Hart High Standout Charles to Attend Washington State

After months of wondering where he will play next season, Deriek Charles has found a home.

Charles, a standout Hart High tailback who was selected The Times’ Valley back of the year last fall, has committed to play next season at Washington State.

“I’ve always wanted to play in the Pac-10 since I was little,” Charles said. “It feels pretty good to finally know what I am going to do.

“I’ve had a lot of stress on my shoulders recently. This makes things a lot easier.”

Charles (5-foot-9, 170 pounds), who rushed for 1,133 yards, caught 44 passes for 757 yards and scored 23 touchdowns for the Indians, took a recruiting trip to the Pullman, Wash., campus last weekend. He will sign a letter of intent this week. Division I-AA member Montana also offered Charles a scholarship.

“We think Deriek can do a lot for us,” Washington State recruiter Andre Patterson said of Charles, who was recruited as a running back or receiver.

“We’ve seen a lot of film on him and he’s definitely got the talent. He makes people miss.”

Hart Coach Mike Herrington agreed. “(Washington State) made a good choice,” Herrington said. “He’s very talented and I think he’ll do a real good job for them up there. “It just depends on what their philosophy is and where they want to use his talents.”

Charles, the co-MVP of the Foothill League, was on the shopping list of many prominent NCAA Division I schools after being selected to the All-Southern Section Division II team and all-state by Cal-Hi Sports. Saugus Coach Jack Bowman said Charles is the best back he has seen since Crespi’s Russell White.

But Charles failed to meet the NCAA-minimum SAT score of 700 by Feb. 3, the first day high school football players were eligible to sign. Schools waited to see how Charles fared on the test the second time before making scholarship offers. He scored 750 on his second try.

“That was tough, just waiting around,” Charles said. “Getting past the SAT was a big lift. I’m glad I’ll never have to take that again.”