THE 22 TERRIFIC : Southern California Once Again Boasts a Healthy Supply of Prep Football Talent, and Area Schools Are Well-Represented

After a below-average yield of high school football talent in 1989, Southern California again appears to have an abundance of outstanding college prospects, scouts agree.

“It looks like a pretty good year,” Houston-based super scout Max Emfinger said. “There are some really good people out there this year.”

Dick Lascola, who operates Scouting Evaluation Assn. in Fallbrook, said the talent is particularly deep at defensive back, offensive tackle and running back. But there is a shortage of especially capable quarterbacks, wide receivers and linebackers.

Among the top-rated players are running back Napoleon Kaufman of Lompoc High and offensive tackle Robert Loya of Fontana.

In addition to Lascola and Emfinger, national recruiting services such as G & W Recruiting Report of Pennsylvania, Tom Lemming’s Prep Football Report of Illinois, Super Prep magazine of Costa Mesa and the Florida-based Steve Smith’s Blue Chip report also list the Los Angeles area and Riverside County and Orange County seniors who are rated among the best players in preseason reports.

Fontana, El Toro and Montclair Prep each have two players on The Times’ list of the region’s 22 best--although it appears that Montclair Prep’s best player, running back Derek Sparks, will transfer to another school.

Here, in no particular order, are the The Times’ Terrific 22:

ROB JOHNSON

Quarterback

El Toro

It might be a down year for quarterbacks, but Johnson could be the exception. At 6-foot-4 and 210 pounds, he is bigger than his brother Bret (the former starting quarterback at UCLA who has transferred to Michigan State) and has a powerful throwing arm. An all-around athlete, Johnson was an All-Southern Section selection in football, baseball and basketball as a junior. Playing sparingly at quarterback last season, he completed 20 of 25 passes for 550 yards.

NAPOLEON KAUFMAN

Running Back

Lompoc

He was the highest-ranked player on the Terrific 22. The 5-9, 170-pound Kaufman has speed and moves that one scouting service compared to those of Notre Dame’s Raghib Ismail. He won the 100 and 200 meters at the state track meet in June and runs the 40-yard dash in 4.3 seconds. As a junior, he gained 2,954 all-purpose yards, scored 39 touchdowns and averaged a remarkable 70 yards on kickoff returns. He also played defensive back and had four interceptions.

LAMONT WARREN

Running Back

Dorsey

Some scouts rate Warren higher than Kaufman. At 6-1 and 185, he is bigger and only slightly slower with a 4.4 time in the 40. He finished second in the state in the 400 meters in June. A slashing runner, he rushed for 1,350 yards and 25 touchdowns and caught 20 passes for 205 yards. Warren also is an excellent defensive back.

DEREK SPARKS

Running Back

Montclair Prep

At the moment, Sparks’ prospects for playing in Southern California are dim: An uncle, Jerome, who has had a poor relationship with Montclair Prep, withdrew him from school this week. Nevertheless, scouts describe Sparks (6-1, 208) as a power back with great moves, vision and more-than-adequate 4.5 speed in the 40. He bench-presses 320 pounds. He rushed for 1,944 yards and 35 touchdowns last season.

ONTIWAUN CARTER

Running Back

Kennedy

Carter joins Sparks as another prized player from the Valley. At 5-10 and 175, he makes up for his relative smallness with speed, strength and durability. He runs the 40 in 4.5 and has bench-pressed 350 pounds. Carter has rushed for 2,753 yards and 21 touchdowns in his first two seasons at Kennedy, including 1,563 yards and 11 touchdowns last year. Recruiters also believe he could play cornerback in college.

LEON NEAL

Running Back

Paramount

Neal (5-9, 170) is another undersized running back who is receiving a look from recruiters. Last season he rushed for 1,729 yards and 23 touchdowns and averaged more than 12 yards a carry. Also a good pass receiver, he combines exceptional quickness with leaping ability and lateral movement. A good all-around athlete and an outstanding student, his best moves in college could be made at cornerback.

ALBERT JONES

Wide Receiver

Westchester

One of the best all-around athletes on the Terrific 22, Jones usually is mentioned first as a receiver and then as a defensive back, but he could easily wind up playing either in college because of his size and speed. The transfer from St. Monica is 6-3 and 190 and runs the 40 in 4.5. As a junior, he caught 32 passes for 606 yards and 10 touchdowns and demonstrated his explosiveness by returning four punts and two interceptions for scores.

JOEL ROSBOROUGH

Wide Receiver

Long Beach Jordan

An athlete who might be able to pick his sport for college, Rosborough (6-3, 175) is equally adept in football and basketball. Depending on which scout you believe, he also can play either wide receiver or defensive back. As a receiver with 4.5 speed, he combines good leaping ability and hands and is considered a big-play threat. On defense, he has the instincts to excel at safety. He also averaged 15 points for the basketball team last season.

CHRIS FINCH

Offensive Line

Ramona

As deep as the talent at running back appears to be, the pool of interior linemen is even deeper. One of the best is Finch (6-6, 265 pounds), who has excelled on both sides of the line for a Ramona squad that has produced several big linemen. G & W Recruiting Report rates him the No. 1 offensive line prospect in the state. He is a fierce blocker with superb technique and more-than-adequate speed. The biggest question is his grades.

ROBERT LOYA

Offensive Line

Fontana

For sheer power and determination, there isn’t a more dominating lineman than the 6-3, 280-pound Loya. Said Lemming’s report: “Robert is a fierce competitor who is known for knocking defenders on their backside.” Regarded by many scouts as the state’s best offensive lineman, he has clocked 5.0 in the 40. He has a dead lift of 565 pounds and also is solid academically with a 3.6 grade-point average.

CLAY HATTABAUGH

Offensive Line

Fontana

With major-college prospects such as Loya and Hattabaugh on the same line, it is no wonder that big things are expected from Fontana this season. Hattabaugh (6-3, 265) is slightly smaller than Loya but a little faster with a 4.9 in the 40. He also has tremendous strength, having bench-pressed 375 pounds. He moves well off a block and is especially strong as a run blocker. A tackle, he could move to guard in college.

JOHN DiSANTE

Offensive Line

Notre Dame

In a year in which there are blue-chip offensive linemen throughout the state, DiSante rates among the best. He has the size (6-4, 270) and above-average speed with a time of 5.0 in the 40. He is a good all-around athlete who also plays nose guard and competes in basketball and track and field. He receives high marks for his aggressiveness, but scouts most like his intense work ethic. He also has a 3.5 GPA.

DONOVAN ROY

Offensive Line

Montclair Prep

Roy (6-6, 280) certainly has the size colleges like. He also has outstanding quickness (5.0 in the 40 and ample strength, having lifted 470 pounds in the squat. Particularly strong as a run blocker, he also is an imposing force as a defensive tackle, having batted down six passes in 1989.

MIKE CARDONA

Offensive Line

La Mirada

Another huge tackle who can play offense and defense, the 6-4, 280-pound Cardona is not the fastest lineman among the Terrific 22 (5.4 in the 40), but he makes up for shortcomings with his aggressiveness and solid work habits. “He can pull, trap and makes very few mistakes at offensive tackle,” the Lemming report says. He also stands out on defense.

BRIAN GREELEY

Offensive Line

Riverside La Sierra

Greeley (6-3, 275) has excelled at tackle on offense and defense. He is one of the quickest linemen on the list with a 4.9 in the 40 and he can bench-press 360 pounds. His brother, Keith, plays basketball for USC.

JEREMY HOGUE

Defensive Line

El Toro

The talent supply at El Toro never seems to be lacking and Hogue (6-4, 255) is another standout. Although he plays offense and defense, scouts believe his future is at defensive tackle. He has good speed (5.0 in the 40), which helped him accumulate 12 quarterback sacks last season. Hogue also plays tackle on offense. He is an exceptional student with a 4.0 GPA.

MIKE BALIAN

Defensive Line

Damien

Damien always seems to produce at least one major-college prospect on the line and Balian is the latest. The 6-4, 250-pound nose guard has the quickness and strength to control the line of scrimmage. He has run 4.9 in the 40 and can bench-press 420 pounds. Although mostly a defensive player, he has played fullback on offense. He is also an outstanding wrestler, which might help to account for his excellent lateral mobility.

MATT GILMOUR

Defensive Line

Temple City

He is not the biggest lineman in the state and that is one reason Gilmour might play outside linebacker in college. Scouts like his potential. At 6-5, 220 pounds, he has 4.8 speed in the 40 and a lot of room to fill out. “Matt is a quick-footed youngster who explodes off the ball,” the Lemming report says. He also plays tight end and averaged 10 points as a basketball forward last season.

CLAYVAND THOMAS

Defensive Back

Carson

Regarded by most scouts as one of the top defensive backs in the state, Thomas (6-0, 175) returned three interceptions for touchdowns last season and is especially adept at man-to-man coverage. But there are lingering questions about his physical condition after he sustained a broken kneecap and wrist in an auto accident this year.

DERRICK STEWART

Defensive Back

Granada Hills

At first glance, it might be a little surprising that Stewart is considered among the top prospects. He did not produce a lot of impressive statistics as a junior, but the 5-11, 185-pound Stewart has a lot of qualities scouts like. “He reacts well to the ball and he hits a ton,” one report says. Although he did not have any interceptions as a junior, Stewart did have six quarterback sacks. He competes with emotion and will be the Highlanders’ starting tailback. He also plays basketball and baseball.

TIM ROSS

Defensive Back

Royal

It is unusual for Royal, which never has been a Southern Section power, to have a blue-chip prospect, but Ross (6-4, 205) is one of the most versatile players on the Terrific 22. He plays strong safety and intercepted four passes last year, but he could develop into an outside linebacker in college. He also will play tight end and wide receiver for Royal. Ross runs the 40 in 4.6, has leaped 6 foot 7 inches in the high jump and plays basketball.

REGGIE RESER

Defensive Back

Muir

Reser (5-10, 175) is not the biggest defensive back around, but he makes up for his relative lack of size with 4.5 speed in the 40. He is also a vicious hitter. “He’s the hit man you want for your secondary who is athletic enough to play corner too,” Super Prep says. Recruiters call him a pure college cornerback. He had four interceptions and forced three fumbles as a junior. He also will play running back.

THE TERRIFIC 22

NAME SCHOOL HT. WT. POS. Rob Johnson El Toro 6-4 210 QB Napoleon Kaufman Lompoc 5-9 170 RB Lamont Warren Dorsey 6-1 185 RB Derek Sparks Montclair Prep 6-1 208 RB Leon Neal Paramount 5-9 170 RB Ontiwaun Carter Kennedy 5-10 175 RB Albert Jones Westchester 6-3 190 WR Joel Rosborough LB Jordan 6-3 175 WR Chris Finch Ramona 6-6 265 OL Robert Loya Fontana 6-3 280 OL Clay Hattabaugh Fontana 6-3 265 OL John DiSante Notre Dame 6-4 270 OL Donovan Roy Montclair Prep 6-6 1/2 280 OL Jeremy Hogue El Toro 6-4 255 DL Mike Cardona La Mirada 6-4 280 OL Brian Greeley La Sierra 6-3 275 OL Mike Balian Damien 6-4 250 DL Matt Gilmour Temple City 6-5 220 DL Clayvand Thomas Carson 6-0 175 DB Derrick Stewart Granada Hills 5-11 185 DB Tim Ross Royal 6-4 205 DB Reggie Reser Muir 5-10 175 DB