Trophy Bass

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How far has Ryan Bass of Corona Centennial developed in the last two years?

According to a paragraph buried in this two-year-old story, Bass was so convinced he wouldn’t play early in his sophomore season, he didn’t bother wearing hip pads to the second game. When a referee noticed, Bass was told to leave the sidelines.

After an injury to the starting running back the next week, Bass was moved from defensive back to the offense, where he found his niche, rushing for 2,137 yards and 34 touchdowns in 10 games. He averaged more than eight yards a carry.

During his junior season, he rushed for 2,351 yards and 36 touchdowns in 12 games, and he’s off to a similar pace this year, totaling 566 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns through three games.

Bass scored three unanswered touchdowns in a 41-20 victory Friday over Encino Crespi, then was scheduled to leave Saturday morning for an unofficial visit to Arizona State, which was hosting San Diego State. Bass planned to get more acquainted with the school and program, but just as important was the chance to watch his older brother, Ray Bass, who is the only returning starter in San Diego State’s secondary.

Bass also plans to visit Mississippi this weekend, when defending national champion Florida comes to town, and Minnesota the weekend of Sept. 29, when the Golden Gophers host Ohio State. Iowa State also has him penciled in for an official visit in December.

If Bass has a favorite, he’s not showing his cards.

‘Right now, I’m pretty much open to any school,’ he said after the victory over Crespi.

To be honest, the only visit I really care about is the one to Santa Ana Stadium on Oct. 5, when the No. 2 Huskies are scheduled to take on No. 1 Mater Dei.

- Dan Arritt