Seven Inderkum High School athletes signed letters of intent to play for colleges today (Feb. 7), including Isaah Crocker, who will attend the University of Oregon after a phenomenal prep career that made him one of the Sacramento area’s top recruits and a player highly ranked nationally.
Other Tiger athletes signing college letters of intent today were:
· Leevi Lafaele, football, University of Wyoming
· Davion Ross, football, Sacramento State
· Victor Matteucci, football, Western Oregon University
· Alex Ceballos, women’s wrestling, Grays Harbor College
· Desire Neal, volleyball, Dillard University
· Haley Carlton, softball, Occidental College
Crocker and Ross were named recently to the Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro First Team in the categories of “All-Purpose” player and “Defensive Back,” respectively. Lafaele was an All-Metro Second Team selection as a linebacker. Matteucci was a standout offensive tackle for Inderkum, which went undefeated in league play and finished 11-1 on the season.
As a college football prospect, Crocker was ranked 26th in the state by the 247Sports composite ranking. He played as a wide receiver and defensive back for the Tigers. The 6-foot-1 speedster caught 18 passes for 545 yards and 11 touchdowns this year, averaging an amazing 30.3 yards per catch. On defense, he intercepted four passes and had 15 solo tackles and five assists, according to MaxPreps online sports data.
Coach Terry Stark characterized Crocker as an incredible athlete, tenacious competitor, and a team leader who will be sorely missed. Besides football, Crocker plays basketball for Inderkum’s Tigers.
Ashed how he feels to see his dream of a college scholarship come true, Crocker said simply, “Excited and blessed.” He hopes to pursue a career in professional football, or in sports communications, such as ESPN commentator.
Crocker is inspired by the memory of his mother, January, who was fatally shot in 2007. He carries a tattoo with her name and a clock displaying the time she died. “She’s with me all around, 24-7,” he said simply.
Recruited by nearly two dozen colleges, Crocker said his decision came down to the University of Oregon, UCLA and Oregon State. Why opt for the Ducks? “I just felt it was more comfortable,” he said of visiting the campus.
What will he miss about Inderkum? “The love of the school and its support from day one,” he said.
Ross, a defensive back, had six interceptions and was credited with 35 solo tackles and 13 assists. He also played offense, carrying the ball 38 times for 614 yards and eight touchdowns, MaxPreps records show.
Lafaele was a defensive star for the Tigers, recording 22 solo tackles and 12 assists as a linebacker. On offense, he carried the ball 16 times for 138 yards and five touchdowns.
Matteucci is a rapidly improving lineman with a bright future in college sports, according to Coach Starks.
Ceballos has a long list of prep wrestling honors, including a 5th place finish in last year’s state tournament. She is a two-time state qualifier, two-time reginal champion, two-time section champion, a Tigers team captain, and a two-time Most Valuable Player of the Tri-County Conference.
In volleyball, Neal, an outside hitter, has been named to the Tri-County Conference All-League team three times. She’s the league leader in kills, kills per set, and hitting percentage.
A catcher and outfielder in softball, Carlton batted .319 last year with 17 runs scored, 12 runs batted in, and an on-base percentage of .448.
The Tiger athletes perform well in the classroom, too, led by Carlton – whose grade point average exceeds 4.0 in Inderkum’s California Early College Academy (CECA) program. Closely behind her are Matteucci, Ross, Neal and Ceballos, all with grade point averages above 3.4.
