Jessie Skips Football at Edison to Focus on Basketball

Brandon Jessie, perhaps the premier prep athlete in Orange County, did not report on Monday to opening day of football practice at Edison High School and will not play this season, according to Charger Coach Dave White.

“He wanted to concentrate on basketball, and I respect his decision,” White said. “He’s a great kid. We talk all the time, so there’s no hard feelings. I think he’s known for about a month that he wasn’t going to play football, but I wanted to keep the door open until practice started.”

White said he gave Jessie an ultimatum that if he didn’t report on opening day, he wouldn’t play.

“He didn’t want to play, and we have 50 kids who want to play,” White said. “It wouldn’t be fair to the others if he came out later.”

Jessie decided to play football midway through last season and caught seven touchdown passes in only five games. He is listed in the preseason issue of Super Prep football magazine as “Southern California’s finest prep athlete.”

Jessie is also a standout basketball player who earned All-Southern Section honors as a sophomore and averaged 21.4 points and 13 rebounds as a junior. He attended the Nike Camp in Princeton, N.J., this summer and is among the top 50 prep basketball players in the nation.

“He’s the best athlete I’ve ever coached,” White said. “He’s a big play-type player who would have been in the upper echelon of Orange County football. Brandon is in the mold of Isaac Curtis, Myron White, Kerwin Bell or Willie Gittens, a guy who can put you over the hump.”

Jessie, son of former All-Pro wide receiver Ron Jessie, did not participate in summer passing league drills. Edison won the 20-team summer passing tournament at Rancho Santiago College in July.

Edison lost one outstanding receiver but added depth with the addition of speedsters Kimiko Bandy and Anthoni Davis, who have transferred from Saddleback High.

Bandy and Davis, listed as wide receivers and defensive backs, have moved within Edison’s attendance area and began workouts with the Chargers Monday. Bandy was timed in 4.55 seconds in the 40-yard dash and Davis was timed in 4.62.

“I first heard they were coming in July,” White said. “They both have a great chance to start. They give us a lot more depth at wide receiver and should create more competition.”