Taft’s Watts Decides to Make Dash for USC

Following in the tradition of sprint greats Donald Quarrie, Lennox Miller, Clancy Edwards and James Sanford, Quincy Watts of Taft High made a verbal commitment Wednesday to attend USC, according to a reliable source who asked not to be named.

Watts, the defending state champion in the 100 and 200 meters and No. 1-ranked high school sprinter in the nation by Track and Field News, is expected to sign a letter of intent shortly.

Watts narrowed his choices to USC and UCLA two weeks ago after showing interest in Florida and Arizona.

“Southern California is the place to be,” Watts said after dropping Florida and Arizona from his list of choices 1 1/2 weeks ago. “I like it here and the weather is great for training.”

Watts, who led Taft to the state title in 1986 and consecutive City Section titles in ’86 and ‘87, has personal bests of 10.30 seconds in the 100 and 20.50 in the 200. He could not be reached Thursday for comment.

The signing of the 6-3, 197-pound Watts would cap a superb recruiting year for the Trojans, who have won 26 NCAA outdoor track and field titles but none since 1978.

Hurdler Ronald Copeland of Dorsey, sprinters Travis Hannah of Hawthorne and Tony Miller of Riordan High in San Francisco, and pole vaulter Todd Lehman of North High in Phoenix all signed letters of intent Wednesday with USC, according to Nick Salata, assistant sports information director.

Copeland placed second in the 110-meter high hurdles in last year’s state championships. Hannah was runner-up in the 400 meters and anchored the Cougars’ 1,600-meter relay team, which won the state title.

Miller, a teammate of Watts on the West Valley Eagles Track Club last summer, placed fourth in the 200 and fifth in the 100 at the state championships. Lehman is the defending Arizona state champion.