The Colleges : Swanwick Will Play at UC Irvine : Trabuco Hills’ Center Is Fourth County Player to Sign With Anteaters

Rick Swanwick signed a national letter of intent Saturday to play basketball at UC Irvine, bringing to four the number of Orange County players signed by Irvine this year.

Swanwick, a 6-10, 220-pound center, averaged 21 points and 14 rebounds for Trabuco Hills High School last season.

The Los Angeles Times’ Orange County Player of the Year led Trabuco Hills to a 3-A Southern Section title and to the state championship game, where the Mustangs lost to Central Valley, 62-61.

UCI also has signed Dylan Rigdon of Mater Dei, Craig Marshall of Saddleback and Khari Johnson of El Toro.

“This is the best freshman class we’ve had in nine years,” Irvine Coach Bill Mulligan said. “Swanwick is a 6-10 kid and there’s not too many of those in the Big West Conference. He improved so much between his junior and senior years. He had a heck of a year.”