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A Cut Above : Size, Speed and Strength Put 20 High School Players on Every Scout’s Wish List

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Times Staff Writer

No one wants to put pressure on Leonard Russell. After all, he’s only a kid. But the Long Beach Poly High running back enters the football season as one of the most heavily recruited high school players in the nation.

Who will be looking at him? Only the Who’s Who of college football: USC, UCLA, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Alabama.

“Barring injury and if he has a productive season, the kid most schools would want is Leonard Russell,” said Dick Lascola, director of the Scouting Evaluation Assn. “Everybody could use a good running back.”

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But Russell is far from the only Southern California senior who will be watched longingly by the biggest of the college powerhouses.

Local and national scouting services and the universities with the most successful recruiting programs have put together shopping lists of the outstanding prospects in Los Angeles and Orange counties, and 20 names keep popping up.

Here, in no particular order, are the high school seniors who enter the season with the most interest from colleges:

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Leonard Russell, running back, Long Beach Poly, 6-2, 215--Last week’s Sports Illustrated magazine listed Russell as the most coveted high school senior in the country. He probably will be recruited by every major university in the country. He is on virtually every scouting service report. Street & Smith magazine lists him as a preseason All-American. “He’s the premier running back in the area,” said Dave Baldwin, a recruiter at Stanford. Last season Russell gained 1,399 yards and scored 14 touchdowns on 208 carries to lead the Jackrabbits to the Big 5 Conference co-championship.

Jimmy Bonds, quarterback, Hart, 6-1, 185--He’s listed at 6-1, although some scouts believe he’s as small as 5-10. One thing everyone agrees on: He can throw. In describing his arm, scouts use words such as rocket and rifle . As the Indians’ top gun last season, he completed 165 of 318 passes for 2,252 yards. He also rushed for 380 yards and nine touchdowns. Said Stanford’s Baldwin: “He has an Elway-type arm, which is unreal for his size. He’s incredible.” His older brother, Tom, was an NAIA All-America quarterback last year at Cal Lutheran.

Ricky Ervins, running back, Muir, 5-9, 185--What he lacks in size, he makes up in speed. He has been clocked at 4.4 in a 40-yard sprint and one college coach called him “the fastest kid in high school football.” Ervins rushed for 1,218 yards and 14 touchdowns last season, leading the Mustangs to the Coastal Conference championship, and was named the Pacific League’s most valuable player. Cal-Hi Sports lists Ervins as the top returning player in the state and Street & Smith has him as a “senior to watch.”

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Eugene Burkhalter, defensive back, Long Beach Poly, 6-1, 180--A free safety, Burkhalter has 4.5 speed. His quickness, coupled with his size, has drawn the attention of many major universities. George Darlington, who recruits California prospects for Nebraska, called Burkhalter “a guy most people are interested in.”

George Hemmingway, running back, Colton, 6-3, 210--Hemmingway is hardly a novel running back. He is huge and has 4.5 speed. Said Darlington: “He’s another guy that all the big schools will be watching.” Colton will need Hemmingway to perform up to expectations if the sun is to rise on the team, which suffered through a 4-6 record last season.

Scott Spalding, defensive lineman, El Toro, 6-6, 250--A popular prospect among recruiters and scouts, Spalding has excellent size and speed (5.0 in the 40) for a defensive tackle. A three-sport athlete, he is considered the best lineman in California and is a Street & Smith preseason All-American.

Kevin Bayonne, defensive back, St. Bernard, 6-0, 200--With 4.4 speed, Bayonne made a big impression as a junior last season and is ranked as one of the top 200 high school players in the country by Max Emfinger of the National High School Football Recruiting Service. He is listed as a senior to watch in the Street & Smith preview. He is also a powerful running back. Bayonne underwent arthroscopic surgery Aug. 28, but isn’t expected to miss more than two weeks.

Keith Bowen, linebacker, Westchester, 6-1, 215--As an outside linebacker, he’s big and he’s quick. Bowen is regarded by some recruiters and scouts as one of the better linebackers in the country. He has 4.6 speed. Bowen should be one of the most heavily recruited players from the City Section.

Eric Henley, running back, Damien, 5-9, 160--Call him the last of the red-hot Henleys. His two older brothers left Damien for successful college careers, Tom at Stanford and Darryl at UCLA. Eric is a two-year starter and was named to the All-Baseline League team last season. A sportswriter who watched Henley said: “Henley is considered an outstanding all-around athlete. He is very quick, can play running back, defensive back, wide receiver, return kicks and punts and sell popcorn.”

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Terrance Powe, defensive lineman, L.A. Banning, 6-4, 240--With 4.8 speed, he is rated one of the top 200 players in the nation and considered by some the best lineman in Southern California. Banning Coach Chris Ferragamo says Powe is among the top players in California.

Marvin Pollard, defensive back, L.A. Banning, 6-3, 180--A free safety from one of the nation’s top programs, he is considered the leader of one of Southern California’s talent-rich teams. He is a Street & Smith preseason All-American and one of four players from California ranked among the top 50 in the country. An All-City football player, he also plays basketball.

Ken Sollom, quarterback, Canyon, 6-2, 195--Sollom got his biggest break last season when starting quarterback John Watkins got his. Watkins broke his wrist in Canyon’s last regular-season game, making way for Sollom to lead the Cowboys to their third straight Southern Section championship and record-setting 38th consecutive win. Sollom started only four games but passed for 778 yards and nine touchdowns.

Canyon Coach Harry Welch on Sollom: “When I coached in the Shrine game, I saw Dan McGwire and Scott Stark on a daily basis. Sollom is comparable to those two. He has shown phenomenal improvement over the summer. He’s gained 30 pounds and an equal amount of confidence.”

Brian Kelly, offensive lineman, South Torrance, 6-5, 245--Lascola said Kelly is among the top 25 offensive linemen in the nation. Last season he was named All-Southern Section. South Torrance Coach Joe Austin has referred to Kelly as the best lineman in the school’s history. Kelly plays defense equally well but will most likely be recruited for offense.

Corey Brown, linebacker, Morningside, 6-3, 215--He was selected to the All-Southern Section first team as a junior. Brown will be the central figure in the Monarchs’ quest for the Pioneer League championship. He is on the Street & Smith seniors-to-watch list. Brown was the Pioneer League defensive player of the year and also plays fullback.

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Eric Bieniemy, running back, Bishop Amat, 5-10, 190--He rushed for 1,514 yards and 25 touchdowns last season and is another Street & Smith senior to watch. Bieniemy ranked No. 10 in the Southern Section in rushing last season and was named first-team All-Southern Section.

Sean Howard, linebacker, Crespi, 6-5, 220--After suffering a brutal 1984 season in which the Celts did not win a game, Crespi came back last fall and posted a 6-4 record. Howard played a key role in the reversal. He is one of the biggest linebackers in the Southern Section and, some scouts say, one of the best. He spearheads a talented defense and was selected to the All-Del Rey League first team last season.

Richard Garrick, offensive lineman, Bishop Amat, 6-4, 260--Garrick was selected to the All-Angelus League first team as an offensive tackle. Teammate Bieniemy’s rushing totals are testimony to Garrick’s prowess as one of the premier linemen in Southern California. As one of only eight returning starters, Garrick will face a test of his leadership abilities this season. Along with El Toro’s Spalding and Banning’s Powe, Garrick is one of the more popular linemen with recruiters and scouts.

Tom Lassalette, defensive end, West Covina, 6-4, 230--Lascola calls Lasalette one of the top dozen defensive players in the country. Lasalette can play end or outside linebacker, depending on the defensive arrangement, and is a Street & Smith senior to watch.

Alvin Goree, running back, Carson, 5-8, 160--Goree has been a starter since he was a sophomore. As an all-purpose runner, he has scored touchdowns running and receiving and returning punts and kickoffs. He has been described as slippery but not as quick as some of the better backs. Last season Goree was named to The Times’ All-South Bay first team.

Randy Galosic, quarterback, San Pedro, 5-11, 180--Last season Galosic led San Pedro to its first league title in more than 20 years and was named first-team All-Freeway League. He passed for 20 touchdowns and ran for 10, enough to be named All-City. Galosic is a two-year starter.

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