Hi, and welcome to another edition of Prep Rally. My name is Eric Sondheimer. Official high school football practice begins Monday for the City Section and Southern Section teams that have zero week games. The strongest position this season will be linebackers. Let’s examine the talent level.
Linebackes galore
Just watch and admire how good the linebackers will be this season. There are so many players identified as standouts that colleges have reaped the reward by coming to Southern California to take them away.
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Noah Karim Mikhail of Bonita will be a four-year starter. He’s so highly regarded that his final three college choices were Texas A&M, USC or Oregon. He picked the Aggies.
The Mater Dei dynamic duo of Nasir Wyatt (Oregon) and Abduall Sanders (Alabama) are disruptors and intense pass rushers.
Samu Moala of Leuzinger is a 6-foot-4, 230-pound junior with physicality that can’t be taught.
Madden Faraimo of JSerra and LaVar Arrington Jr. of Charter Oak look the part as future college and NFL players.
Weston Port of San Juan Hills is a UCLA commit and four-year starter.
The work will show⏰⏰⏰@CoachTimGarcia @VenturaFootball @MathisGaius pic.twitter.com/N6yepvmuh1
— Tristan Phillips (@t_phillips11) July 27, 2024
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Tristan Phillips of Ventura is a 6-4, 215-pound junior with athleticism and talent.
San Clemente has a terrific duo of Matai Tagoa’i, a USC commit, and Puka Fuimaono, an Arizona State commit.
Jake Silverman from Torrance is a Nevada commit and versatile linebacker. Nicholas Boldt of Heritage Christian has been making big plays and big tackles.
The City Section has plenty of linebacker standouts, starting with four-year starter Mark Iheanachor of Narbonne, committed to Southern Methodist. Eddie Plaza of Birmingham is a tackling machine and first-team All-City player. Arturo Arguello of Los Angeles has made much improvement running track and in the weight room. Will Glettner of Hamilton is a 6-3, 220-pound senior with a 3.9 grade-point average who should be one of the best in the Western League.
What a turn of events. With 45 seconds left in third Dylan Rubino makes interception and TD. San Pedro 21, Garfield 21. pic.twitter.com/CY009vUaDY
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) November 10, 2023
Gideon Obienu of Fairfax is a 6-3, 220-pound middle linebacker who also starts for the basketball team. San Pedro’s Dylan Rubino is a defensive end/linebacker who plays all over the field. Jake Treibatch from Palisades was the best in the Western League.
Scrambling to find a football coach with the season just four weeks away, Hamilton has hired former Carson, L.A. Jordan, Compton and St. Paul coach Elijah Asante, who came out of retirement. Official practice begins Monday.
Asante has had a long, colorful career. His Carson teams once beat Mater Dei in back-to-back seasons. He wears a suit on the sideline and coin the phrase, “I absolutely don’t recruit. I attract.”
Here’s the report on his hiring.
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King/Drew coach Joe Torres said he officially has 125 players signed up in the program that’s only in its third year.
So great to read numbers again. pic.twitter.com/tfZeBVMcby
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) July 27, 2024
Fairfax is receiving help from a pair of transfers from Sherman Oaks Notre Dame. Roman Jasper, who was a 6-7 swimmer for the Knights, is going out for football for the first time on the offensive line. Donovan Shirley will be the likely starter at quarterback as a sophom*ore after being a backup on Notre Dame’s freshman team.
Defensive end Mitch Mooney of San Marino has committed to Brown.
In girls’ flag football, MaxPreps came up with a list of 20 players to watch nationwide, and among the players is Newport Harbor quarterback Maia Helmar.
Season No. 37 for Garrett
It’s football season No. 37 for Crenshaw football coach Robert Garrett starting Monday when official practice begins for City Section schools. He took over as head coach in 1988.
“I’m extremely excited, but I don’t play,” Garrett said Sunday morning. “The fire is still burning.”
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He’s staying the course despite obstacles on enrollment and talent. All he can do is coach those who show up at Crenshaw and sign up to play football. That’s what he intends to do. He’s also nearing 300 wins, which would put him in Hall of Fame territory. He has 284 coaching victories, according to CalHiSports.com.
Here’s a story from 2012 looking at Garrett and other City Section “lifers.”
Here’s a story from 2019 on Garrett explaining why he keeps coaching.
Here’s a story from 2021 on Garrett dealing with the pandemic.
Baseball
Torrance Babe Ruth has two teams that have qualified for the Babe Ruth World Series. The 13-16U team includes players from Banning, Narbonne, Torrance, South Torrance and Peninsula. Also qualifying is the 14U team.
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The World Series will take place Aug. 8-18.
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Notes . . .
Harlee Thomas, an Edison High graduate and the daughter of former Servite football coach Troy Thomas, has received a soccer scholarship to Weber State. . . .
Eric Scott has returned to Southern California as football coach at West L.A. College. He played at Crenshaw and UCLA, became an assistant at UCLA, Nevada and San Jose State. . . .
🏆Your 2024 Commissioner's Cup Champions are........
— CIF Southern Section (@CIFSS) July 23, 2024
Full press release - https://t.co/49NL0NK164 pic.twitter.com/l693T1a6MK
JSerra girls and Sherman Oaks Notre Dame boys have won the Southern Section’s annual Commissioner’s Cup for top sports programs. . . .
Receiver Jacob Martin from Edison has committed to Idaho State. . . .
The football transfer portal keeps humming along. Here’s the latest. . . .
Former Loyola and UCLA pitcher Nathan Hadley is the new pitching coach at JSerra. He was an assistant at Harvard-Westlake last season. . . .
Pitcher Cam Fausset of Newbury Park has committed to USC. . . .
Landon Hu, a switch hitter from West Ranch, has committed to Pomona-Pitzer. . . .
Sophom*ore guard TJ Wansa from Cleveland High is transferring to Bishop Alemany, giving the Mission League another transfer newcomer. . . .
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Baseball player Jacob Campos of Bishop Amat has committed to St. Mary’s. . . .
Former Westlake pitcher Dylan Volantis has switched commitments from USC to Texas. . . .
Riley Hale, a point guard at Sonora, has transferred to Mater Dei. . . .
Rocky Turner has resigned as track coach at Bishop Alemany. . . .
Pitcher Ethan Russell of Santa Margarita has committed to UC San Diego. . . .
🖤❤️ pic.twitter.com/2er6YWOrXz
— Harvard-Westlake (@hwbaseball) July 27, 2024
It was one first-round draft pick from Harvard-Westlake greeting another when Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty welcomed Bryce Rainer last week. . . .
Infielder Zach Nagy of Royal has committed to the University of San Francisco. . . .
Cornerback LaRue Zamorano of Corona Centennial has committed to Michigan State. . . .
Defending Southern Section Division 1 baseball champion Corona is picking up a top pitcher/hitter in Ethin Bingaman, who was a junior standout at Arrowhead Christian Academy. He had seven home runs. . . .
From the archives: Gage Jump
Former JSerra pitcher Gage Jump is headed to pro baseball after signing with the Oakland Athletics for a $2-million signing bonus. He was a second-round supplemental draft pick.
Jump made an impressive comeback from Tommy John surgery in 2022 when he was a freshman at UCLA. He transferred to LSU and was fully recovered last season. He was drafted in the 18th round out of high school.
Supplemental 2nd-rder Gage Jump signs with @Athletics for $2 million (slot 73 = $1,076,900). @LSUBaseball LHP, 90-95 mph fastball plays up thanks to induced vertical break, pairs well with upper-70s downer curve, four-pitch southpaw starter with strikes. @MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/kxEIL7w7mW
— Jim Callis (@jimcallisMLB) July 24, 2024
Jump is only 5 feet 11 but continually throws overpowering stuff. He’s left-handed, too.
Three batters, three strikeouts for Gage Jump of JSerra. 94 mph. JSerra 3, Birmingham 0. pic.twitter.com/SKRyqucjau
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) April 13, 2021
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Here’s a look back from high school days.
Recommendations
From the Seattle Times, a story on Washington’s first transgender high school track champion.
From Mercurynews.com, a story on a Northern California school district deciding to keep artificial surfaces for fields instead of switching back to grass.
From DailyBruin.com, a story on former Bishop Montgomery and UCLA star Noelle Quinn coaching Canada at the Olympic Games.
From Wtop.com, a story on a school district in Maryland becoming the first to offer pickleball as a varsity sport.
Tweets you might have missed
SoCals best kept secret is going into his final season at King Drew HS a 2 yr starter Keenan Jackson has passed for over 2,800+ yds 29 TDs and rushed for over 1200+ yds 23TDs. Putting his AP over 4,000+ yds 52 TDs in just 2yrs! @CIFLACS @latsondheimer @GregBiggins @Tarek_Fattal https://t.co/unRUnGBcVm
— Joe Torres (@CoachJTorres29) July 22, 2024
Have you had time to check out our podcast with Jim Ozella? CIF Champion Coach who battled both Burbank and Burroughs for years. Now an author, hear about his book that was just published! https://t.co/TRkgmGynMW
— myBurbank Sports (@myBurbankSports) July 23, 2024
@latsondheimer @harthigh @harthighalum
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Was in the crocs but had to bang out a lil sum😂. #dunk #windmill pic.twitter.com/55SUVYivNj
— Richard “Richie” Wesley (@Richard23Wesley) July 22, 2024
And so it begins. The pro baseball career after playing football, basketball, baseball and running track at Foothill High. He'll be the example how a multi-sport athlete can make it. https://t.co/Bda62ay4L9
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) July 24, 2024
Excited to announce the launch of my non-profit, Kick Away Cancer. Please click the link https://t.co/DQtxrxEGfZ to learn more and support the American Cancer Society @SierraCanyonFB @sierracanyon @latsondheimer @Tarek_Fattal @bruce_bible @Chris_Sailer @3PointKicking
— Ashton Zamani 5⭐️ (@Ashton_Zamani) July 23, 2024
A couple clips from the last 7on7 tournament of the summer at culver.
— Charles Cravings (@CharlesCraving3) July 25, 2024
- 4 ints
10 tds
- 4 pbu@wyattbrown08 @latsondheimer pic.twitter.com/57VRAqUsVY
Congratulations to Rising Sophom*ore PG. Chasity Rice on her 1st 2 official offers from San Diego State University and Seattle University. We are very happy for you, as all your hard work is finding new opportunities. Reppin the E… @Aztec_WBB @SeattleUwbb pic.twitter.com/5Mj8vfbbY3
— Coach Stan Delus (@Coach_Delus) July 25, 2024
— Kevin Bohannon (@KBoBaseballGuru) July 24, 2024🚨MAJOR BREAKING NEWS 🚨
Scholarship limits will be eliminated for the 2025-26 school year for D1 College Baseball and Softball. The roster limit for baseball will be 34, with all players receiving full scholarships. Schools will have the ability to grant up to 34 scholarships… pic.twitter.com/MdEkEhfvOS
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— Underrated Golf Tour (@UnderratedGolf) July 25, 2024Not Like Us!@jadenrsoong did his thing at the Warren Course.
Shouts to the course and staff, shouts to Jaden and the golfers.
Onwards to our fourth stop and, then, the Curry Cup!#ugtour #stayunderrated #golf pic.twitter.com/w0FLAvLuEC
With 17,000 transfers and growing, what say you CIF? https://t.co/QAN6iZ0fEB
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) July 25, 2024
NEW: The NCAA’s historic expansion of scholarships to extend to full rosters means that roughly 790 new scholarship spots are available across the 40-plus NCAA sports listed in the settlement, per a @YahooSports
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 26, 2024
calculation. https://t.co/MGD0SHm1Y8 pic.twitter.com/dEPrGDDd71
I didn’t know Flaherty could play catcher. https://t.co/VGJIOMmQFg
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) July 26, 2024
— Texas Football Life (@txfblife) July 27, 2024WILD 🤯
Since 2012, schools in Collin County have spent over $250 million on constructing new high school stadiums#txhsfb pic.twitter.com/FVjHzr7Z4y
Decades of tradition is traded for finishing on a big screen. At least today’s announcement didn’t make the whole course flat. We have less and less true cross country courses in California, as it is. https://t.co/cASNzCzNNi
— Rich Gonzalez (@PrepCalTrack) July 27, 2024
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Incoming Servite freshman Jaelen Hunter of Compton Electric Speed won the 400 in 46.84 at USATF Junior Olympics in Texas. Kaedyn Burroughs, a sophom*ore at LB Wilson, was second in 400 and third in 200. Ran 47.00.
— eric sondheimer (@latsondheimer) July 28, 2024
Until next time...
Have a question, comment or something you’d like to see in a future Prep Rally newsletter? Email me at
eric.sondheimer@latimes.com, and follow me on Twitter at
@latsondheimer.
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