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.
