Wilborn Keeping Up With Jones

Who’s afraid of Dana Jones?

C’mon, ‘fess up. That pterodactyl-like wingspan of the Pepperdine-bound North Hollywood High senior center has sent big men of the Valley Pac-8 Conference running for cover. Those pogo sticks that pass for Jones’ legs are unmatched in the Valley.

Who wants to challenge Jones?

I do, Reseda senior Marquis Wilborn says.

In two games against Jones, Wilborn has scored 27 and 23 points, both team highs. And in the latter effort, he also grabbed seven rebounds and led an inspired charge that dumped Jones and his Huskies, 65-55, on Friday at Reseda. In addition, nearly all of his 50 points against the Huskies have come inside-- Dana Jones’ territory.

“Dana doesn’t scare me,” Wilborn said.

Apparently. The 6-foot-3 senior forward has been successful against others. He is averaging 15.1 points and 7.5 rebounds a game--both team highs--and has led surprising Reseda into a first-place tie with North Hollywood in the Mid-Valley League.

To go or not to go: Montclair Prep tailback Michael Jones on Tuesday denied published reports that he has orally committed to play football at USC in the fall.

Jones, a 6-2, 205-pound, Parade All-American, just returned from a recruiting visit to Miami, his fifth and final visit. Jones also has visited Colorado, Georgia Tech, Louisiana State and USC.

“I haven’t made up my mind yet,” Jones said. “I’ll go wherever I can play.”

Jones said that he should reach a decision within a week.

Here’s to the winners: Understand the Valley Pac-8 Conference playoff picture?

From the Mid-Valley League, Reseda and North Hollywood, both at 6-2, have sewn up the playoff berths awarded to the top two finishers in that league.

In the East Valley League, Grant (8-0) has clinched first place. For the second berth, Birmingham, under first-year Coach Al Bennett, is in the driver’s seat at 4-4. Sylmar is a game behind at 3-5. Sylmar and Birmingham will both play Poly and Grant this week.

Last visit for a while: Forgive Canoga Park Coach Jeff Davis if he seems a little out of sorts when his team takes the floor for tonight’s game at El Camino Real.

Davis, in his first season at Canoga Park, spent the previous nine seasons as the junior varsity coach at El Camino Real. During varsity games, Davis sat alongside Coach Mike McNulty.

“It’ll be very weird sitting on that other bench,” Davis said. “It’s going to take some getting used to.”

Maybe, maybe not. Next season, Canoga Park will play in the Valley Pac-8 Conference while El Camino Real will remain in the Northwest Valley Conference. Unless the teams meet in tournament or nonleague games, this might be the last meeting for some time.

Staff writers Steve Elling and Brian Murphy contributed to this notebook.