Preps / Scott Howard-Cooper : USC Lands Four Top Volleyball Players

The USC women’s volleyball team has signed four high school volleyball stars, including three area girls who played on the 1986 Junior Olympic national championship team. That gives the Trojans what some consider the finest recruiting class in the nation.

Megan McCallister, the Volleyball Monthly Player of the Year from Manhattan Beach Mira Costa and the No. 1 prospect in the nation, heads the list and is joined by Missy Kurt of Notre Dame Academy in Los Angeles, Antoinette White of Lynwood and Lonise Norfleet of Lombard, Ill. Norfleet, a three-time All-American in the U.S. Volleyball Assn., played on the second-place team in the Junior Olympics.

“I think from what people are saying, it is (the best group),” Trojan Coach Chuck Erbe said Thursday. “When you sign the No. 1, No. 4 and No. 9 players in the country and also Antoinette White, who is a great athlete but is somewhat unknown because she didn’t play a lot last year with Tiger (her club team), you have to be pleased.”

UCLA also landed a top Illinois player, Traci Broadway of Chicago, the Bruins’ first out-of-stater. Coach Andy Banachowski also got Samantha Shaver of Los Altos High in Northern California.

Cal Poly San Luis Obispo announced the signing of a Southern California standout, Amy Svikhart of Ojai Nordhoff.

Louisville’s Jeff Ellis, the son of former heavyweight boxer Jimmy Ellis, had a tough choice to make between UCLA and Ohio State.

“UCLA was my first choice,” said Ellis, one of the top tight ends in the country. “Ohio State was second on my list. But UCLA is too far for my parents to come see me. I’ve played in front of them all my life and there’s no reason to stop now.”

So he signed with the Buckeyes.

Wide receiver Patrick Rowe of San Diego Lincoln is one of three San Diego area players keeping Pacific 10 Conference teams waiting. As of Thursday night, he was still looking at USC, UCLA, Arizona State and San Diego State, and White said it will come down to the Trojans and Bruins.

Running back Tommy Booker will choose between Washington, Arizona State and San Diego State, and linebacker Junior Seau of Oceanside is apparently undecided. He has been hiding out with friends or relatives since the recruiting pace got hectic at home, so about all that is known is that he has visited Arizona State, UCLA, Colorado and Stanford and is still expected at USC this weekend.

Prep Notes The Fontana girls’ basketball team has reached 20 victories for the sixth straight season under Coach Jack Willis. That has been worth five Citrus Belt League championships and a Southern Section title in 1984. . . . Running back Eric Mortensen of Antelope Valley, an All-Coastal Conference selection, will go to BYU.