Ventura Center Neal Opts for Arizona State

Lester Neal, Ventura College’s all-state center, signed a letter of intent to play for Arizona State, Ventura basketball Coach Phil Mathews said Friday.

Neal, a 6-foot-6, 220-pound sophomore from Chicago Dunbar High, led the state in rebounding (14.8-a-game average) and was named most valuable player in the Western State Conference Northern Division last season.

Neal, who signed Friday morning at his Chicago home, is the first Ventura player to sign with a Pacific 10 Conference school in Mathews’ six seasons at Ventura.

“Basically it was just that he felt comfortable with Arizona State,” Mathews said. “He has a chance to play right away, and he liked the coaching staff and the academic support staff.

“They don’t have anybody like him. I think he’ll get an excellent chance to start.”

Neal visited Arizona State before the season began and also made official visits to Nevada Las Vegas, USC, Washington State and Colorado. Neal needs to complete his Associate in Arts degree in order to be eligible at Arizona State, and Mathews said Neal is on schedule to do so.

Neal averaged 18.4 points and 10.5 rebounds as a freshman and 20.7 points last season.

Two other Ventura players have signed as well. Guard Antoine Sherfield and forward Chris Vance signed with Langston (Okla.) University, an NAIA school, Mathews said.

Sherfield is a 6-2 sophomore from Fremont High, and Vance is a 6-7 sophomore from Morningside High.