Athletes Can Opt to Sign This Week

The NCAA’s early college signing period starts Wednesday and many high school athletes are firming up choices.

Woodbridge center Chris Burgess, one of the most sought-after boys’ basketball players in the nation plans to hold a news conference, perhaps as early as Monday. A 6-foot-10 forward, Burgess said he will choose from among Brigham Young, Duke or Kentucky. He canceled a trip to Kansas last weekend, and told Woodbridge coaches he is no longer interested in UCLA after the firing of Coach Jim Harrick.

The early signing period for letters of intent continues through Nov. 20. It includes baseball, boys’ and girls’ basketball, boys’ and girls’ cross-country, softball, boys’ and girls’ tennis, boys’ and girls’ track and field, boys’ volleyball and boys’ and girls’ water polo.

A senior cannot sign a letter of intent, which binds an athlete to a college, before Wednesday. But several prominent county players have made oral commitments and are expected to complete the paperwork this week.

Among those are boys’ basketball standouts Mater Dei’s Kevin Augustine (USC) and Villa Park’s Eric Chenowith (Kansas), Ocean View girls’ basketball player Jennifer Tuiolosega (University of San Diego) and Villa Park girls’ tennis player Faye DeVera (Arizona State).

UCLA landed a top girls’ water polo recruit last week when Marina’s Robin Beauregard, one of the best players in the country, picked the Bruins over California and Stanford.

Arizona has received oral commitments from softball players Toni Mascarenas (Pacifica), a pitcher/shortstop; Lauren Bauer (Foothill), an outfielder; and Lindsay Collins (Fountain Valley), a catcher/outfielder.

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Recruit

The Times Orange County is interested in learning about athletes who sign letters of intent.

If you or your son or daughter signs to attend school, call (714) 966-5904.