2 Serra Players to Stay Together in College : Recruiting: Forward Michael Boyd becomes the third player from the state champion Cavaliers to sign with a Division I school.

Serra High forward Michael Boyd, who helped the Cavaliers win the State Division IV title, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Cal State Sacramento.

The 6-foot-5 Boyd will join Serra teammate Arthur Tate, a 6-6 forward, at Sacramento. Tate signed with the Hornets in November.

“We’ve been playing together since we were in fifth grade, and now we’re going to be playing together until we’re grown men,” Boyd said. “I called (Tate) after I committed. When he answered I said, ‘What’s up roommate?’ He said, ‘Are you serious?’ He was happy about it.”

Boyd’s signing means three Serra players are headed to Division I schools. Akeli Jackson, a 6-8 center, signed with Cal State Long Beach in November.

Boyd hopes to play as a freshman at Sacramento, which was 3-24 last season in its second year of competing on the Division I level.

“I’m optimistic about everything,” Boyd said. “When I came to Serra, it wasn’t exactly a high school powerhouse either. It’s just a matter of getting a group of guys together who want to work hard.”

Boyd said Sacramento was the only Division I school that offered him a scholarship, a fact that surprised Serra Coach Dwan Hurt.

“I think Michael Boyd was overlooked,” Hurt said. “He’s going to have a lot to offer Sacramento State.”

Boyd said UC Santa Barbara also recruited him, but backed off recently after signing a community college player.

“I was sick last summer and missed some tournaments and I think that hurt me,” Boyd said. “I thought my senior year was enough to make up for it, but it wasn’t.”

Boyd ranked among Serra’s leaders in scoring, rebounding and three-point shooting, averaging 22.1 points and 9.7 rebounds. He was the Cavaliers’ high scorer with 15 points in their 67-44 victory over Palma of Salinas in the State Division IV championship game March 19 at the Oakland Arena. He was named to the All-Southern Section Division IV first team and The Times South Bay All-Star second team.

Serra ended the season with an 18-game winning streak to finish 26-7.

Boyd said he expects to play small forward or shooting guard at Sacramento. The Hornets lose three starters.

Boyd has a 3.3 grade-point average and scored above the NCAA qualifying mark on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, making him academically eligible to play as a freshman.

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Torrance pitcher Deanna Guerrero has signed a letter of intent to play softball for New Mexico Highlands University. An All-Pioneer League choice last year, Guerrero is 5-0 and has not allowed an earned run this season.

“Deanna has a lot of different pitches, with her best probably being the drop,” New Mexico Highlands Coach Galen Paton said. “She has the ability to be one of the top pitchers in our league. She’ll definitely challenge for our No. 1 spot.”