Escondido’s 6-8 Barnhard Signs With USD

Brooks Barnhard, who led Escondido High to its best basketball record ever at 20-6 last season, has signed a national letter of intent with the University of San Diego. Barnhard (6-feet 8-inches, 210 pounds) decided to attend USD 2 weeks ago, according to Escondido Coach Mike Williams and signed the letter Wednesday night, the first day of signing for college recruits.

“He’s a great kid,” said Williams. “Not only is he going to be an outstanding basketball player. He’s an outstanding person and student. All the best in basketball is ahead for him. He’s still growing. He’s an excellent outside shooter and dribbles and passes well.”

Williams added, “he was sold on USD (over SDSU, BYU, Portland and Hawaii) because of the coaching staff.”

Barnhard averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds last season as a junior.

SDSU alumnus Anthony Watson led San Diego-based Athletes in Action to a 104-102 victory at Nebraska. Watson had 33 points and Lorenzo Romar added 27 points.

AIA came back from a 7-point deficit (53-46) at the half. Also scoring in double figures for AIA were Darryl Martin (13) and John Edgar (10). Pete Manning led Nebraska with 19 points.

Coach Jim Brandenburg and his San Diego State basketball team will hold a clinic and scrimmage Saturday at Torrey Pines High School. The clinic, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 1 p.m. The clinic will conclude with an Aztec intrasquad scrimmage at 2:30 p.m.

GOLF

San Diego State’s Joann Walker shot a 1-over-par 74 to give her a two-day total of 149 and a 1-shot lead over USIU’s Allison Shapcott in the USIU Women’s Invitational at the Rancho Bernardo Inn. USIU leads heading into today’s final round with a 610 team score. Stanford is second at 615 and SDSU third at 619.

VOLLEYBALL

Top-seeded UC San Diego received a bye in the first round of the National Collegiate Athletic Assn. Div. III Western Regional volleyball tournament and meets Pomona Pitzer tonight at 7:30.

Pomona Pitzer defeated MIT 15-11, 15-4, 15-13 and the University of La Verne defeated CS San Bernardino 15-5, 15-8, 14-16, 15-13. La Verne meets Colorado Collge at 5 p.m.