Van Buren to Play for Moorpark College

Leodes Van Buren, the former Newbury Park High football star with a troubled past, is back where he feels most comfortable--on a football field.

Van Buren, 21, who has been in and out of jail the past three years, is enrolled at Moorpark College and joined the Raiders’ football program last week, Coach Jim Bittner said.

“[Van Buren] called up and asked me if it was too late to come out for the team,” Bittner said. “I told him he’d have to get here that day to get into school. He got into classes, got his financial aid papers and was out on the field in pads that day. I was amazed.”

At Newbury Park, Van Buren set state career records with 269 receptions and 4,446 receiving yards. As a senior, he helped the Panthers to an undefeated season and the 1993 Southern Section Division III title.

Van Buren accepted a scholarship to Colorado the following spring, but the school revoked its offer after Van Buren fired a handgun into the house of his girlfriend and was sentenced to six months in jail and five years of probation.

Last year, Van Buren tested positive for drug use and was sentenced to an additional 15 days in jail.

Van Buren’s troubles continued in May when he threatened to kill himself and his infant son during a two-hour standoff with police at the Newbury Park home of Ken McGee, his former legal guardian. He was sentenced to 105 days in jail and ordered to undergo anger-control counseling.

Van Buren was released in July. Last month he spent time at the University of Arizona, where his former Newbury Park teammate, Keith Smith, is a freshman quarterback with the Wildcats.

Van Buren said Arizona coaches told him it was too late to join the team this fall. However, they encouraged him to enroll in school and try out next spring.

Van Buren returned to Ventura County at the urging of his probation officer.

“I made an agreement to stay here and take classes at Moorpark and take my anger-management classes,” said Van Buren, who said he is back living at McGee’s home.

Bittner said he has no reservations about Van Buren’s past and that the 20-year-old might start at receiver in Moorpark’s opener at Ventura College on Sept. 15.

“We’re excited to have him on the field,” Bittner said. “We’re aware he’s had some problems but they seem to be behind him.

“He hasn’t missed any practices, he’s worked hard and he’s gone to class. As long as he continues to do those things he has an outstanding chance to start for us.”