OTHER SPORTS : Cal Lutheran Plays the Waiting Game for Indecisive Recruits

Even though Tuesday was the first day NCAA schools could sign basketball recruits to letters of intent, Cal Lutheran still is waiting for its first signee. Coach Larry Lopez said the Kingsmen are awaiting word from “two or three players who haven’t decided yet where they’ll go.”

“Most Division II and NAIA programs won’t get guys on the first day,” Lopez said. “It takes a few days, sometimes a few weeks because kids are waiting for Division I offers.”

Cal Lutheran lost a top recruit, 6-11 center John Anderson of MiraCosta College in San Diego, because Anderson did not qualify academically.

Lopez said he is talking to three Valley-area players: John Walker (Thousand Oaks High), Travis Bice (Simi Valley) and Ric Welch (Westlake).

All-Americans: Canyons’ Mitch McMullen, a 6-10 sophomore center, has been named to the JC Athletic Bureau All-America first team.

Former Simi Valley High forward Mark Robinson, a 6-5 guard for City College of San Francisco, and former Canoga Park High standout LaVar Ball, a 6-4 forward for West Los Angeles College, also were named to the first team.

Michael Johnson of San Joaquin Delta and Compton’s Andre Wiley were named Co-Players of the Year.

Canyons’ Anthony Hines, who led the state in rebounding for most of the season, was not included. Wiley ranked No. 2.

Signings: McMullen and Anthony Hines of Canyons were two of the first area basketball players to sign national letters of intent on Wednesday.

McMullen, a 6-10 center who averaged 20.4 points and 11.5 rebounds a game, will play for San Diego State. Hines, a 6-8 forward who averaged 14 points, signed with Tulsa.

McMullen, a transfer from Point Loma Nazarene, played at Hart High, and Hines played at El Camino Real.

Master’s signings: The Master’s College basketball program has signed a pair of 6-2 guards--Eric Menzies, who played at St. Monica High and Kenny Smith of Bakersfield.

Volleyball signings: Connie Noe and April Devine have signed letters of intent to play volleyball at Cal State Northridge.

Noe, a 5-11 middle blocker, was a two-time Kern County Player of the Year for Highland High. Devine, a 5-11 middle blocker and outside hitter, was a two-time all-Marmonte League selection for Westlake High.

On a roll: CLU’s softball team has won its past six games, improving the Regals’ record to 20-8. CLU, ranked No. 18 in the NAIA, is led by pitcher Kim Peppi (8-2, 0.85 earned-run average).