USC, UCLA Land Area Prep Area Stars

USC and UCLA each picked up verbal commitments Thursday from a top local high school football player as cornerback Dion Lambert of Granada Hills Kennedy and wide receiver Marc Rodgers of L.A. University decided to stay close to home.

Rodgers, a City 2-A selection for division champion University, picked USC over California and Washington. Lambert, a City 4-A choice, decided on UCLA after also visiting Arizona, Colorado and Washington.