The hours of hard work will pay off for Brown

On Feb. 4, the first day high school seniors can sign a letter of intent for football, Terrence Brown of Orange Lutheran will have every reason to shout, “Hallelujah!” after putting his signature on a scholarship offer from Stanford.

Brown, a 6-foot, 170-pound safety, has been rising at 5:45 a.m. and frequently getting home after 9 p.m. for two years while carpooling from Torrance to Orange.

He made the decision after his sophomore season at Compton Centennial to transfer to Lutheran, deciding the academic, athletic and logistic challenges were worth it.

“Everybody seemed to have a purpose,” he said of the students and faculty at Lutheran.

Brown went from a straight-A student to getting some Bs, but that only made him more determined to succeed. He remembers studying until 3 a.m. at home one night, juggling responsibilities and commitments as part of his hectic schedule.

“It’s really prepared me for what it’s going to be like in college,” he said.

In football, he used his speed and tackling skills to become a standout defensive back. As Lutheran Coach Jim Kunau said, “He’s a great tackler in the open field and a ball hawk. Stanford knows what a driven, committed young man they’re getting.”

Brown’s younger brother, Christopher, could be the starting quarterback at Harbor City Narbonne next season, and he’s using his big brother as a role model.

“He’s already saying he’s going to go to Stanford and get nothing lower than A’s,” Brown said.

Brown has no regrets about missing out on parties or having to tell friends he couldn’t hang out because of homework or sports commitments.

He kept his focus on the ultimate prize -- a college scholarship.

“If you work hard, anything is possible,” he said.

A recruiting soap opera

Those trying to figure out where All-City defensive back Byron Moore Jr. of Narbonne will end up, good luck. Last summer, he committed to UCLA. Then he changed his mind and committed to USC. Now USC is out and Notre Dame could be his final destination, though he’s also visiting Louisiana State this weekend. It’s another example of the never-ending twists and turns in college football recruiting.

Like father, like son

Newbury Park is going to start a freshman, Nick Lovullo, at second base this spring. It’s the same position his father, Torey, played in the major leagues.

“The kid is going to be so good,” Coach Chuck Berrington said.

No. 1 aspirations

The senior baseball players at Covina Northview can’t wait until the season begins because they have so much they want to accomplish.

As a group, they are 71-10, going 21-0 as freshmen, 24-6 on varsity as sophomores and winning a Southern Section Division IV championship as juniors.

Shortstop Rich Pedroza is one of the best in Southern California. He signed with Cal State Fullerton and is closing in on 100 career hits. His older brothers, Sergio and Jaime, were standouts at Fullerton and UC Riverside, respectively.

Third baseman Ryan Arnold signed with Nevada Las Vegas. Northview is entered in the Anderson Bat National Classic on April 13-16, and Coach Darren Murphy has aspirations of finishing No. 1 in Southern California.

This Prince is ready to start

It’s startling how former high school players can change in a year’s time. I happened to run into former Encino Crespi quarterback Kevin Prince a week ago. In his senior year in 2007, he was listed at 6-3, 200 pounds. Now he’s 222 pounds as a redshirt freshman at UCLA, and the word is he has a great chance to win the starting job this spring. He’s big enough to inflict some hits too.

A look at 2010

James Escarcega, who keeps track of top football prospects in the San Gabriel Valley and Inland Empire, is already identifying top early offer candidates for the class of 2010.

His top prospects include linebacker Ronald Powell from Moreno Valley Rancho Verde (USC offer), running back Deontae Cooper from Perris Citrus Hill, running back Jordon James from Corona, receiver Kenneth Scott from Ontario Colony and running back Derrick Malone from Colton.

Rising freshman transfers

The second year of the CIF freshman transfer rule that allows students one free transfer before the start of their sophomore year continues to produce movement. Last year, there were 448 transfers reported from August through December in the Southern Section. This school year, there have been 568, a 27% increase. Those numbers will continue to increase as parents learn how to use the rule to their advantage.

--

eric.sondheimer@latimes.com