Football: Alemany's Bray appears to be missing in action

Talented Alemany RB Antonio Bray, who played a big role in propelling the Warriors to the Mission League title last season, has missed practice the last three days, according to Gerry Gittelson of the Daily News.

Obviously, Alemany Coach Dean Herrington is a little upset about the whole ordeal and even suggested Bray may have transfered back to Canyon (he played there as a freshman). However, Bray reportedly answered "no" to a text message on Saturday that asked if he had quit the team.

This isn't the first time Bray has run into trouble.

In 2006, Canyon suspended him for fighting. And last year, Herrington suspended him for one game after he missed a Saturday morning film class.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Football: Who are City Section's top players and teams?

CalHiSports, which made the move to ESPN over the summer, released its preseason All-City Section football team this week. You'll definitely want to check it out to see which players are primed for big seasons as Birmingham makes a run at a third consecutive section title.

And believe me, this list isn't just about the boys from Lake Balboa. CalHiSports listed three players from Crenshaw on its first team. Dorsey, Taft, Narbonne and Carson are well represented too.

Of course, the big question I'm sure the fiercely loyal City Section fans are wondering about (or more likely already have answered) is: Who will win the 2008 City Section championship?

Use the comment board if you feel the need to elaborate.

-- Austin Knoblauch

Basketball: Are things falling apart at San Juan Capistrano JSerra?

Since learning that Tom Lewis resigned as coach over at San Juan Capistrano JSerra two weeks ago, I've been scrambling to find out more information about whether any of his former players planned on transferring, or if everyone intended to stay put under Lewis' replacement, Grant Meyers.

Mind you, there's been plenty of talk circulating throughout the Southland leading me to believe that USC-bound Demetrius Walker and San Diego State-bound Alec Williams could end up leaving the Lions and looking for a new place to play, although I have not been able to confirm anything yet.

Junior guard Casey James is another name frequently mentioned, and I suspect the transfer speculation with regard to all three players will continue to run rampant until someone from over at JSerra returns one of my calls. Once I hear something, I'll make sure to pass along the news.

-- Sean Ceglinsky 

Football: Southern California is a hotbed of superb safeties

Just because high-profile defensive backs such as UCLA-bound Alex Mascarenas and the USC-bound tandem of Byron Moore and Chris Metcalf are now off the board, having already made decisions about their respective futures, that doesn't necessarily mean the Southland cupboard is bare.

In fact, the region is loaded with talent. There are a few quality safeties still on the market.

But things might not remain that way for much longer, not if Division I programs have anything to say about it. Scouts from all over the country headed west this summer with hopes of landing the next big recruit. Here is a quick update on some of the top uncommitted players:

• Dijon Washington: From this note, it appears as if Oregon State has emerged as the early front-runner to land the 6-foot-2, heavy-hitting senior from Leuzinger. Seemingly every other Pac-10 Conference team has been in contact with him, so things will be interesting moving forward.

• Lester White: At 6-foot-2 and 200-plus pounds, this senior from Riverside North has a college-ready frame. Suppose that's why he currently has nine scholarships on the table. Arizona State, Nebraska and Washington State are at the top of the list. Watch out for plenty of others to make a late run at him.

• Nat Berhe: The 5-foot-11 senior from Colton received offers from UTEP and Idaho recently, according to these quotes, to increase his total of potential suitors to five. Minnesota, New Mexico and San Diego State were the first schools to jump on the bandwagon and plans for official visits are underway.

-- Sean Ceglinsky 

Baseball: Notre Dame's Stanton could be 18-year-old home run king

It appears former Sherman Oaks Notre Dame standout Mike Stanton, pictured, is rewarding the Florida Marlins for not giving into "Manny mania."

A little more than a week after the Marlins nixed a possible trade for Manny Ramirez by refusing to give Stanton to the Pittsburgh Pirates, Stanton became the first 18-year-old professional ballplayer in 46 years to hit more than 30 home runs in a season.

Stanton, who is spending his summer alongside former Chatsworth star Matt Dominguez with the Greensboro Grasshoppers of the Class-A South Atlantic League, hit four homers this week to push his league-leading total to 33.

It's quite possible Stanton is the youngest pro player ever to eclipse the 30-homer plateau, but the record keepers don't know for sure. What we do know is that the former second-round selection will be the first player with more than 30 home runs who is still 18 by the end of the season.

Football: Underrated Smith from Oxnard commits to Utah

Jamal Smith is one of the top receivers, perhaps the best, out in Ventura County. But the senior from Oxnard doesn't get the recognition he often deserves because there are so many talented wideouts spread throughout the Southland.

Utah, however, noticed the talented, 6-foot-2 and 190-pounder and recently secured an oral commitment from him. Based on his 31 receptions and 19-yards-per-catch average in his junior season, it looks like the Utes scored a sleeper recruit.

Several Pac-10 Conference teams, including Oregon, UCLA and Washington, expressed interest in Smith but failed to offer him a scholarship. I'm imagining he'll use that as added motivation this coming season with the Yellowjackets.

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Football: Dominguez's Simmons is making headlines again

First, rumors circulated on the Internet about Vontaze Burfict possibly reconsidering his oral commitment to USC... Now, it appears as if there's some talk of Marquis Simmons doing the same, according to this report. Frankly, I don't believe the senior from Compton Dominguez has any intentions of changing his pledge.

Mind you, I wouldn't blame Simmons if he was having second thoughts. He did commit to the Trojans when he was a sophomore. Plenty has changed since. He's grown up quite a bit and developed in to a 6-foot-2, 215-pound linebacker who is considered one of the Southland's top prospects among the 2009 class.

In fact, most scouts agree that he's one of the nation's best backers, right behind Burfict, the consensus No. 1 player at the position. There's no way Pete Carroll & Co. are going to let these two get away, so the Trojan faithful can sit back and relax. Besides, I don't think Simmons is going to let a little hype alter his plans.

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Basketball: Slam Jam Showcase features Stevens from Serra

At 6-foot-8 and close to 200 pounds, Ronnie Stevens possesses the size most Division I scouts look for in a prospect. His improving skill set is a plus too. And the best thing about him is, he's only a sophomore. By the time the transfer from Orange Lutheran graduates from his new school, Gardena Serra, he could be a legitimate recruit.

For those interested in catching a glimpse of Stevens in action, as well as some of the Southland's other top underclassmen, I suggest heading out to the Valley this weekend and checking out the Slam Jam Sophomore Showcase at Taft High on Sunday. Games get started around 10 a.m. and will finish up in the early evening.

"The showcase at Taft is going to give me a chance to put my name out there,'' Stevens said. "Some of the best players in my grade will be playing and I love going up against the best. Competition is always a good thing, I can't get enough of it. I love a challenge, that's the only way to get better. That's the only way to get to the next level.''

Stevens competed at the Fullcourt Press and Double Pump camps earlier this summer, and from what I've heard, he was impressive. Perhaps that explains why he has received letters from some Big West and Pac-10 Conference programs. At this rate, I wouldn't be surprised to see other schools come calling down the road.

-- Sean Ceglinsky

Football: Presley is focused on leading by example for Carson

All eyes were on Morrell Presley on the first official day of practice at Carson last week, with good reason. The senior tight end is one of the top players in the Southland, and he could end up being the difference for the Colts in their bid to challenge Birmingham and Crenshaw for the City Section title this season.

"Yeah, it was nice to see him back out on the field,'' Carson Coach Mike Christensen said of the 6-foot-4, 215-pounder, who has already orally committed to play for USC, joining the likes of Matt Barkley, Vontaze Burfict, Patrick Hall and Randall Carroll to form one of the top recruiting classes in the country.

"Here's the thing about Morrell: He's got a bright future ahead of him, but still comes in to camp and works just as hard as anyone else, maybe harder,'' Christensen added. "His work ethic is unmatched. It's great for the younger kids we have around here to see a player like him getting after things from Day 1. That's a leader.''

Football: Burns expected to step in and contribute for Centennial

Arthur Burns was a patient understudy of Ryan Bass a season ago, carefully watching each and every move his mentor made. And what a teacher he had in the Arizona State-bound running back, who was one of the Southland's bests, right up there with Darrell Scott, D.J. Shoemate, Chris Polk and Johnathan Franklin.

A year later, it's time for the pupil to show what he's learned. Burns is expected to be the featured back for Corona Centennial this coming season, and following a summer that included plenty of improvement, all signs point to the 5-foot-10, 200-plus pound senior being fully capable of replacing Bass and carrying the load.

"Arthur is the next in line. He could be another one of the good ones to come out of this school,'' Centennial Coach Matt Logan said. "He is one physical, north-and-south type runner. He's a banger. He'll run in between the tackles and then look to run guys over. He's fun to watch. His game is tailor-made for this offense."