High Schools : Seattle Helps Wolfe Make Major Decision

Joel Wolfe plans to major in business at UCLA, but the former Chatsworth High third baseman has started his education early by negotiating a professional baseball contract.

In fact, when Wolfe starts school in the fall he may bring a professional contract with him. Although Wolfe made it clear to baseball scouts last spring that he was unsignable because of his commitment to the Bruins, he may have changed his mind--thanks to a big push from the Seattle Mariners.

The Mariners waited until the 32nd round of the June draft to select Wolfe only because they didn’t want to waste an earlier pick on a player they couldn’t sign.

“There is no question he would have been drafted higher,” Seattle scout Bob Wadsworth said. “His family gave baseball every indication he would be a tough sign. He’s a good prospect. We think he’s a player who could help rid us of our last-place label.”

Wadsworth heads the Mariner negotiating team that has induced Wolfe to consider a professional contract. They have met three times and negotiations continue.

Wolfe is serving as his own agent in accordance with NCAA guidelines. And he enjoyed the negotiations so much, he decided to change his college major. He originally planned on a career as a physical therapist.

“I’m getting so much out of this,” he said. “Even if I don’t sign now, I’ll be one step ahead when I get drafted again after my junior year. I’ll know where they’re coming from and how to deal with them. I don’t want to be a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and lose my money to an agent.”

The Mariners are offering a program that would allow Wolfe to attend school and play professionally, but the deal still hinges on money. Wadsworth would not reveal what Seattle has offered but Wolfe said it would take six figures for him to pass up UCLA.

Although classes don’t begin until Sept. 28, Wolfe claims he has already learned his first business lesson.

“In hindsight, I shouldn’t have said I was going to college,” he said. “The money would have been incredible.”

Add Mariners: Seattle also drafted Mike Kerber, a pitcher and catcher at Canoga Park, and Sean Brown, a Granada Hills outfielder. Kerber remains a lock at UCLA, according to Wadsworth, but the Mariners might have a shot at Brown.

Brown played tight end on the Highlanders’ 4-A City championship football team and also starred in basketball until he gave up the sport in his senior year. He ranks as the Valley-area’s most talented athlete with no commitments beyond high school.

Orient express: Wolfe is one of four Valley-area players chosen to represent the United States in a series of games in Japan from Aug. 19 to Sept. 1. The American Rookies also include Chatsworth’s Rex McMackin and Derek Wallace and Canoga Park’s Adam Schulhofer.

Ready for fall: Brian Jacobs, the UCLA-bound offensive lineman from Hart, said the ankle injury he sustained in last weekend’s Shrine All-Star Game will heal in time for the first Bruin practice Aug. 8. Jacobs sprained his right ankle on the final play of the first half of last week’s game and sat out the second half.

Jacobs, a 6-foot, 5-inch tackle, has gained 20 pounds since the end of the high school season and will report to UCLA at 275 pounds. He claims he carries the weight well but will redshirt his first season to “get bigger.”

“I think it’s the smart thing to do. I need to get stronger, too,” he said.

Sooner Wrestling Camp: Openings remain for a wrestling camp sponsored by the University of Oklahoma. The camp runs Aug. 8-12 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day at Royal High.

Oklahoma Coach Stan Abel and his staff will run the camp along with Royal Coach John Reed. Fees are $150 for day campers and $250 for residents.

Information: 805-527-3232.

Honor roll: El Camino Real High guard Brent Lofton was rated in the top 25 of 535 players attending the Bill Cronauer Basketball Camp July 17-22 in Rensslauer, Ind.

Overall, he was ranked 21st among campers, 70 of whom were 6-7 or taller. Lofton (6-5, 180), who started at forward as a junior but has been moved to guard, played in the second-team all-star game and led all scorers with nine points.

Summer preview: It’s still July, but several area basketball players already have drawn the attention of national publications. Hoop Scoop Magazine of Lexington, Ky., recently issued several “best of” lists that included Valley-area players.

A ranking of Southern California’s top juniors--members of the class of 1989--in May’s issue included Mitchell Butler of Oakwood (No. 4), Adonis Jordan of Cleveland (No. 5) and Brent Lofton of El Camino Real (No. 13). Another story in the same issue, one that didn’t rate players in any particular order, touted Taft’s Dedan Thomas and Lofton.

The July edition listed 13 five-player All-American teams. Jordan made the fourth team, Thomas made the sixth and Butler the 12th.

The July edition also listed Southern California’s best players by position. Jordan was listed as the top point guard, just ahead of Thomas (No. 4).

Staff writer Steve Elling contributed to this notebook.