Signing Day Arrives for Area’s Top Prep Athletes

Western golfer Tiger Woods and Huntington Beach two-sport standout Tony Gonzalez head a list of county athletes who can sign letters of intent today when the NCAA’s early signing period begins.

According to Western Coach Don Crosby, Woods, who has won the U.S. Junior Golf Assn. championship three times, will choose between Nevada Las Vegas and Stanford. Woods will announce his plans today during a 10 a.m. press conference at Western High.

Gonzalez, a Times Orange County first-team all-county selection in basketball and football, has announced he will attend California to play both sports.

He will wait until the football signing period in February before signing. If he signed today, he would lose two years of football eligibility.

In basketball, the 6-foot-6 forward averaged 17 points last season. This season, the tight end/linebacker has 35 receptions.

Last season’s Times Orange County basketball players of the year, Miles Simon of Mater Dei and Nicole Erickson of Brea-Olinda, also are expected to sign during the early period.

Simon, a 6-4 guard, announced in September that he will sign with Arizona. Erickson has said she will sign with Purdue today.

Others who have made oral commitments:

--San Clemente girls’ basketball player Michelle MacIntyre said last week she would sign with Hawaii today.

Costa Mesa’s Heather Robinson, a second-team all-county selection who averaged 14 points, will sign during a party at her home tonight.

--Santa Margarita’s Kellee Booth, who won the USGA Junior Girls’ golf championship in August, said she might sign during the early period and will choose between Arizona State, Duke, Florida, Georgia and Wake Forest.

--Two Canyon softball players will sign today. Three-year starting shortstop Nina Lindenberg will sign on with Long Beach State; catcher Jamie Al-Moradi has chosen Iowa.

Woodbridge center fielder Alison Johnsen has committed to Arizona.

Mater Dei third baseman Candace Kollen chose Ohio State Tuesday.

Kennedy second baseman Laurie Fritz selected UCLA, and El Toro pitcher Misty Lauby has chosen Northwestern.

--Corona del Mar volleyball player Kim Coleman has selected UCLA. Coleman’s teammate, 6-0 setter Kristen Campbell, will sign with Duke.

Esperanza setter Kari Wehner chose Santa Clara. Teammate Lynette Anderson, a 5-10 outside hitter, is headed for Georgia Tech.

Women’s volleyball players cannot sign until Feb. 2.

Athletes may sign during the early period, which ends Nov. 17, for all sports except football, water polo, women’s volleyball, soccer and field hockey. Athletes for those sports may begin signing Feb. 2. The late signing period for basketball and all other sports begins April 13.

Times staff writers Martin Beck and Martin Henderson contributed to this story.