SoCal four-star to visit Georgia Tech

Four-star athlete prospect Malachi Lewis (6-4, 215, 4.4) from Oxnard (Calif.) Rio Mesa lived up to his reputation as one of the best players in Ventura County for the season of 2006. He finished his sparkling career holding virtually every school rushing record.

Although being a marked man, Lewis rushed still rushed for 1,406 yards and 25 touchdowns. His career yards of 3,743 are a school best. His 318 points is also a school record. His 150 points is the single season school record for scoring and his 2,187 yards as a junior is also a single season school record.

Lewis earned all-league, all-county and all-CIF honors for his 2006 season.

On the recruiting front he has already taken visits to Cal, Oregon and Ole Miss.

Lewis had good times at both Cal and Ole Miss but he Oregon stood out the most of his three visits.

"Malachi was very impressed with his visit to Oregon," Rio Mesa coach Bob Gregorchuk said. "He was impressed like everyone who visits Oregon with their facilities.

"There is a tie there, his mother was a scholarship athlete for the Ducks as a basketball players," Gregorchuk said. "Malachi's Mom isn't pushing towards Oregon or any other school."

Lewis will take his fourth official visit in two weeks to Georgia Tech on January 19th.

UCLA is once again beginning to show interest in Lewis. Offensive coordinator Jim Svoboda and wide receiver coach D.J. McCarthy were recently on campus.

"Both coaches explained to Malachi the recruiting situation with him and why they were slow to recruit him," Gregorchuk said. "But he still doesn't have an offer from them and that is confusing him a little."

"If UCLA were to offer they would be right there with Oregon for the lead and would get his last official visit," Gregorchuk said. "I think he wants to stay on the West Coast, but he is taking a visit to Georgia Tech and if he doesn't hear from UCLA, he will probably take his fifth official visit to Georgia."

Lewis was a member of the Rivals.com Rivals250 team for the class of 2007. Rivals.com rated Lewis the nation's No. 11 athlete prospect and he was also selected to the Rivals.com California top 100 team landing as the Golden State's No. 19 prospect at any position.