Hart Quarterback Kocicka Commits Orally to UNLV

Quarterback Mike Kocicka of Hart High, The Times’ Valley back of the year, has made an oral commitment to attend Nevada Las Vegas, the second area quarterback to commit to the Rebels.

Kocicka, who passed for 2,966 yards and 32 touchdowns as a first-year starting quarterback last season, said he was unaware that quarterback Kevin Crook of Westlake also has committed to the Rebels.

The winter signing period starts Feb. 2.

Kocicka, 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds, said he liked the Rebels because of their run-and-shoot offense and an opportunity to play right away.

“The offense is basically like Hart’s (except) with a tight end,” Kocicka said. “The offense will let me throw about 50 times a game and give me a chance to give me the exposure to possibly play in the NFL. I’m going to be to competing for the job as a freshman.

Kocicka chose UNLV over Oregon, San Diego State, Colorado State and Alabama.

Burroughs tackle Mike Reily, a 6-3, 285-pound All-Valley selection, also has chosen UNLV.

“It’ll be sort of weird blocking for somebody (Kocicka) I tried to kill a couple months ago,” he said. “That’ll be fun. That’ll be exciting.”

Notre Dame received an oral commitment from Hart linebacker John McLaughlin, winning a recruiting battle with Florida State, Colorado, UCLA and Cal.

“It ultimately came down to Notre Dame and Arizona,” said McLaughlin, 6-4 and 220. “When I got (to South Bend), I liked the essence of the place.”

High School Football

Fred Cuccia, who coached Poly High to a City Section 3-A Division championship in 1990, has accepted the head coaching position at Monroe, pending approval from Poly Principal Carolyn Burch.

Cuccia, 48, had a 30-24 record in five seasons at Poly, winning a Mid-Valley League title last season.

Bowling

Robert Smith of Moorpark was in second place, 50 pins behind, with a pinfall of 3,972 after three rounds of the $220,000 AC-Delco tournament in Lakewood.

Men’s Basketball

The Master’s scheduled game tonight against Patten College in Oakland has been canceled because Patten had scheduled another game at the same time.