CLU Signs Verbum Dei Standout

Cal Lutheran, which is trying to improve its basketball program the hard way--with few scholarships and without a winning tradition to fall back on--made a breakthrough of sorts by signing Charles Jackson to a letter of intent Wednesday.

Jackson, 6-5, was an All-Camino Real League forward at Verbum Dei High, where he averaged 21 points and seven rebounds a game. He is the first player from a 5-A school--one with a history of great teams and players no less--to accept a scholarship to Cal Lutheran, which plays in the NAIA District III.

“Coming from a great high school program like he does, he’ll be important in establishing our program,” Coach Larry Lopez of Cal Lutheran said. “We’re on the verge of our best recruiting year ever.”

Darryl Clark, a 6-6 forward from Chabot College, also signed with Cal Lutheran, as expected, Wednesday.

Cal State Northridge, which plays in the Division II California Collegiate Athletic Assn., signed Leroy McCullough, a 6-4 forward from Pasadena City College. McCullough, whose cousin, Bob, will sign later with CSUN, also considered Cal Lutheran.

Northridge also received a verbal commitment from Karl Becker, a 6-3 guard from Cypress College. Becker averaged only 7.3 points but made 47 of 93 three-point attempts, including a school-record 10 in a row over a two-game span this season.

Northridge, which may sign at least two more guards by the end of the week, might go to a three-guard lineup next season.

Meanwhile, guard Damon Greer of Cleveland High signed, as expected, with San Jose State on Wednesday.

In baseball, UCLA signed a talented trio of Valley-area players to full-ride scholarships. Infielder Adam Schulhofer and pitcher-catcher Mike Kerber of Canoga Park and infielder Joel Wolfe of Chatsworth all will play for the Bruins.

Rex McMackin, an outfielder from Chatsworth, accepted a partial scholarship offer from Arizona State.

Jonas Escalera, who scored a school-record 73 goals last season for the Chaminade High soccer team, signed a letter of intent with Northridge. Escalera is a four-time All-Santa Fe League selection.