SoCal athlete field calls, talks visits
Since Rivals.com first introduced recruitneks to three-star athlete prospect Gavin Ketchum (6-4, 190, 4.6) from Oak Park, Calif., back in April he stood 6-foot-2 ½. When Rivals.com ran into Ketchum at a recent UCLA practice it was obvious he had growing spurt over the summer.
Ketchum and his Oak Park teammates are kicking it into high gear getting ready for their opener this week.
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Oak Park took on one of the favorites from the tough Marmonte League, Moorpark and Crescenta Valley when the three schools scrimmaged for a tune-up for the season.
“Moorpark is picked to win the Marmonte League and we pretty much shut them down,” Ketchum said. “We shut down Crescenta Valley, too.”
Ketchum has written offers from UCLA and Oregon. He received calls from UCLA and Oregon, plus Utah, Washington State and Tulane.
“I talked to Oregon and it went very well,” Ketchum said. “We talked about setting a visit. The other schools called when I wasn’t home and either talked to one of my parents or they left a message.”
“I haven’t decided on any visit dates yet,” Ketchum said. “But I know for sure that I will take official visits to UCLA and Oregon.”
UCLA and Oregon are recruiting Ketchum as an athlete but the Ducks are leaning toward recruiting him as a defensive back.
Ketchum camped at both UCLA and USC this past summer.
As a junior, Ketchum was second amongst junior wide receivers with 14 touchdown receptions in the state. His 14 touchdown catches set the school record.
To give you an idea on how productive Ketchum was as wide receiver one third of his 41 catches went for touchdowns in 2003.
Ketchum was fifth in the state for average per catch while averaging 20.9 yards per catch. He picked up 855 receiving yards.
On the defensive side of the ball, Ketchum had 40 solo tackles, three interceptions, two fumble recoveries, two sacks and one safety from his free safety position.
Ketchum was selected all-league, all-area, all-county and all-CIF for his junior season performance.
Rivals.com rates Ketchum as the nation’s number 24 athlete prospect for the class of 2005. He was also selected by Rivals.com as a member of the preseason California Top 100 team for the class of 2005. Ketchum landed as number 50 rated prospect at any position un the Golden State.