Prep Wrap-Up : Carson Says Transfer QB Klein Must Prove Himself

Since it opened in 1963, Carson High has built one of the most successful prep football programs in the nation with a seemingly endless pool of talented players from the community.

“Our kids are a tight-knit group,” said assistant coach Saul Pacheco. “The Samoan kids and the black kids are close.”

So, how will the newest Carson player, Perry Klein, fit into the picture? The record-setting Palisades quarterback transferred to Carson on Friday and begins classes on Monday, when a new grading period starts.

“I think he’ll be accepted based on how well he can perform,” said Pacheco, the Carson line coach. “He has to prove to our kids that he can perform. If he can’t, it will be more difficult for him. If he does the job, then our kids will go to bat for him.”

Klein’s parents have secured an apartment in Carson, presumably so Klein’s father, Danny, can live close to his work during the week. Danny Klein owns a surplus electronics business in Gardena.

However, others, like Palisades Coach Jack Epstein, feel the family is making the move so Klein can play his senior season for Carson, traditionally one of the Southland’s winningest football teams. Klein would have been Palisades’ only returning starter.

The Kleins own what Epstein described as a “multimillion dollar” beach house in Malibu. Diana Klein, Perry’s mother, says they will live in the Carson apartment during the week so her husband doesn’t have to make the long drive to and from work.

“We have nothing against Palisades and we hope they have nothing against us,” said Mrs. Klein. “We feel real bad about (leaving Palisades), but we think it’s just the best for our family that we make this move now.”

Epstein said Klein’s transfer was instigated by Steve Clarkson, a former Palisades assistant coach who worked extensively with the quarterback last year. Pacheco said Clarkson has been working with Carson’s players and Coach Gene Vollnogle since February on a new pass offense.

Vollnogle is speaking at a football clinic at the University of Arizona this weekend and was unavailable for comment.

“(Clarkson) has a different kind of pass offense that we’re trying to learn,” Pacheco said. “We have football players in P. E. classes and he comes over whenever he can and works with them.”

Asked if Clarkson will be a Carson assistant next season, Pacheco replied, “He will as far as I know, unless his plans change.”

Clarkson played quarterback at L. A. Wilson High, San Jose State and briefly in the National Football League.

Epstein, who gave Clarkson the assistant’s job at Palisades, was bitter about the turn of events.

“Clarkson is a very good coach,” he said. “I gave him a lot of range. Now he does this to me. I guess he never learned about ethics.

“I feel Clarkson is leading the dad by the nose and trying to use the boy as a stepping stone for his own career. I don’t understand it. (Klein) could have gotten a scholarship anytime he wanted out of Palisades High. Notre Dame is very high on him and I got a letter (Friday) from the University of Miami asking about him.”

The 6-3, 170-pound Klein was the L. A. City 3-A player of the year last season, when he passed for a state-record 3,899 yards and 36 touchdowns. He also is a talented volleyball player and started for Palisades.

Pacheco said Klein has not worked out with Carson yet but has attended Colts’ passing-league games on the weekends.

Despite Klein’s impressive credentials, Pacheco said the quarterback will have to earn the starting job. Carson returns junior Fred Gatlin, the backup for all-City quarterback George Malauulu last season, and a talented sophomore in Arman Youngblood.

“I’m sure Gene (Vollnogle) feels that he’ll have to earn his shot,” said Pacheco. “It’s always been that way at our place. You have to be a player regardless of what position you play, because we want to win ball games.”

Diana Klein said her son is prepared to meet the challenge of a new team and a new school. Perry Klein and his father were unavailable for comment.

“I think they will accept Perry, especially when he tries hard to be a valuable player on the team,” she said. “He’ll try his best. He’s always been a kid who likes to please.”

Jade Hiramoto usually knows the answers to questions. This time, however, the North Torrance High honor student was stumped.

When was the last time she received lower than an A in school?

“I don’t know,” she said. “I can’t remember. Probably sometime, but I honestly don’t know.”

At least Hiramoto is sure it’s never happened in her four years at North.

Based on her straight-A record and abilities in volleyball, basketball and track, Hiramoto was chosen this week as one of the 10 finalists for the girls CIF Scholar/Athlete of the Year Award.

She is one of 20 finalists--10 girls and 10 boys--selected from a field of 485 students from throughout California who were nominated for the award by high school principals. The two winners will be announced on May 2.

Hiramoto’s selection is the latest in a long line of high school honors.

Athletically, she was North’s most valuable player and an all-Bay League choice in volleyball and the league MVP and an all-CIF 3-A selection in basketball. She also competes in four events--400 relay, long jump, triple jump and high jump--in track.

Her academic habits are equally impressive. Following practice, she studies from three to four hours each weeknight. Last year, she says she studied about six hours a night.

“I had a really tough history teacher last year,” she explained.

Hiramoto says her parents deserve much of the credit for her perfect 4.0 grade-point average.

“They’ve had a lot of influence on that part,” she said. “Through the years, it’s become like a habit. They want me to organize my time and balance different activities.”

Basketball is Hiramoto’s best sport. The 5-7 forward averaged 19.8 points per game last season, when she beat out Palos Verdes’ 6-4 twins, Heather and Heidi Burge, for the Bay League MVP award. This week, she was named to The Times South Bay All-Star Team.

“I would like to play basketball in college, but I probably couldn’t at a Division I school,” she said.

Hiramoto, who will receive academic scholarships and grants in college, is deciding between three colleges: Claremont-McKenna, UCLA and UC Berkeley.

Perfect grades are a source of pride for the articulate teen-ager. But what if Hiramoto slipped up and got a C on her report card?

“I think my parents would be surprised because I don’t think they’d expect it,” she said. “They’d probably have a fit.

“No, I think I’d have a fit before them.”

Redondo and El Segundo took the first steps toward their season-ending showdown by coasting to victories in Pioneer League baseball openers.

Redondo (17-1) hit a school-record six home runs on Wednesday in a 22-5 win over Miraleste and came back Friday with 6-1 win over the Marauders behind a two-hitter from Henry Schelb. Schelb improved to 6-0 and Scott Davison, who won Wednesday’s game, is 8-0.

El Segundo (12-6) had no trouble with Centennial, sweeping the Apaches, 14-0 and 19-1. The Eagles had seven doubles in the second game.

Redondo and El Segundo, the first- and fourth-ranked teams in the CIF Southern Section 4-A Division, will meet in a two-game series on April 11 and 13.

Only one game separates the top four teams in the Bay League baseball race following Friday’s games.

West Torrance and North Torrance, both 5-2, are tied for first place, one game ahead of South Torrance and Palos Verdes, both 4-3.

Jason Butcher pitched his fifth complete game of the season, a five-hitter, to help South knock West out of undisputed first place, 7-4.

North, meanwhile, ended a three-game losing streak by defeating Rolling Hills, 11-4. Greg Davis pitched a four-hitter and drove in two runs to lead the Saxons.

Santa Monica, the CIF 4-A’s top-ranked team, took over sole possession of first place in the Ocean League with a 15-9, 15-10, 8-15, 17-15 volleyball win over host Mira Costa on Friday night.

Santa Monica improved to 9-0 on the year and 5-0 in league play, while the Mustangs, ranked 10th in the 4-A, dropped to 9-4 and 4-1.