Prep talk: Southland natives selected for USA national softball team
Players either went to high school locally or played for UCLA.
They include Oaks Christian and UCLA standout Maya Brady and St. Anthony and Oklahoma star Tiare Jennings. There's Rachel Garcia from Highland and UCLA. Amanda Lorenz was a star at Moorpark and Florida.
Kinzie Hansen went to Norco and Oklahoma. It's a who's who of players who have been great in youth softball and college softball. …
The Southern Section released its boys'volleyball and lacrosse playoff pairings. Here's the link for volleyball. Here's boys' lacrosse. Here's girls' lacrosse.
This is a daily look at the positive happenings in high school sports. To submit any news, please email eric.sondheimer@latimes.com.
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NBC Sports
17 hours ago
- NBC Sports
Now at UCLA, Nico Iamaleava tries to move beyond the drama and focus on football
LAS VEGAS — College football's future wore a baby blue suit, a gold pin that said 'UCLA' and a pair of diamond-encrusted hoop earrings. He glided toward the mic, sat down, then prepared for the grilling about how much money he makes, why he left Tennessee, who betrayed who when he departed, and what it all means for the college football world that his story now defines. Bottom line: If quarterback Nico Iamaleava handles the rest of the season as well as he did with his half hour of Q&A at Big Ten media days, chances are, UCLA will be good — maybe even very good — in 2025. 'I think, it's just, keep my head down and be humble,' the 20-year-old lightning rod of a quarterback said. 'And try not to let the outside noise affect you.' If he succeeds at that, he will have more discipline than a great majority of college football fans, experts and journalists who have filled the internet and air waves with timelines and tick-tock analysis of a decision that shook the sport and seemed to say everything about the burgeoning power players wield in a world of name, image, likeness deals and a rapidly rotating transfer portal. The thumbnail of the story is that Iamaleava was a successful quarterback who led Tennessee to the College Football Playoff last season, then abruptly picked up stakes to head closer to home and play for UCLA. Money seemed to be the most obvious motive. Reports circulated that he was looking for a raise — maybe a doubling to nearly $4 million a year — to come back to the Vols. Then, one day last spring, Iamaleava missed practice. Just as abruptly, he was gone. Tennessee coach Josh Heupel handled it diplomatically. 'Today's landscape of college football is different than it has been,' he said. 'It's unfortunate, the situation, and where we're at with Nico.' Before he'd even enrolled at Tennessee, Iamaleava was causing his share of turmoil. It was his NIL deal with the Vols that triggered an NCAA investigation and a lawsuit by the attorneys general of Tennessee and Virginia in January 2024. The NCAA settled that lawsuit, and though there aren't as many questions about who makes the payments to the players (the colleges can do it themselves now), recriminations that flowed when Iamaleava enrolled at Tennessee kept flowing after he made his move to UCLA. Asked about what triggered his move and exactly when it happened, Iamaleava said it came around the time 'false stuff about whether it was a financial thing or not' started coming out that made him 'not feel comfortable in the position I was in.' Then, in a revelation that not everyone appears quite ready to accept, he said moving closer to where he grew up, in Long Beach, California, about 30 miles from the UCLA campus, was the biggest piece of the puzzle. 'My driving factor to come back home was my family, and I hope every Tennessee fan understands that,' he said. 'It was really one of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make.' He will not delve into finances, though most of the reporting has shown that Iamaleava will make about as much, or just barely more, with UCLA than he was making at Tennessee. 'All that stuff is for my business team and my agents to handle,' he said. 'I just focus on football.' Among the other questions consuming college football, and that Iamaleava's saga reflects as well as anyone's, is how a player who makes more money and generates more hype than anyone else in the locker room can possibly fit on a team that is still, at its core, filled with teenagers whose football lives will end in college. UCLA's second-year coach, DeShaun Foster, said he scouted that part when the prospect of Iamaleava coming to Westwood became real. 'He's a team guy and a family guy,' Foster said. 'It just felt good that we were getting the right kind of quarterback.' From a pure talent standpoint, hardly anyone argues that. Iamaleava was considered one of the country's top prospects coming out of high school. He threw for 2,616 yards and 19 TDs last year in leading the Vols to the playoffs. But, as one of the theories about his departure goes, he and his family were less than thrilled about Tennessee's ability to protect him. None other than Kirk Herbstreit dove into the mix when he said he'd heard Iamaleava's dad had gone to Heupel in December and said 'like, hey, listen, you've got to get better at offensive line, better at receiver.' Speaking not so much about that specific story, but to the realities of football, Foster said he knows keeping things clean in the pocket for Iamaleava will be key to his success. 'If he stays upright, things are going to go the right way,' Foster said. And if they do, there's at least a chance Iamaleava could be a one-and-doner at UCLA. He is widely thought to have NFL talent if he improves his mechanics and accuracy — two areas that will be helped by better protection. During his back-and-forth with reporters, the quarterback brushed aside questions about pro football. He also said he pays no mind to the billion-dollar questions swirling around the college game every day — all revolving around money, freedom to transfer and other issues that have turned UCLA's quarterback into a villian in some places, a hero in others, and a player to watch everyhwere. 'I love college football,' he said. 'Everything that goes on with my name, that's not going to change my love for the game. Obviously, everyone has to move on. I'm excited about what's next for me. But I'm where my feet (are), and right now, I'm a UCLA football player and I'm excited to go to camp.'
USA Today
18 hours ago
- USA Today
USC safety Kamari Ramsey discusses relationship with DC D'Anton Lynn at Big Ten media days
This week marked Big Ten media days. After three days and 16 other schools, it was finally USC's turn to take the podium on Thursday afternoon. Representing the Trojans in Vegas were head coach Lincoln Riley, redshirt junior safety Kamari Ramsey, junior wide receiver Makai Lemon, and sophomore offensive lineman Elijah Paige. Ramsey will be entering his second season with the Trojans. After spending the first two years of his college football career at crosstown rival UCLA, he transferred to USC prior to last season, following defensive coordinator D'Anton Lynn. In an interview with 247Sports at media days Thursday, Ramsey discussed his relationship with his DC. "Just being able to play in this defense is a blessing," Ramsey said. "Coach Lynn is a great coach. He's taught me a lot. Going to continue to learn a lot of things from him. I'm just comfortable in this defense now. I mean, I'm not really thinking too much. It's like, I get the call. Alright, here's the tool, and let's go. Let's play football. So I'm not thinking as much." Last season, Ramsey thrived in Lynn's system, putting up 60 total tackles, five passes defended, two sacks, two forced fumbles, and an interception. With another year of working together, the safety will be looking to do even bigger things in 2025.
Forbes
18 hours ago
- Forbes
Top 10 College Football Power 4 QB Transfers To Watch In 2025
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 30: Nico Iamaleava #8 of the Tennessee Volunteers runs the ball ... More during the second half of the game between the Vanderbilt Commodores and the Tennessee Volunteers at FirstBank Stadium on November 30, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by) Dozens of college football programs hit the transfer portal in search of a starting quarterback heading into the 2025 season, and the dust has finally settled (hopefully) as teams hit training camp. The transfer portal is a perfect system for proven veteran QBs with how important nailing that position is for the number of coaches heading into the fall camp on some level of hot seat. There's a premium price for elite football throwers, and the cost is continuing to rise. Below is a look at the top 10 Power 4 transfer quarterbacks to watch for the 2025 season. Nico Iamaleava The Tennessee vs. Nico Iamaleava NIL dispute became the biggest story of the spring transfer portal window and potentially the entire offseason. He landed back in his home state at UCLA after his first full season as a starter. Iamaleava was solid in his first season as a starter with the Volunteers, which qualified for the College Football Playoff for the first time in 2024. Plenty of eyes will be on Iamaleava this season, and Knoxville has never been more interested in UCLA football. Carson Beck After originally declaring for the NFL Draft, former Georgia quarterback Carson Beck hit the transfer portal for Miami this offseason. His 2024 season ended in the SEC Championship when a throwing elbow injury forced him to miss the College Football Playoff after undergoing UCL surgery. Beck did not participate in spring practice but claimed he's 100% during ACC Media Days this week. Kaidon Salter Deion Sanders' new QB is the only player on this list where it's unclear whether he will start as the Liberty transfer competes with true freshman Julian Lewis for the starting spot during fall camp. Salter has just one year of eligibility remaining and understood the risks when he committed in December, but he could spend his final college football season on the bench. Still, he's likely the favorite to start as a multi-year starter. Fernando Mendoza Indiana is back on the college football map, and head coach Curt Cignetti went to Cal in his attempt to keep the program's momentum going. Fernando Mendoza started the last two seasons with the Golden Bears and is getting plenty of buzz from NFL Draft scouts and analysts over the last few months. Mendoza has two years of eligibility left to play as the Hoosiers look to return to the College Football Playoff. John Mateer It's easy to compare the two, but Oklahoma's debut season in the SEC was a struggle compared to its former Big 12 rival Texas, which nearly competed for a national championship. The Sooners finished with a below .500 overall record last season for the second time in three years under head coach Brent Venables, who needed a big splash at QB this offseason. They did that by landing one of the top QBs in the portal with John Mateer out of Washington State. He has just one year of starting experience but threw 29 touchdowns last season with 826 rushing yards and 15 TDs on the ground. Jackson Arnold Speaking of the Sooners, Jackson Arnold exited Oklahoma where he spent the past two seasons but stayed in the conference with Auburn. Head coach Hugh Freeze battled inconsistent quarterback play through his first two years with the Tigers and is certainly hoping Arnold is the answer. If not, Auburn has other options with talented true freshman Deuce Knight and Ashton Daniels, who brings plenty of experience from Stanford. Thomas Castellanos Florida State might be the biggest wild card of the 2025 college football season after what we've seen the last two seasons. The Seminoles went from being the first team to miss the College Football Playoff with a winning record to a 2-10 campaign in 2024. Will Thomas Castellanos be the answer for a significant turnaround? He lost his starting spot at Boston College last season, which immediately led to a transfer portal entry, but this could work if coaches and players are on the same page in 2025. Gio Lopez The Bill Belichick headlines died down over the last few months, and we could get back to talking about his coaching expertise over his personal life drama with a solid season at North Carolina. The Tar Heels lost Max Johnson for the season in Week 1 in 2024 but solidified the position with South Alabama transfer Gio Lopez. He finished Year 1 as a starter with three seasons of college football eligibility remaining heading into the 2025 season. Mark Gronowski Very few quarterbacks have as much Division I college football experience than incoming Iowa QB Mark Gronowski. He's making the jump from the FCS level after spending five years at South Dakota State where he was a four-year starter. The Hawkeyes offense saw significant improvement in 2024 when Kirk Ferentz went outside the family tree for an offensive coordinator, and Gronowsk seems like a good fit for this team. Conner Weigman Former Texas A&M QB Conner Weigman battled through injuries that held him out of plenty of football games over the last few seasons and is hoping he can stay healthy with Houston this season. He claimed to have no health limitations during spring practice and will be tasked with turning around an offense that ranked ahead of only Kent State in points per game among FBS programs last season.
