SPORTS NOTEBOOK : McCorvey Joins the Ranks of Standout Receivers at Long Beach Poly

It’s hard to imagine more standout receivers coming out of one high school than Long Beach Poly.

The list includes Earl McCullouch (USC, Detroit Lions); Gene Washington (Stanford, San Francisco 49ers); Tony Hill (Stanford, Dallas Cowboys); Stephone Paige (Fresno State, Kansas City Chiefs); Andre Tyler (Stanford, Tampa Bay Buccaneers); Hank Norman (USC’s all-time leader in receptions when he left after the 1985 season); Chris Roscoe (Hawaii); Eric Morgan (New Mexico); Ronnie Woods (Pacific); Alphonso Williams (Nevada) and Anthony Cobbs, who is a redshirt freshman at UCLA.

The latest Jackrabbit receiver to attract attention from college coaches is Jason McCorvey, a 6-foot, 190-pound senior. Against Moore League rival Wilson, for instance, he caught the game-winning, 25-yard touchdown pass in a 10-7 victory. He’s also an outstanding punt and kick returner.

“He’ll be a top-level Division I guy,” said Poly co-Coach Jerry Jaso, who has coached at the school for 13 years. “He has great lateral speed and quickness and a great pair of hands. Physically, he’s a strong kid.”

Athleticism runs in the family. McCorvey’s second cousin Kez McCorvey is Florida State’s second-leading receiver this season.

Among colleges showing the most interest in McCorvey are Washington, UCLA, San Diego State, Arizona State, Cal, Washington State, Fresno State, Kansas and Nevada Las Vegas. He has a trip to Fresno State scheduled for January.

Besides McCorvey, Poly has a number of other college prospects. Shatony Sargeant, a 6-5, 235-pound defensive end, has talked to USC, but his academics remain a question.

Fia Ili may be undersized for a linebacker at 5-11, 235 pounds, but Jaso says he has been a force all season. Other senior prospects include running back Scoey Peters (5-9, 170) and guard Simona Toomalatai (6-0, 245).

Jaso, who has coached such Poly defensive standouts as Mark Carrier (USC, Chicago Bears), Dennis Price (UCLA, New York Jets), Chuckie Miller (UCLA), Gene Burkhalter (Washington), Brian Tuliau (USC) and current Trojan player Willie McGinest, is effusive in his praise of 6-2, 240-pound middle linebacker Dan Juan Magee. “He’s gonna be a great one,” Jaso said. “He’s a dominating kind of kid who can stop the run, turn around and cover the pass, and run sideline to sideline. And he has the grades.”

Other standout Poly juniors include two-way lineman Brandon Whiting (6-3 1/2, 240), the son of co-coach and offensive coordinator Thomas Whiting, and cornerbacks Lamont Morgan and Kelly Malveaux.

“We’ve been a little off our mark in the secondary in recent years, but we’re back with Morgan and Malveaux,” Jaso said. “They’re great cover guys.”