the Freeway League except Sonora, all bad things must come to an end.
With La Habra's 5-4 victory Friday over Sonora, the Raiders' 29-game league winning streak mercifully came to an end for the rest of the battered league members.
Sonora lost the first league game of the 2006 season, but hadn't lost another league game since, until winning -- and relief -- pitcher Ryan Tornell drove in the tying run in the top of the seventh and then scored what proved to be the game-winner.
You can read more about the Highlanders' victory here.
They have the label: "National Champions." They have the talent. And they have the respected coach.
But they also have been scuffling... just a little.
The Long Beach Wilson Bruins lost their third game this season just the other day; that matches their loss total for all of last season. The Bruins (11-3-1, 1-1-0) also lost something more critical: ace Ray Hanson, who recently broke his glove hand during a pick-up basketball game. Hanson, who is 3-0 with 32 strikeouts in 19.2 innings, will likely miss two to three weeks.
Hanging from a chain-link fence at the West Torrance baseball field is a sign that reads: "When you get to the fork in the road, take it."
Come on, you know who said that, right? Yogi Bear? No, Yogi Berra, who's as famous for his Hall of Fame career as his legendary malapropisms (a.k.a. Yogi-isms). Here are a few classics...
"I didn't really say everything I said."
"We have a good time together, even when we're not together."
"A nickel ain't worth a dime anymore."
"Why buy good luggage? You only use it when you travel."
Palos Verdes lefty Nate Halverson has been all about one thing this season -- perfection.
Oh wait! Remember the game "Perfection?" The ticking clock. The wacky geometric shapes. Man, that thing would jangle my nerves like a tambourine. I've always been more of a "Hungry Hungry Hippos" kind of guy. Uh, maybe I should get back to business... this kid, Halverson, whose record is perfect at 5-0 with four complete games.
Four matches into the Foothill League schedule and Valencia already looks like a lock to win its third consecutive title and fifth since 2002. After surviving a stern test against West Ranch in their league opener, the Vikings have demolished Hart, Saugus and Canyon by a combined score of 49-5.
Not surprisingly, No. 1 singles player Jack Zapala has led the way, winning all 12 of his sets, half of those at love. The biggest hurdle left to clear could be Thursday's rematch against surprising West Ranch, although this time it will be on Valencia's home courts.
Gotta admit, cannot say I've ever blogged about Hawthorne, which deserves a big blog hug. Especially with the way these girls have been playing of late with eight wins in nine games, including a recent 22-0 mugging of Leuzinger. The Cougars (9-2) just may be deemed the class of the Ocean League.
One Cougar is particularly scorching: catcher Gabbrielle Valerio, who's a big reason -- maybe the reason -- Hawthorne has improved so much this season after finishing two games under .500 last season.
With an 81-36 home victory over Belmont, the Lincoln girls' track team extended its Northern League winning streak to 30 dual meets. Its last league loss was to Hollywood, 64-61, on March 12, 2004.
A trio of four-year athletes sparked the Tigers -- Rosa Ocegueda (won 100- and 300-meter hurdles), Nancy Chieu (won long and triple jumps) and Linda Vazquez (took first in 400 and second in 200). None of them have experienced a league loss.
I estimated there were about a dozen or so scouts camped out behind the chain-link fence at the Valencia-Hart game on Friday, all trying to get a look at Indians' ace Mike Montgomery. Even former Dodgers manager Bill Russell was on hand to see this kid.
Unfortunately, Valencia's 5-1 victory kind of spoiled the scouting party. Montgomery lasted only 3 1/3 innings and gave up three earned runs, the second of which came on a solo home run by Matt Higgins in the third inning.
Montgomery knows it wasn't his greatest outing, but the senior southpaw kept a hopeful outlook for the remainder of the season after his first loss. Check out this interview:
Just got off the phone with Scott Pearson, the baseball coach at Roosevelt, and he mentioned the name of one of his players I'd never heard of, Chito Alvarez. Mind you, I've got a good friend named Chito, aka Carlos. Dude is like a brother to me, actually.
As for this Alvarez kid ... well, let's just say I had no clue about him.
A quick look at his stats reveals he's been pitching well of late. In fact, Alvarez, a senior, threw a complete game five-hitter Friday with 12 strikeouts in a 5-2 victory over Compton Dominguez. Not a bad outing. Not a bad first name.
No, nothing is normal with this kid. No, not the way he's been hitting. In fact, he's downright Strange... as in C.J. Strange with a .541 average, 15 RBI and eight stolen bases.
Strange has seven multi-hit games in Mira Costa's 12 games this season. Thursday, Strange went three for three, including the game-winning hit, in a 7-6 victory over South Torrance. So that is what's strange at Mira Costa (9-3).
In the bigs during the 1990s, there was a utility player, Doug Strange, and back in the '60s, there was "Dr. Strangeglove" Dick Stuart.
If there's such a thing as a sophisticated baseball performance, then Valencia put on a show worthy of royalty on Friday afternoon. The Vikings made a smart and calculated effort in their 5-1 Foothill League victory over Hart, and it was the best single-game performance I've seen from a team all season.
Timely hitting, mixed with a healthy dose of superb fielding, translated into what Valencia Coach Jared Snyder described as "our best game of the year."
Pitcher Robbie Mousselli looked strong and, more importantly, didn't panic once runners got on base. He gave up 10 hits in his complete-game performance, but the Josh Corralles-Christian Lopes-Taylor Dingman-Matt Higgins diamond connection had his back, turning three double-plays. As a result, Hart couldn't find any offensive rhythm.
When former Westlake Coach Chuck Berrington, left, took over as baseball coach at Woodland Hills Taft three years ago, people told him he'd never be able to build a winning program.
Well, Berrington's rebuilding project finally is taking shape after the Toreadors stunned City Section power Chatsworth, 2-1, Friday in a West Valley League game that ended in the ninth inning on Cody deSpain's two-out RBI single. It was Taft's first win over Chatsworth since 1998.
Junior left-hander Ryan Santhon, one of the most underrated pitchers in the City, struck out 10 in eight innings for Taft.
The stuff. The tomahawk. Boomshakalaka. In other words, dunks.
To watch MaxPreps.com's Top-10 ranking of high-school dunks this season, click here. You may interested in watching this as a Southland kid took the Nos. 2 and No. 4 spots. And you can also probably guess who it is.
Man, all I can dunk is a donut. I know, you saw that coming.
Reiko Thomas of Narbonne has been selected the City Section player of the year in girls' basketball. The 5-foot-9 forward led Narbonne to the City Championship Division title, averaging 16 points.
Here's the All-City first team as selected by the coaches:
If you're a fan of the UCLA or USC men's basketball program, stop what you're doing right now. Read no further. There is no good news to report here, particularly if you were hoping one of the schools was going to land a commitment from Jordan Hamilton of Compton Dominguez.
Doesn't look like it's going to happen, at least, not at this point.
The 6-foot-7 junior, one of the top underclassmen in the nation, has narrowed his list down to five: California, UConn, Kansas, Syracuse and Texas are the front-runners. And according to these quotes, a decision won't be made until after the summer. Wonder if any of the Bruin or Trojan faithful made it to the end of this blog...
It's safe to say, the high school track and field season really begins this Saturday. That's when the Pasadena Games will continue its tradition of drawing the region's best athletes for their first head-to-head competitions of the season.
As is usually the case, the fast track at Pasadena City College has attracted several of the state's best sprinters for this 65th meet, namely Charles Saseun of Rancho Cucamonga and Randall Carroll of Los Angeles Cathedral, who are set to run in the 100 and 200-meter events.
Saseun finished runner-up in the 100 last June, high-stepping down
the straightaway at Sacramento City College in 10.39 seconds. Carroll
finished third, giving two sophomores a rare appearance on the podium
that evening.
Well, it appears I was wrong about Lancaster being in a difficult position to challenge Quartz Hill for the Golden League title.
The Rebels actually had to overcome a four-run deficit in the eighth inning before Brittany Farrell ended the game on a run-scoring single in the bottom of the ninth to push Quartz Hill to a 15-14 victory.
George Mason, San Diego and Pepperdine have emerged as possible college choices for Simi Valley point guard Lorne Jackson.
The stuff. The tomahawk. Boomshakalaka. In other words, dunks.
