"This is a huge step for them and for (San Diego football)," Jefferson told the San Diego Union-Tribune. Added Stills, "Tony and I talked about it and thought it would be really cool to do this together."
Stills and Jefferson, who became friends through area football camps, said they plan to enroll at Oklahoma in January.
"Every freshman’s goal is to play early. This is the best way," added Jefferson, who had made a verbal commitment to UCLA prior to his senior season. There was talk of him jumping to the Bruins’ crosstown rival USC. That went out the window when Oklahoma came into the picture. Both Jefferson and Stills were planning to attend a BCS school from the start of the recruiting binge. Stills took a long look at Florida before selecting Oklahoma.
Clay committed to Oklahoma before his senior season.
Valhalla's Thomas decommits, shuns ASU in favor of Colorado State
When Valhalla quarterback Pete Thomas decided to verbally commit to Arizona State in June, he thought the pressure was off him for his senior season. And so it was.
Thomas enjoyed a successful season where he completed 64 percent of 273 passes this season for 2,392 yards and 24 touchdowns as Valhalla captured its first league championship in the school’s 35-year history.
Changes within the Arizona State ranks – where head coach Dennis Erickson fired offensive coordinator Phil Olson – caused Thomas to reconsider his original commitment.
Thus, Thomas, who was presented a scholarship to ASU in June has suddenly changed course and now is headed to Colorado State. Thomas believes his chances are better at CSU than they were at Arizona State.
"It’s a better situation for me all-around," said Thomas, who accepted a scholarship to CSU. "They run a pro-style offense and that’s what I’m looking for."
CSU head coach Steve Fairchild (a graduate of Patrick Henry High) has seven seasons in the NFL under his belt, which attracts high school kids from all over.
"He puts guys in the (NFL)," Thomas noted. "And you have to like that.
"I’m going to graduate in January, and I didn’t want to go over there where they didn’t have an offensive coordinator in place," Thomas said. "I feel I have to do what is best for me. I found that at Colorado State."
Basketball: Brazilian duo helps lead El Cajon Christian
Nobody at Christian High is openly talking Top 10 for coach Kelvin Starr’s Patriots at the moment. But this squad is going to demand such attention before the season is complete.
Starr’s troops won a physical battle over Mission Bay 53-41 in Saturday’s championship of the 63rd Annual Kiwanis Tournament.
It was the fifth straight victory for Christian (7-2). Credit the officials for letting these teams go at it. It was a regular blacktop battle where no fouls were called unless completely obvious. Neither side complained during the rough and tumble affair.
Nobody wound up face down more than Christian senior Luiz Bidart. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound guard was fearless. He routinely charged down the middle of the key, challenging the Mission Bay defenders who were in no way intimidated.
"That’s my style of game," said Bidart, who finished with 10 points, nine rebounds, three assists and was named to the all-tournament team. "I like it when the game’s wide open."
That’s probably because Bidart has spent the majority of his career playing under international rules in his native Brazil. In his four Kiwanis Tournament games, Bidart scored 64 points and snagged 36 rebounds for Christian.
"It’s our defense," he said. "When we play good defense it gets our offense going."
Starr also pointed out defense as Christian’s No. 1 strength. His players lived up to that as the Patriots handed Mission Bay its first loss in six decisions. Furthermore, Christian held the Buccaneers 34 points below their season scoring average. All-tournament guard and Brazilian native Icaro Parisotto added 16 points – the majority coming on four 3-pointers. Sophomore Shane Dillon added four 3-pointers on his way to a16-point finish.
Wolf Pack sacks Woodbridge
West Hills jumped out to an 8-0 lead over Irvine Woodbridge – ranked 25th in the state – but suffered 15 turnovers in the first half of Monday’s Tournament of Champions contest.
"We got off to a very good start," said West Hills coach Ryan Kinser. "We played good defense throughout. We played pretty well to play a very good team. We rebounded well and had good balance in our scoring."
Kimberly Clark led the Pack with 16 points, hitting 5 of 10 shots from the floor and six of eight free throws. Mariah Bennett added 10 points, making half of her 10 shots from the field, while topping the team with four steals.
Wrestling All-Americans
Poway freshman Victor Lopez and Carlsbad senior Chace Eskam gained All-America status at the Reno Tournament of Champions. Lopez scored an 11-6 win over Calvary Chapel’s Gavin McDonald to win the 103-pound championship. Eskam edged Tanner Hall of Idaho Meridian 3-2 in the 189-pound weight class. Poway, the defending state champion, captured the team crown (144 points) for the first time, edging Easton, Pa. (142.5).
Other top performances
– Six-foot-8 junior Chen Cai of Maranatha Christian produced 31 points, grabbed 18 rebounds and blocked nine blocked shots in the Eagles' 71-38 win over Madison.
– Dennis Kramer of La Costa Canyon was selected the MVP of the North Orange County Basketball Classic after scoring 21 points in the Mavericks' 78-53 win over Montebello in the finals.
– Anthony McIver of Rancho Buena Vista gained all-tournament honors after scoring 30 points, including 10 in overtime, in a 73-66 win over Morse in the San Diego Kiwanis Tournament.
– Valhalla’s David Wilschetz registered four double-doubles in the Las Vegas Bishop Gorman Tournament. The 6-foot-4 junior tallied 69 points and grabbed 55 rebounds.
– Torrey Pines junior Nick Kerr nailed six 3-pointers en route to scoring 24 points as the Falcons flattened Golden (Colo.) 71-49.
– Junior Deanna Bembry of Spring Valley Monte Vista has coined seven double-doubles and one triple-double in the Monarchs’ eight games.
Coming attractions
The Southern California Holiday Classic – one of the premier girls basketball tournaments in San Diego – tips off Saturday. The five division tourney features 40 teams, including Poway, the No. 4-ranked team in the CIFSDS. Another girls extravaganza on the docket is the San Diego Holiday Premier Classic (Dec. 26-30), which figures to pit No. 2 Mount Miguel and No. 3 Bishop’s in the championship game.
Dickens dealings
Even though there are dozens of preseason basketball predictions and who’s-who ratings out there, somehow Granite Hills senior point guard Andre Lewis was overlooked. The 5-9 Lewis is probably the best unknown basketball player in the CIF-SDS.
He didn’t make anybody’s list. Not even honorable mention. Didn’t get a sniff.
Yet Lewis is the complete package. Through the first nine games this season, Lewis is averaging 29.7 points, 7.0 assists, 5.2 rebounds and 4.1 steals for the Eagles.
Add to those numbers his shooting, which Granite Hills coach Randy Anderson calls his greatest strength, and you get the idea this guy may be something special to the college that finds him.
Lewis, who carries a 3.0 GPA, is nailing 40 percent from 3-point range (22-of-55) and is shooting 46.3 percent from the field (88-of-190) overall. You want free throws, well, Lewis is pretty good in that area, too. He’s connected on 69 of 89 – 77.5 percent. Lewis is quick and consistent. He’s scored as many as 40 points in two games and fewer than 30 only three times for Granite Hills (5-4).
A Division I prospect? Some think so. Others believe he may prove to be more of a force at the NAIA level.
