Hart Quarterback Neill Commits to Play at Nevada

Hart High quarterback David Neill, coming off a 3,000-yard season, said on Tuesday that he has committed to Nevada.

Neill, who visited the Reno campus over the weekend, chose the Wolfpack over Colorado State, Fresno State and San Diego State.

“I sat down with my dad and we decided it was the best because it’s close,” Neill said. “It’s only an hour plane ride if my parents want to come up.”

Neill passed for 3,053 yards and 26 touchdowns in his first season as Hart’s quarterback. He was named Foothill League co-most valuable player and led the Indians to the Southern Section Division III semifinals.

Neill canceled visits to Colorado State and Fresno State.

BASKETBALL

One-time deal: Rob Hall, the Oak Park boys’ basketball coach, is dying to show videotape of guard Greg Jones’ long basket on Friday as time expired to defeat Nordhoff, 51-48, in a nonleague game at Oak Park.

But the only thing on the tape is Jones’ reaction after banking in a heave that traveled three-quarters of the court.

“There wasn’t enough time for the camera guy to turn the camera,” Hall said. “You just see Greg jump up and down and people come out of the stands to mob him.”

The Eagles (3-4) practiced Saturday morning and Hall asked Jones, who is averaging 20.9 points, to duplicate his feat. After about a dozen misses, Jones was given three more tries. . . and drained the third attempt.

Tough season: After winning last season’s Southern Section Division V-AA title, the Santa Clara High boys’ basketball team and Coach Lou Cvijanovich have encountered a rough road this season.

Star swingman Nick Jones, a junior, broke his foot on the first day of practice and his return is uncertain. And with Santa Clara’s enrollment dipping to under 300 students, the Saints (2-4 entering Tuesday) have little depth.

“I look to our bench and it’s not there,” Cvijanovich said. “Our kids work like crazy but we really miss Nick.”

Once a consistent firebrand, Cvijanovich accepts that his players’ best effort may now not be enough.

“Back when I was a young buck we’d lose and I’d tear walls down, but this is a reality check,” said the 71-year-old Cvijanovich. “If we [win] fine, if we don’t life continues.”

Add Saints: Jones, a member of The Times’ 1996-97 All-Ventura County team who averaged 16.5 points, 9.9 rebounds and five assists last season, could be back by early January, said Santa Clara assistant Bill Varela, who has accompanied the player to the doctor.

Varela said Jones is wearing a walking cast and will be examined again Jan. 2. Should he encounter problems after being cleared to play, Jones will likely need surgery and will be out for the season, Varela said.

“Even if he comes back, he’ll be limited; we’re certainly not going to rush him,” Varela said. “But even 10 minutes [a game] from him would make us a different team.”

Stay warm: The Burroughs High girls’ basketball team better stock up on winter clothes.

The Indians leave Friday for the Capital Classic tournament in Juneau, Alaska, where temperatures have been in the 30s recently.

The four-team tournament includes Lakeside (Wash.), which has won five of the past 11 Capital Classics, and Juneau Douglas, the top-ranked team in Alaska.