Valencia has two sleepers
Valencia, Calif., high school has an opportunity to overthrow league foe Newhall (Calif.) Hart and capture their section CIF championship it could be the season of 2002.
Overthrowing Hart could take some doing; Hart has won four straight CIF Championships.
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Pac10Recruiting has already done articles on Valencia running back Charles Burnley (6-0, 180, 4.5) and offensive lineman Alex Gottleib (6-5, 280, 4.9).
The Vikings of Valencia have two other players who are going to be counted on for huge efforts the season of 2002. They are defensive end David Shipp (6-2, 200, 4.5) and offensive lineman Ryan Brown (6-5, 265, 5.2).
Shipp could be one of SoCal’s biggest sleepers this season. “Whoever ends up signing David will be getting a good player here,” Valencia head coach Brian Stiman said.
Shipp started as a defensive end for the first three games and then he broke his foot. He’s now 100% healthy and raring to go. In Shipp’s three games he picked up three sacks.
Shipp has good strength with a 270 pound bench and a squat of 400.
A versatile player, Shipp projects as an outside linebacker.
Shipp has good bloodlines, his father played for USC and his brother for Nevada.
Shipp went into the track season as one of the state’s best 400-meter runners. He pulled a groin so he had didn’t participate in track. He does have best of 48.4 time in what is called a “man’s race.”
UCLA has shown interest in Shipp’s track abilities. Alabama, Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State and Nevada have shown interest in Shipp’s football playing skills.
Brown is another sleeper from Valencia to keep your eye on. He was an all-league selection as a sophomore, but he sat out his junior season due to a family tragedy.
Brown has all the tools necessary to be highly successful on the D-I level. Big things are expected in 2002.
Brown is extremely well liked by his teammates and is a team leader. He gained the respect of teammates with the way he handled himself with the grief that came upon him.
A very intelligent player, Brown has an outstanding knowledge of the game. He has a tremendous first-step and great hip extension.
Even though he missed last season, Brown is still getting ample attention from D-I schools.
Both of these sleepers are players to remember this fall.