headtopics
The Prep Rally newsletter continues to be the go-to source for local high school sports coverage, spotlighting football, basketball, and flag football across the City Section. It shines a light on emerging athletes, dedicated coaches, and the teams making headlines.
In college commitments, seniors Elyjah Staples from Marquez and DeAndre Kirkpatrick from Crenshaw have secured their futures, with Staples heading to Cal and Kirkpatrick to San Diego State. Kirkpatrick, in particular, has the potential to be mentioned alongside former Crenshaw greats, given his on-field prowess.
Los Alamitos' Kamden Tillis, a USC commit, has shown remarkable improvement, now covering receivers with skill and confidence. He celebrated a touchdown with teammate Ashton Gogue during an Alpha League game against Edison at SoFi Stadium on Thursday. Meanwhile, Loyola's defense has been relentless in the weight room, aiming to boost strength and speed after averaging 13 tackles per game. Damien is expected to see more ball-handling duties to leverage his quickness.
Aidan Crecion has grown to 6-foot-5, surpassing his father Gabe, a former tight end at Chaminade and UCLA. Ray Fenton, who coached at Los Alamitos last season, fondly recalled the joy of mentoring local kids rather than transfers. The Trinity League, however, has become notorious for transfers, with coaches often facing termination for losing records.
Herrington is adjusting to a new commute from Valencia to Playa del Rey, planning to leave at 5 a.m. once school starts to beat traffic. The Moore sisters, Nylah and Cinzia, are poised to excel at Eagle Rock in both flag football and basketball. Sierra Canyon, fielding a team for the first time, continues to attract transfers from Orange County.
Flag Football and Honors
The NFL Chargers are set to host a major flag football tournament on August 14 and 15, offering an early glimpse of top teams. In other news, JJ Harel of Sherman Oaks Notre Dame received the high school player of the year award from the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, presented by former Olympic high jumper Dwight Stones. The two-time state champion has committed to compete for Israel at the U20 World Championships, potentially paving the way for him to represent Israel at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. He will enroll as a freshman at USC this fall.
Other notable topics include football notes, Aidan Crecion, Ray Fenton, Herrington, the Moore sisters, Sierra Canyon, the NFL Chargers, JJ Harel, Dwight Stones, and Palos Verdes, all contributing to the vibrant landscape of high school sports.
Originally reported by headtopics.