Oklahoma Wins Holieway’s Heart, but Pac-10 Lures Share of Gridders

Oklahoma may have captured the heart--not to mention the flying feet--of everybody’s favorite option quarterback, Jamelle Holieway of Banning, but the Pac-10 did well in the collegiate football recruiting wars, signing a large contingent of South Bay players Wednesday, the first day high school seniors could sign binding letters of intent.

Holieway, Los Angeles Player of the Year, was wooed by the Oklahoma staff and apparently liked what he saw and heard in Norman.

However, the University of Arizona landed Carson’s outstanding wide receivers, Derek Hill and Melvin Smith, as well as free safety Chris Wright, and Carson lineman Leroy Ale opted for Oregon, where he’ll be the latest link in a Carson pipeline to Eugene.

Two of Holieway’s teammates visited Oklahoma with him but are staying on the West Coast. Fullback LeRoy Holt opted for USC and wide receiver-safety Sam Sutherland Jr. will attend Stanford. Sutherland, a three-year starter, said the friends briefly discussed staying together “but I guess it’s best we go our separate ways.”

Others Were in Contention

Hill said he also visited Washington but thought he would have a better opportunity to play at Arizona. Ale, who will move from offensive line to linebacker, also considered Brigham Young, Washington State and New Mexico State but said he felt most comfortable at Oregon, thanks in part to several Carson graduates on the Ducks squad.

The Big 10 also made inroads, signing Serra wide receiver Steven Williams. He’ll be the third Williams brother to play wide receiver at Illinois, where older brother David was a consensus All-American and led the nation in receiving last season. Steven, called the most talented of the three at this stage by Serra Coach Dale Washburn, said he visited no other schools and liked the atmosphere from the time he visited Illinois as a young teen-ager.

Another Banning star, offensive lineman Courtney Hall, will head to Rice University in Houston. Hall, who will play center, is an honor student and said he was impressed by the school’s academics.

Carson standout quarterback Carl Thompson will attend New Mexico, while teammates Jonathon Jackson, a running back, and Donald Blue, a defensive lineman, will be across the state at New Mexico State.

San Jose State will reportedly sign only two freshmen this year, both from the South Bay: defensive backs Ryan Rasnick from North Torrance and Terence Cason from Carson. Rasnick was leaning toward Washington State until he visited San Jose. It didn’t hurt that his brother, Rick, coaches there.

Jones Selects Utah

Utah signed San Pedro all-City tight end-linebacker Curt Jones while San Diego State got Gardena defensive back Lyndon Earley and West Torrance defensive back John Wesselman.

Several El Camino College players have already enrolled at four-year schools, including the record-setting passing combination of quarterback Larry Eggar and receiver Loren Richey, who have joined former El Camino Coach Jack Reilly at the University of Utah.

Eggar, out of Aviation High, led the nation in pass completions with 231, while Richey, a 6-footer out of West Torrance, led the nation in receptions with 83 and set seven El Camino records.

El Camino offensive linemen Scott Provin, Guy Bunyard, Mark Brown and Eric Zwierlein also received scholarships. Provin, 6-5, 250, out of West Torrance, is at the University of Miami. Bunyard, a 6-4, 235, center out of South Torrance, is at Stanford. Brown, 6-5, 230, out of Palos Verdes, signed with the University of Oregon, while Zwierlein, 6-5, 245, from Mira Costa, will continue his career at Wichita State.