Prospects for Boller Limitless

A smorgasbord of notes, quotes and opinions from across the San Fernando Valley and its surrounding communities:

One of the region’s best college quarterback prospects isn’t even a starter this season. Remember the name Kyle Boller. He’s a 6-foot-1 junior at Hart High School. By next season, he could have the strongest arm of any Hart quarterback in the last two decades. He already can throw a football 70 yards on the fly.

“He’s going to be something special,” Hart offensive coordinator Dean Herrington said. “For a guy who’s not starting, there’s not going to be a better prospect [next season]. He’s effortless in his throws.”

Boller is starting at safety while learning from 6-3 senior quarterback David Neill. By this time next year, though, look for Boller to be leading the region in passing. He also should be standing close to 6-4, considering that he was 5-9 last year and is still growing.

Boller’s parents might want to make the windows at their home bulletproof. Once, Boller broke a window throwing the football in the front yard.

“I don’t throw there anymore,” he said. . . .

There could be a 6-5 ex-Florida quarterback in Cal State Northridge’s football future. Bobby Sabelhaus, who was a prized quarterback recruit at Florida in 1995 but attended classes at Pierce College last semester, is giving serious consideration to attending Northridge.

Sabelhaus, a former Parade magazine All-American, has been training locally under private quarterback coach Steve Clarkson. He would have two years of eligibility remaining if he chose a Division I-AA school. . . .

Former Taft quarterback Nick DiPadova was selected Brigham Young’s scout team player of the week last week. DiPadova, a freshman walk-on, is one of eight BYU quarterbacks. He will get to dress in uniform for BYU’s homecoming game next Saturday against Hawaii.

“Life is well,” he said.

He plans to return to Woodland Hills for Thanksgiving and hopes to be watching his former Taft teammates in the City playoffs. . . .

Look for a quarterback controversy in the coming years at Westlake. Sophomore Zac Wasserman is doing well on the varsity level, and freshman Cory Myles is rolling up big yardage on the freshman team.

Myles has passed for more than 1,100 yards and 19 touchdowns in five games. . . .

There aren’t many linebackers faster than Montclair Prep’s Kevin Bentley. It’s no wonder the Mounties allow him to blitz repeatedly so they can take advantage of his 4.59 speed in the 40-yard dash. He enjoys hitting quarterbacks from the blind side.

“Most of the time you can cause a fumble,” he said.

Bentley rates California as his No. 1 college choice. . . .

If Agoura offensive tackle Derek Graf needs any blocking tips, all he has to do is ask his father, Allan, a former All-City lineman at San Fernando who played at USC. Allan is a movie director. . . .

Defending City 4-A baseball champion El Camino Real is off to an impressive start in the fall league at Westhills. Left-hander Kurt Birkins struck out five batters in three innings against Simi Valley.

The Conquistadores will be strengthened in the spring by the addition of outstanding freshman infielder Carlos Gallo. He figures to join the likes of Ryan McGuire, Randy Wolf and Shaun Fishman as freshmen who played on the varsity for the Conquistadores. . . .

San Fernando has put in a new sod infield thanks to a donation from Valley Crest Landscape in Lake View Terrace.

“It’s going to look like Dodger Stadium,” Tiger baseball Coach Art Gomez said.

It’s nice to see a community business offer help to its neighborhood high school. . . .

Hart’s softball team might have the region’s best pitching depth next spring with the addition of freshmen Lindsey Kontra and Casey Pickard. They join sophomores Amanda Fortune and Bridgette Colleran. . . .

Former USC infielder Ryan Stromsborg (Notre Dame ‘93), a member of the Toronto Blue Jays’ organization, has returned to USC to finish school and will earn his bachelor’s degree in December. . . .

Look for El Camino Real All-City first baseman Woody Cliffords to choose Pepperdine as his college choice. . . .

UCLA baseball players were asked to make suggestions for the cover of the school media guide. Guess what freshman pitcher Tyler Dersom from Chaminade offered as an idea? “Run a picture of me,” he said. . . .

Former Canyon basketball star Greg Minor finally is eligible to compete for Cal State Northridge. He’s ready to put up three-point baskets in rapid fashion. “He’s one of the best shooters I’ve ever coached,” Northridge Coach Bobby Braswell said. . . .

Former Poly baseball coach Jerry Cord is back home after recovering from a bone marrow transplant procedure.

Cord has been fighting Hodgkin’s disease. He hasn’t lost the spirit that made him one of the most popular coaches in the Valley.

“It’s going to be a couple of weeks before I can make [a Poly football game], but I’m going to be on the sideline,” he promised.

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Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.