Sylmar Running Back Crenshaw Opts to Play for Michigan State : Recruiting: Chaminade’s Saunders commits to Hawaii and Canyon’s Williams selects St. Mary’s.

Running back Tyrone Crenshaw, Sylmar High’s two-time City Section 4-A Division player of the year, has orally committed to play football for Michigan State.

Crenshaw, who averaged 8.3 yards a carry in three seasons at Sylmar and led the Spartans to a 4-A championship title in 1992, said he will sign a letter of intent Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

“I guess I’ll be a Spartan for life--or at least another four or five years,” Crenshaw joked.

The 5-foot-11, 180-pound tailback also took recruiting trips to California, Arizona State and Oklahoma and canceled a trip to Notre Dame.

“For some reason I like the Big Ten better than the Pac-10,” Crenshaw said. “There’s a lot more tradition. They have a lot more money. They’re more established.”

Remaining a running back in college was Crenshaw’s top priority. He was not willing to convert to defensive back, which many college coaches had desired.

Despite being slowed by an ankle injury for the better part of his junior and senior seasons, Crenshaw was one of the country’s top recruits, garnering several national and state accolades.

He led area City rushers for the second consecutive season with 1,785 yards and 23 touchdowns. As a junior, Crenshaw rushed for 1,875 yards and 22 touchdowns.

Crenshaw, Michigan State’s sole running back recruit, has not yet earned a minimum requirement score of 700 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

He took the test last month and is awaiting the results. The Michigan State scholarship offer is contingent on Crenshaw’s scoring 700 or better, but Crenshaw isn’t worried. He is already gearing up for the brisk winter chill of Michigan.

“The only thing I got to get used to is the cold weather,” Crenshaw said. “I won’t be stepping out a lot, I’ll tell you that--I’ll be in my dorm room or in class, that’s it.”

Crenshaw was impressed with the campus, athletic facilities and academic support staff at Michigan State, but is most inspired by the thought of playing against one of his idols, Michigan running back Tyrone Wheatley.

“I’ve always wanted to see him play (in person),” Crenshaw said. “I love the way he runs. I guess I’m going to join my idol in the Big 10.”

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Canyon High running back Ed Williams has made an oral commitment to St. Mary’s after considering Trinity College of Chicago and the Army Academy.

Despite nagging injuries through most of his senior season, Williams rushed for 1,081 yards and averaged 7.35 yards per carry. He also caught 20 passes for 251 yards and scored 20 touchdowns.

“(The Gaels) haven’t promised me anything, but they say I have a chance to play next year,” Williams said.

“St. Mary’s was pretty much my first choice, and it was a matter of money. They’re giving me almost a full scholarship, and they only give partials there.”

Times’ Top 20 Basketball Polls

The Times’ top 20 high school basketball polls, with teams from the City and Southern Sections. BOYS

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Mater Dei SS I-A 23-0 1 2. Crenshaw City 4-A 14-2 2 3. Westchester City 4-A 16-3 3 4. Dominguez SS II-A 19-2 4 5. Fontana SS I-AA 20-1 5 6. Inglewood SS II-AA 19-3 6 7. JW North SS II-AA 20-0 7 8. Los Alamitos SS I-AA 18-3 8 9. St. John Bosco SS II-A 18-2 9 10. Hart SS I-A 19-1 10 11. Santa Barbara SS II-AA 20-2 12 12. Manual Arts City 4-A 13-4 12 13. Warren SS I-A 17-4 13 14. Verbum Dei SS IV-A 16-2 14 15. LB Poly SS I-AA 15-6 17 16. Fairfax City 4-A 13-4 17 17. Loyola SS I-A 14-5 18 18. Glendora SS II-AA 20-2 19 19. S. Ana Valley SS I-AA 19-3 20 20. Orange SS I-A 18-2 NR

GIRLS

School Sect. Div. Rec. LW 1. Brea-Olinda SS III-AA 20-0 1 2. Lynwood SS I-AA 20-1 2 3. Buena SS I-A 15-1 3 4. Alemany SS II-A 18-0 4 5. Woodbridge SS II-AA 20-0 6 6. Peninsula SS I-AA 16-3 7 7. St. Bernard SS IV-AA 18-4 8 8. Gahr SS II-AA 6-15* 5 9. Carson City 4-A 15-2 9 10. Ch. Islands SS I-A 18-2 10 11. Cypress SS II-A 20-2 12 12. B. Montgomery SS III-AA 15-6 11 13. Bishop Amat SS II-A 20-1 13 14. Mater Dei SS I-A 17-3 16 15. Valley Chr. SS IV-A 20-2 15 16. LB Poly SS I-A 16-3 14 17. San Bernardino SS II-A 18-3 18 18. Marina SS I-A 16-5 NR 19. Fontana SS I-AA 16-4 NR 20. JW North SS II-AA 19-2 NR

* Indicates 10 losses by forfeit.