Angel Will Become a Sun Devil : Golf: Granada Hills High senior, who also considered USC, signs letter of intent with Arizona State.

For golfer Darren Angel, being a two-time junior All-American meant the college recruiting activity was hot and heavy.

Sure, it was fun. Sure, the attention was flattering. Initially, anyway.

“It was great for about the first week or two,” Angel said. “Then it became a pain in the butt.”

Angel ended a week of speculation Wednesday when he announced he had signed a letter of intent with Arizona State, a perennial NCAA power. He also was considering Nevada Las Vegas and USC.

Angel, a senior at Granada Hills High, has compiled a heady list of credentials and is considered among the best the region has produced.

Angel, 17, who already has won a pair of City Section individual championships, advanced to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Junior Amateur last summer and again has been named an All-American by the American Junior Golf Assn.

Last spring, Angel (6 feet, 200 pounds) shot a course-record 63 during a match at Knollwood Golf Course in Granada Hills.

“This year I’ll be looking for the 50s,” he said.

Arizona State is coached by Randy Lein, formerly the coach at USC. Angel said he has known Lein for three years and that the two have comparable temperaments. That is, Lein’s manner also is understated.

“He’s kick-back,” Angel said. “I thought the school was the best fit for me. It’s a top-10 school and I can play the best competition my first year.

“I just felt most comfortable there.”

Arizona State has produced several PGA Tour standouts, most notably Phil Mickelson and Tom Purtzer. Mickelson’s younger brother, Tim, also committed to Arizona State.

Angel, who maintained he was mostly undecided, waited until the final moments of the NCAA’s early signing period--which ended Wednesday--to make his decision. He is relieved that the recruiting process had ceased.

“It was stressful,” he said. “There was lots to think about every day. Lots of letters, lots of phone calls.”

The decision put to rest a report published last week that Angel had committed to play at USC.