Richard Brehaut and Josh Nunes have fans buzzing

Quarterbacks Richard Brehaut of Rancho Cucamonga Los Osos and Josh Nunes of Upland are throwing passes with so much power and accuracy this summer that some UCLA and Tennessee fans probably wish they’d skip their senior years and enroll immediately at their future colleges.

On Friday at La Verne Bonita, Brehaut and Nunes were on adjacent fields playing in a seven-on-seven passing tournament, and it was fun going back and forth to watch two quarterbacks who I’d label as can’t-miss college prospects.

Both have raised their skills to an elite level, and fans of UCLA and Tennessee have started showing up to see what they’ll offer when they arrive in Westwood and Knoxville, respectively, in 2009.

Let me provide some insight. Now I understand why UCLA offensive coordinator Norm Chow made the decision to offer a scholarship to the 6-foot-3 Brehaut. A year ago at the same Bonita tournament, I thought Brehaut was a quarterback with promise but hardly a standout.

He has improved dramatically in terms of arm strength and accuracy.

“It’s totally different,” Brehaut said of his throwing power.

The ball bursts out from his arm with speed and precision.

“I think it’s natural growth,” Coach Tom Martinez said.

What’s scary is that Brehaut also can run, and Martinez has plans this fall to turn him loose with “quarterback counters, quarterback sweeps and quarterback options.”

As for the 6-4 Nunes, he stands back in the pocket and fires away. He threw seven touchdown passes in a 40-minute game against Newhall Hart, leaving the Indians’ defensive backs with their heads down afterward.

His decision to choose Tennessee even though he has yet to visit the campus came because he likes the competition of SEC football and was convinced he could succeed after speaking to several ex-Tennessee quarterbacks, including the Clausen brothers, Casey and Rick.

“It’s a real good fit for me,” he said.

If Nunes didn’t understand how high-profile the Tennessee quarterback position is, he soon found out after his commitment recently. Asked how many phone calls he has received, Nunes said, “Too many.”

He did a couple of radio shows and still hadn’t finished calling back people by Friday.

Come fall, Brehaut and Nunes will lead their respective teams in Baseline League play. They square off in a league game on Oct. 24 at Los Osos. Don’t be surprised if FSN Prime Ticket chooses it as its game of the week.

This summer you can see both passing the ball in a calm setting, with free admission. Take advantage of the opportunity, because soon, they’ll belong to the autograph seekers and crazed college football fans.

——

Mark down the name of receiver Obum Gwacham from Chino Hills Ayala as a player to watch this fall. He missed all of the 2007 season because he broke his collarbone during the spring game.

He’s 6-6, weighs 205 pounds and has cleared 6-10 in the high jump.

“He’s unbelievable,” Coach Tom Inglima said.

Gwacham was born in Nigeria, moved here when he was 7, has good grades and a 34-inch vertical leap. His brother, Nnamdi, is a receiver at Utah State.

“I’ve seen him in practice, and I know what he can do,” Inglima said.

——

There was some excellent basketball played this week at the Fairfax tournament, and one of the new standouts for the winter should be sophomore guard Mike McGlashan of La Canada.

He was the most valuable player on the Spartans’ 24-0 freshman team last season. He has made a quick adjustment to varsity, confidently making three-point baskets and dribbling the ball with expertise.

Another young prospect distinguishing himself is Taft freshman Landon Drew, the brother of McDonald’s All-American Larry Drew Jr.

The fact he could enter the game against Compton Dominguez on Friday, make a couple of three-pointers under pressure and score on another basket driving down the lane leaves no doubt that he’s ready to be a major contributor.

Even more impressive is that he’s only 14. Most of the top freshmen playing high school basketball these days are holdbacks who repeated a grade so they’d enter high school a year older and more mature.

Drew has been trained by his father, Larry Sr., an assistant coach with the Atlanta Hawks, and he is fundamentally sound. Just wait until he gets his growth spurt and becomes stronger each year like his older brother did.

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com