NCAA’s Signing Period Begins

Mater Dei boys’ basketball player Jamal Sampson was among dozens of Southland prep athletes who signed and sent letters of intent to universities Wednesday on the first day of the NCAA’s early-signing period.

The one-week period is for athletes who play sports other than football. Football players cannot sign until February.

Colleges and universities do not release official lists of signees until all letters of intent are received by mail or fax.

UCLA has received commitments from Mater Dei’s Cedric Bozeman, Redondo Beach Redondo Union guard Dijon Thompson, L.A. Washington forward Andre Patterson and Michael Fey, a center from Capital High in Olympia, Wash.

USC received commitments from twin guards Errick and Derrick Craven of Torrance Bishop Montgomery and center Rory O’Neil of Ridgecrest Burroughs.

Sampson signed with California. Other players who committed to Pacific 10 Conference schools are Lakewood Mayfair swingman Josh Childress (Stanford) and Moreno Valley Canyon Springs guard Jason Braxton (Arizona State).

L.A. Westchester center Chad Bell and Corona Centennial forward Jamaal Williams committed to New Mexico.

In the Big West Conference, Long Beach State was expected to sign guard Anthony Davis of Compton Centennial. Bishop Montgomery guard DeVaughn Peace committed to UC Irvine.

Loyola Marymount of the West Coast Conference had received commitments from swing man Andy Osborn of Longmont High (Colo.) and guard Charles Brown of Concord De La Salle.

Guard Joseph Frazier of Pasadena Muir had committed to Cal State Northridge.

Ventura Buena’s Kelly Greathouse and Courtney Young were among the top girls’ basketball players that had made commitments. Greathouse, a post player, was expected to sign with North Carolina State. Young, a guard, had committed to Tennessee.

Troy’s Veronica Johns-Richardson signed at Colorado. Johns-Richardson averaged 18.3 points and 7 assists and led Troy to the Southern Section Division I-A championship game last season.

“I’m really happy, and I think I made a really good choice,” she said.

Sonora guard Brandi Davis signed with Oregon after considering Nebraska and Arizona State. She averaged 15 points and 4.8 assists.

Lara Gray, a forward at Woodbridge who averaged 11 points and 7 rebounds last season, signed with UC Davis.