SPORTS NOTEBOOK : Quarterback Shops for Best Deal in NFL

Former Cal State Long Beach quarterback Jeff Graham, who spent last season on the Cleveland Browns’ developmental squad, is confident about his future in the National Football League.

“I’m definitely going to play, no question about that,” said the 6-foot-4 Graham from his home in Costa Mesa this week. “I’m one of the best young guys out there, I think.”

An unrestricted free agent, Graham has had workouts recently with the Miami Dolphins and Minnesota Vikings and has one scheduled Monday in Green Bay.

“I’m looking for the best situation,” said Graham, who may be re-signed by Cleveland.

“We really like him,” said Mike Lombardi, director of player personnel for the Browns. “We want him badly. He has a great arm and a good understanding of the passing game. We think he has a great future.”

Graham, 24, was drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1989 but did not survive the team’s first cut and subsequently signed with Cleveland. He is Cal State Long Beach’s all-time passing leader with 664 completions, 8,080 yards and 42 touchdown passes.

Graham learned from Cleveland quarterbacks Bernie Kozar and Mike Pagel last season.

“You do everything but play,” Graham said of the role of a player on the developmental squad. “You run plays in practice against the first defense and attend all the meetings. You don’t travel but you’re on the sidelines at all the home games, either charting plays or helping in some other way. But you don’t get paid what the other players get paid.”

49ers Seek 20 Wins: The Cal State Long Beach men’s basketball team has a chance for a 20-victory season for the first time in 10 years.

The 49ers, who defeated Cal State Fullerton, 70-69, in overtime Monday night for their third consecutive victory, are 16-7 with four games remaining.

Coach Joe Harrington said he believes a bid to the NCAA Tournament is still within reach.

“I think it’s a possibility,” said Harrington, “but I’m not looking that far ahead. When you do you open yourself up for defeat.”

Long Beach, 8-6 in the Big West Conference and tied for fourth place with Utah State, will play home games against San Jose State Thursday night and Utah State Saturday night, then close the regular season next week at Fresno State and University of the Pacific.

The 49ers were 22-12 in 1979-80 under Coach Tex Winter.

Lakewood’s Top Athlete: Janice Parks, who plays third base on the UCLA softball team, has been named athlete of the year by the Lakewood Youth Sports Hall of Fame and will be honored at a banquet at 7 p.m. Monday at the Lakewood Civic Center, 5000 Clark Ave.

Parks, a graduate of Mayfair High School, is a three-time All-American. Last season, she hit .426 with 36 runs batted in and was named NCAA softball player of the year.

The Hall of Fame’s board of electors is made up of Lakewood community leaders and high school athletic directors.

Previous athletes of the year include basketball player Tom Tolbert of the Golden State Warriors, UCLA softball pitcher Lisa Longaker and wheelchair racer Jim Knaub.