Carson Players Have Their Hearts in the Heartland : Recruiting: Standouts Washington and Stanley announce intentions to attend Drake University.

The recruiting process can be a test of nerves for coveted high school athletes. They are deluged with letters and phone calls from college coaches, creating an intense pressure of dealing with some of the toughest salesmen around.

However, Carson High’s Rudy Washington and Khary Stanley feel they have found a coach they can trust.

Both players have decided to sign letters of intent with Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa. Drake is coached by Rudy Washington, who is the father of Carson’s Washington and is Stanley’s uncle. The NCAA’s early one-week signing period began Wednesday.

For Carson’s Washington, a 6-foot-4 forward who averaged 19.6 points and 7.8 rebounds last season, Drake presents the opportunity to be reunited with his father, whom he has not lived with since his parents divorced when he was 9.

“He’ll be interested in my best welfare,” Washington said. “I’m real excited. I’ve never really had him around. The basketball team is coming along very well, and it’s a very good academic institution.”

Washington said it’s difficult to know whom to trust in the recruiting process.

“(The recruiters’) job is to create a mirage or something that really isn’t there,” he said. “They are businessmen trying to sell their product and they can’t really tell you the bad aspects.”

Stanley, a 6-10 center who has been plagued by injuries in his high school career, said he was looking forward to playing with his cousin in college.

“It’s exciting to me,” he said. “I went to school with Rudy since the first grade; we’ve known each other forever. It’s the perfect way to end our school careers.”

Last season was the elder Washington’s first as coach at Drake. The Bulldogs were 8-21; the season highlight was a victory over Arizona State. Among Drake’s players are guards Marc Raveling, son of USC Coach George Raveling and a former St. Bernard High standout, and Darrin Dafney, a transfer from UCLA who sat out last season.

For Stanley and Washington, signing early alleviates the problems and hassles of recruiting and will help them focus on their senior seasons at Carson. Both players say they also plan to concentrate on their academics.

Stanley has grown an inch since last year, and Carson Coach Richard Masson said he thinks the player’s best days are ahead of him. Stanley was sidelined most of last season because of nagging injuries.

“He has not developed to his potential yet,” Masson said. “There is no substitute for experience, even now he’s hurt again. His basic skills aren’t developed. He’s mobile, agile and has a soft touch, but he needs to get a little more physical.”

In addition to playing for a close relative, Washington and Stanley are looking forward to playing in an area that is known for basketball hysteria.

“It’s a great environment for learning and for basketball because there are not a lot of pro teams,” Washington said.

“The fact that it’s such a basketball surrounding should keep my mind on playing,” Stanley said. “Everyone there knows about basketball, which will help me try to do the best I can.”

Washington and Stanley know more will be expected of them at Drake because they are relatives of the coach.

“I just have to go hard at all times,” Washington said. “It helps you to really play hard; you don’t want to let your dad down.”

Said Stanley: “It will make me play harder because the other players might think we are getting special treatment. We will have to work much harder because I don’t want to turn him off after I sign.”

Peninsula senior John Anthony, a 6-7 forward, said he planned to sign a letter of intent today with Loyola Marymount. He averaged 16.2 and 8.4 rebounds last season for Palos Verdes.

“He can play (Loyola’s) tempo,” Peninsula Coach John Mihaljevich said. “He’s a free-flowing player that likes to run, and they were excited about him. I’m happy for him; it’s been a while since we’ve had a Division I player from the hill.”

Anthony said he turned down recruiting trips to Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, the University of San Diego and Fordham.

“I was asked to take other trips, but after visiting Loyola I knew I wanted to go there,” he said.

Westchester Coach Ed Azzam said three of his players--6-9 center Marty Cotwright, 6-4 guard James Gray and 6-5 forward Lorenzo Ball--are still deciding where to attend college. He does not expect them to sign until after the season.