PREP WEDNESDAY : McKnight Says Six of His Players Might Sign

Mater Dei will lead the way today on the first day of the early college signing period for basketball and several other sports.

Monarch guards David Drakeford and Kamran Sufi plan to sign with Oregon State and St. Mary’s, and forward DeVaughn Wright is deciding between Cal State Fullerton and Utah State and could sign by the Nov. 18 early deadline.

Mater Dei basketball Coach Gary McKnight expects as many as six of his players to sign by the late period in April, which would be the most recruits in his 11 seasons at the school.

Drakeford, 6 feet 1, and Sufi, 5-8, committed last month. Wright, a 6-7 forward who is in his first season at the varsity level, started for the Monarch junior varsity last season.

“It just goes to show you how important summer basketball is,” McKnight said. “That’s where it (recruiters’ interest in Wright) started.”

McKnight also expects 6-6 forward Terence Wilborn, 6-7 center Marmet Williams and 6-3 guard Chris Jackson to sign by spring. Wilborn has drawn interest from St. Mary’s and San Jose State, and Jackson and Williams are considering at several small schools.

The Monarchs’ most recruited player is guard Miles Simon, a 6-4 junior with excellent shooting range. Nearly every major college is interested in Simon, who made an unofficial visit to Notre Dame last week.

Also planning to sign today are Ocean View guard Jim Harris (Loyola Marymount), Costa Mesa guard Olivia DiCamilli (San Diego State), Capistrano Valley guard Angie White (Nevada Las Vegas), Capistrano Valley volleyball player Aaron Garcia (Stanford) and Esperanza volleyball player Paul Nihipali (UCLA).

DiCamilli, a three-year starter and a Times’ all-county selection last season, was recruited by more than 30 colleges, choosing San Diego State over Pepperdine, Hawaii and St. Mary’s. She averaged 22.7 points and 9.4 rebounds last season for the Mustangs.

White, an All-South Coast League pick last season, chose Nevada Las Vegas over Wyoming.

Santa Margarita shortstop Eric Sees and Los Alamitos pitcher Ben Rada plan to sign with Stanford, and El Toro pitcher Marc Ver Wayne has committed to Santa Clara.

Three girls’ volleyball players have committed to colleges and plan to sign Feb. 3. Laguna Beach outside hitter Rachel Wacholder has committed to Colorado, and Capistrano Valley Christian outside hitters Karen Benkovsky and Kathleen Bunce have committed to Washington and Loyola Marymount, respectively.

Capistrano Valley water polo player Jeremy Braxton-Brown has committed to UCLA and plans to sign in February.

Local Commitments

BOYS’ BASKETBALL

Player School Position Hgt. College David Drakeford Mater Dei Guard 6-1 Oregon State Jim Harris Ocean View Guard 6-1 Loyola Marymount Kamran Sufi Mater Dei Guard 5-8 St. Mary’s

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL

Player School Position Hgt. College Angie White Capistrano Valley Guard 5-8 UNLV Olivia DiCamilli Costa Mesa Guard 5-11 San Diego State

BASEBALL

Player School Position College Ben Rada Los Alamitos Pitcher Stanford Eric Sees Santa Margarita Shortstop Stanford Marc Ver Wayne El Toro Pitcher Santa Clara

BOYS’ VOLLEYBALL

Player School Position Hgt. College Aaron Garcia Capistrano Valley Outside hitter 6-3 Stanford Paul Nihipali Esperanza Middle blocker 6-6 UCLA

GIRLS’ VOLLEYBALL

Player School Position Hgt. College Karen Benkovsky Cap. Valley Christian Outside hitter 5-10 Washington Kathleen Bunce Cap. Valley Christian Outside hitter 6-1 Loyola Marymount Rachel Wacholder Laguna Beach Outside hitter 5-8 Colorado

WATER POLO

Player School Position Hgt. College Jeremy Braxton-Brown Capistrano Valley Two-meter 6-4 UCLA

Note: The NCAA’s early signing period for boys’ and girls’ basketball, swimming, baseball and boys’ volleyball is Nov. 11-18. Football, water polo, soccer, field hockey and girls’ volleyball signing periods begin Feb. 3 .

Sources: County coaches and players.