Community Colleges Still Best Kept Secret for Athletes

They came seeking secrets, jotting down each bit of advice that might lead to that ultimate prize--the college athletic scholarship. They listened to the words: full ride . . . recruiting trips . . . letters of intent . . .

They smiled hopeful smiles.

But when the two-hour presentation--”College Opportunities for the High School Student-Athlete”--came to a close Monday night at Laguna Hills High School, parents and athletes still lacked one valuable insight:

Community colleges--as the first step to a four-year university--can be an athlete’s best bet.

This is not to criticize the event or its organizers. The seminar, sponsored by the Saddleback Valley Unified School District, was informative, enlightening and, best of all, free. Even the coffee and cookies were complimentary and not even banks do that anymore.

But while the presentation, given by David Stoeckel, former Laguna Hills booster club president--who went through the scholarship-seeking process a few years ago with his two children--included plenty of insight, it could have included a mention or two about the advantages of community colleges.

The seminar was aimed, in part anyway, at the borderline athlete, the kid who falls somewhere between the highly recruited Super Jock and the third-string face-in-the-crowd. Because many of these athletes may not receive full scholarships, Stoeckel suggested they consider the range of opportunities--from accepting a partial scholarship to walking onto a four-year program with no scholarship at all.

Walking on to a team has its benefits, Stoeckel said. By being an athlete, you might be admitted into the university more easily. Plus, as a kid new to the college scene, “you get looked after” by coaches, the athletic department, etc. (This comment drew approving nods from parents in the crowd).

In addition, Stoeckel said, “there’s always a possibility that a partial scholarship or (full) scholarship may open up.”

True. Anything’s possible. But what is it that makes athletes or their parents turn their nose up at the practical alternative?

Community colleges offer the athlete so much--a better chance to compete, more opportunities to develop, a way to meet general education requirements at a reduced cost--but, unfortunately, a stigma persists. In Orange County, community colleges have as much status as an imitation Polo shirt. Snobs wouldn’t be caught dead in one.

From my experience, I can tell you going to a community college was the single-best decision of my athletic career.

Not that it was my decision.

Midway though my senior year in high school, my parents informed me I would be continuing my education--and so-so running career--at nearby Orange Coast College. This wasn’t a prediction or even a suggestion. It was a parental decree.

“You’re too young to go away,” they said. “Go to Coast for a couple years, live at home and then you can go away to college after that.”

I was shocked. Angry. My grades were good. I had been accepted to several universities. I had received, well, marginal interest from a few college coaches. I couldn’t believe my parents were holding me back. How could they? How dare they? The nerve!

At first, I considered wearing a diaper to school in protest. Instead I opted for the mature, adult response: I had a tantrum.

The horrible reality of it all, though, is that my parents were right. After two years at Orange Coast, where our cross-country team won two State championships, I went on to Kansas State. Judging by how intense the training and competition was in Division I, I know now I probably would have had a very tough time had I not first spent two years developing on the community college level. Besides, competing at a “JC” was the most fun I had.

This was the point Marty Spalding was trying to make as the seminar came to a close Monday night.

Spalding, an assistant football coach at Laguna Hills High, was quietly trying to advise a couple of parents that their football-playing son might be wise to spend his first two years at one of the local community colleges.

Spalding praised the high level of coaching here. He pointed out the ease of transition between high school, community college and university athletic programs. He hinted there was more to life than getting a full ride.

The parents didn’t want to hear it.

That’s too bad. They missed out on the best secret of the night.

Community College Honor Roll

Recent standouts

A collection of recent community college standouts who went on to play at four-year schools: Player: Corie Blount High School: Monrovia Community College: Rancho Santiago College: Cincinnati (currently ineligible)

Player: Dee Boyer High School: Oceanside El Camino Community College: Saddleback College: UC Irvine

Player: Vince Hizon High School: Mater Dei Community College: Cypress College: Biola (transfer from Boise State)

Player: Grayle Humphrey High School: Sonora Community College: Cypress College: Boise State

Player: Alex Kreps High School: West Springfield (W.Va.) Community College: Golden West College: Idaho State

Player: Matt Lien High School: Whittier Christian Community College: Rancho Santiago College: California

Player: Andre Lamoureux High School: Los Alamitos Community College: Cypress College: Rutgers

Player: Eric Pauley High School: Savanna Community College: Cypress College: Kansas

Second time’s the charm

Players who left four-year schools to return to junior college, then went on to play Division I ball: Player: Kenny Ammann High School: Edison First college: CS Bakersfield Community College: Rancho Santiago Second college: Stanford

Player: David Boyle High School: Mater Dei First college: Holy Cross Community College: Cypress Second college: UCLA

Player: Alonzo Jamison High School: Santa Ana Valley First college: Oregon State Community College: Rancho Santiago Second college: Kansas

Player: Erik Martin High School: Whittier Christian First college: Texas Christian Community College: Rancho Santiago Second college: Cincinnati

Player: Brett Pagett High School: Los Alamitos First college: UC Irvine Community College: Rancho Santiago Second college: Washington

Coming attractions

Current players who are expected to sign with Division I schools in the near future: Player: Tom Airey High School: Capistrano Valley First college: Loyola Marymount Community College: Irvine Valley (Eligible next season)

Player: Fred Amos High School: Foothill First college: Cal State Sacramento Community College: Rancho Santiago

Player: Gabe Higa High School: Quartz Hill First college: UC Irvine Community College: Irvine Valley

Player: Chris Kostoff High School: Capistrano Valley Community College: Irvine Valley

Player: John Molle High School: Irvine First college: San Diego State Community College: Saddleback

Player: Ruben Oronoz High School: Whittier Christian Community College: Rancho Santiago