Price names three early favorites

David Price is one of the next big-time players at powerhouse Long Beach (Calif.) Poly and the 2013 defensive back said UCLA, USC and Oregon make up his early top three.

While none of those Pac-12 schools have offered yet there is a good chance all will get more involved with Price throughout his recruitment because teams from across the country are already sending him mail.

"I'm getting letters from all over the place," Price said. "I got a few letters (Friday) from Tennessee, San Diego State and I got one from Oregon. I'm hearing from pretty much all the schools in the Pac-12. The SEC is starting to send me letters too like Alabama and Georgia.

"My friends like Josiah (Blandin) and Richie Rich (Richard Smith) were telling me how they started getting letters in their junior year so I was waiting. I guess the first day they could officially send me letters they were really coming in. I really enjoy coming home, opening letters and reading them with my dad. I have a little collection in my shoe box."

Price is a hard-hitting and well-developed 6-foot-2, 200-pound safety who already has an offer from SMU and could be picking up more offers real soon. While he's open to all programs, the Poly standout said he's leaning toward staying in the Pac-12.

That's why his top three teams are from that conference.

"I'm trying to stay in the Pac-12," Price said. "I don't want to go too far from home but I want to get away a little bit."

There is a time and place for recruiting and since Long Beach Poly is at the tail end of a tough stretch early in the season Price said he's only focused on the games at this point.

The Jackrabbits have opened the season with victories over Sacrament (Calif.) Grant, which features five-star Shaq Thompson, Carson (Calif.), where four-star Darreus Rogers plays, and a feisty Harbor City (Calif.) Narbonne team this past weekend.

A visit to talented Mission Viejo (Calif.) this Friday awaits as the Diablos are led by the nation's top-rated fullback in Jahleel Pinner, a strong, talented offensive line and the innovation of coach Bob Johnson.

"That was a tough one stopping Shaq because he's one of the top running backs around," Price said.

"He's really big and strong and we had to get him down. Our second game was against Carson and Darreus Rogers gave us a little trouble. We finally got it together and believed in ourselves and stopped him and got the victory.

"Next week we have a tough one with Mission Viejo. We have our hands full. We played them last year and most of their players are returning. They have big backs and they're strong and they're disciplined."