It Looks Like a Wait-and-See Grid Season : Recruiters and Scouts Will Have to Keep Eyes Peeled for the Standouts

It does not look like the best of years for major college football prospects among San Gabriel Valley high school teams.

Scouts say there is no quarterback who approaches the stature of 6-8 Dan McGwire from Claremont, now a freshman at Iowa, and there may not be a running back as talented as Pomona’s J. J. Flannigan, a freshman at Colorado.

Of course, it is not every year that the valley produces two consensus prep All-Americans like them.

Running backs Eric Bieniemy of Bishop Amat, Eric Henley of Damien and Ricky Ervins of Muir, cornerback Leonard Hudson of Pomona and defensive end Tom Lassalette of West Covina figure to be among the most recruited in the state.

“Those are players who will attract a lot of attention from major colleges,” says Dick Lascola, who runs the Fallbrook-based Scouting Evaluation Assn. “Lassalette may be one of the top dozen defensive players in the country, and Hudson is one of the best defensive backs in the country.”

After the top group, Lascola has his share of suspects--players who could develop into blue-chippers by the end of the season. Among them are big linemen Richard Garrick of Bishop Amat and Antonio Johnson of Ganesha and linebacker Phil Russell of Wilson in Hacienda Heights.

“In the valley it is a question-mark year,” Lascola said. “The Lassalettes, the Bieniemys and the Henleys are good prospects, but there aren’t that many more right now. A few others have the talent and could step forward.”

The valley’s strongest position may be running back and the weakest quarterback.

“You could shake a stick and not come up with a quarterback,” Lascola said.

Bluest of the Chips

Bieniemy (Bishop Amat, running back)--If there is a consensus choice at running back, it could be Bieniemy, a speedy (4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash) 5-10, 190-pounder who has excelled as a tailback the last two seasons. He rushed for 1,824 yards and 28 touchdowns as a junior and is listed among the top seniors by free-lance scout Max Emfinger of Houston and Street & Smith magazine. “He has been around for a couple of years and proven himself,” Lascola said. “He’s a little small but he’s a tough kid with a low center of impact.”

Ervins (Muir, running back)--There are those who will argue that Ervins is the top runner, and they may have a good case. Ervins (5-9, 185) has rushed for about 2,000 yards in two years, including 1,300 and 17 touchdowns last season. He has also developed into a good receiver. With a blazing time of 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, he may be the fastest back in the valley. Cal-Hi Sports News of San Jose calls him the top returning player in the state. He is also listed among Emfinger’s top 200 and on the Street & Smith team.

Henley (Damien, running back)--It should come as no surprise that Henley is a blue-chipper--not when you consider that he has brothers starting for Stanford and UCLA. Tom is a running back at Stanford and Darryl a defensive back at UCLA. Eric may be one of the most versatile players in the valley because he has played wide receiver and defensive back and returns kickoffs and punts. Henley (5-10, 165) rushed for 1,333 yards and 18 touchdowns and caught 24 passes for 293 yards as a junior. “He shows versatility, and the thing you like about him is his bloodlines,” Lascola said.

Hudson (Pomona, cornerback)--Pomona always seems to produce at least one blue-chip prospect and the latest is Hudson (5-11, 180). He was slowed by injuries last year, which may have hurt his reputation among recruiters. But there is no question about his skills. Hudson is a solid hitter with range, outstanding leaping ability and excellent hands and feet. He leaped 23-6 in the long jump to win the CIF 3-A title and has covered the 40-yard dash in a swift 4.5.

Lassalette (West Covina, defensive end and tight end)--Some scouts think Lassalette has most promise at tight end, while others believe his future is as a defensive end. At 6-4 and 230, he probably could be a college standout at either position. He is listed as a tight end by Street & Smith and a defensive end by Emfinger. He also plays linebacker on defense. Lascola calls him one of the top defensive prospects in the nation. Lassalette does the 40 in 4.8, is aggressive and blocks well.

Other Nuggets

Johnson (Ganesha, defensive line)--At 6-5 and 265, Johnson is one of the most imposing defensive linemen in the Southland. Selected among the top players by Street & Smith, he runs the 40 in 4.9 and returned two fumbles for touchdowns last season. An outstanding all-around athlete, he also stars for the school’s basketball team. However, he is academically ineligible and will miss at least the first six games.

Garrick (Bishop Amat, offensive tackle)--On the subject of imposing linemen, Garrick must be considered. At 6-4 and 260, he is listed as a prospect at tackle by Max Emfinger and an offensive lineman by Street & Smith. Lascola, who likes Garrick’s strength, says he may have more of a future at guard. He reads defenses well.

Russell (Wilson, linebacker)--Perhaps the premier linebacker in the valley, Russell has the physical attributes that interest college recruiters. He is 6-3 and 220 and a fierce hitter and was one of the leading tacklers in the tough Sierra League last year. Listed among Emfinger’s top players, he has 4.6 speed in the 40.

Terrell Thompson (Ganesha, running back)--If Bieniemy, Ervins and Henley are the top three running backs in the valley, Thompson is not far behind. At 5-9 and 220, he is one of the strongest runners in the valley. “His thighs would probably make two of mine,” Ganesha Coach David Huey said. Thompson, who rushed for 774 yards and 10 touchdowns in only 92 carries last year, has blazing 4.3 speed in the 40.

Jody Crawford (Ganesha, offensive-defensive lines)--Another big, strong lineman from a talent-rich program, the 6-4 and 240-pound Crawford is good on both sides of the line. He likes defense and that may be where he will play in college. He has 4.8 speed, is aggressive and displays great desire.

Troy Auzenne (Bishop Amat, offensive

line)--As a junior, Auzenne did not start a game for the Lancers but played enough to impress recruiters. At 6-4 and 215, he needs weight to develop into a major-college standout. But he’s aggressive and has foot speed. Lascola calls him a “diamond in the rough.”

Steve Peters (Los Altos, wide receiver)--With size and pass-catching ability, the 6-5 and 215-pounder is in the mold of some of his school’s great receivers of the early 1980s such as Daren Davis. He had a solid junior year with 36 receptions for 543 yards and 5 touchdowns and can play wide receiver or tight end. He also is an outstanding student, a plus for college recruiters.

Herman McCullough (Edgewood, wide receiver)--One of the best athletes in the valley, McCullough (6-2, 175) plays well in just about any sport. McCullough caught 17 passes for 390 yards as a junior. He may be more noted as one of the top long- and triple-jumpers in the state and starts in basketball as well.

Ron Lattimore (Nogales, wide receiver-defensive back)--Another outstanding all-around athlete, Lattimore (6-1, 175) has the speed and hands to attract recruiters. He has run the 40 in 4.4 and stands out as a safety. He also is a starter in basketball.

Tyrone Haynes (Ganesha, wide receiver)--He is not as fast as Thompson but will use his 4.5 speed to run past a lot of defenders this season. At 6-2 and 175, he has the size that major colleges love and is a dependable pass catcher.

Cornel Kimble (Nogales, linebacker)--A hard hitter with major-college size, Kimbee missed much of last year because of a shoulder injury. The 6-3 and 225-pounder plays tight end and defensive end for the Nobles but is listed among the top linebackers in the nation by Street & Smith.

Paul Rio (Los Altos, offensive lineman)--At 6-3 and 240, Rio has good size for a high school player but may have to add weight for college. An All-Sierra League player as a junior, this tackle is one of the leaders of a solid Los Altos line.

Bob Rees (Temple City, linebacker)--A physical player who was a defensive end last year, Rees (6-3, 225) has range and aggressiveness. He is a good all-around athlete, one of Temple City’s top basketball players.

W. C. Morrison (Pasadena, running back)--With his background as an outstanding sprinter in track (4.6 in the 40), Morrison (6-0, 166) certainly has the speed to cause problems for defenses. His durability is a question mark, but Coach Gary Griffiths said Morrison has matured since last season and has developed into an outstanding blocker.