Price Reverses Field, Heads to UCLA

Sylmar High running back Durell Price, in a last-minute decision, reneged on his commitment to Ohio State and signed a letter of intent with UCLA late Wednesday night.

The two-time City Section 4-A Division player of the year said he had second thoughts after he committed to Ohio State two weeks ago. As late as 2:30 Wednesday afternoon, Price was still headed to Ohio State, faxing what he thought was his signed letter of intent.

However, when a Buckeye school official called saying Price had faxed the wrong page, the star running back 6 feet 1, 220 pounds, got cold feet.

Price, who rushed for 1,659 yards and 36 touchdowns last fall, reconsidered his choice and faxed a new letter of intent hours later, this time to Westwood.

“I thought about everything, and the outcome was UCLA was the perfect place for Durell Price,” Price said. “I had been praying the whole time. This was a last-second decision, and I was forced after there was a mixup on the fax machine.”

UCLA officials, who left work at 8 p.m. Wednesday, could not confirm receipt of Price’s letter.

Also deciding Wednesday was Jamal Harris of Westlake High, who became the 12th area player to commit to a Pacific 10 Conference school when he signed with Oregon State on Wednesday, national signing day.

Harris, an all-state selection as a defensive back, said that Beaver coaches are undecided whether he will play offense or defense.

On a day when Coach John Robinson crowed, “This is perhaps the best group we’ve ever recruited at USC,” three area players were among the Trojans’ list of 22 recruits: defensive lineman Ennis Davis of Reseda, receiver Troy Garner of Notre Dame and Hart’s Ted Iacenda.

USC’s recruiting class included 10 high school All-Americans and was ranked in one publication No. 2 in the nation between Penn State and Notre Dame.

UCLA signed 20 players, including three others from the region: running back Jermaine Lewis of Antelope Valley and Chaminade’s Gabe Crecion (tight end) and Jason Zdenek (quarterback/defensive back).

Other Pac-10 signees were running back Alvan Arzu of Notre Dame (Washington State), lineman Sam Benner of St. Bonaventure (Stanford), receiver Junior Brignac of Cleveland (Washington) and lineman Elliot Silvers of Agoura (Washington).

Contributing: Steve Henson.