`TRADE' WORKS FOR TAFT, N.D.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

High school basketball coaches are waiting to see which potential transfers show up in class when the fall semester begins.

Nothing is official until the first day of school, when players arrive at new schools (or stay where they've been), but signs are there will be plenty of movement this year.

Taft High of Woodland Hills and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks were involved in a trade of sorts, with Pierce Brooks leaving Taft for Notre Dame and Nigel Carter heading from Notre Dame to Taft. The moves, of course, were made independently.

``I really think this will be a trade that works out for both schools,'' Taft coach Derrick Taylor said. ``Having seen Pierce play for Notre Dame over the summer, I can honestly say he really looks comfortable in that setting. And Nigel has truly fit in well with our team.''

Both players will fill needs for their new teams. Brooks is a skilled, 6-foot-7 junior forward who will thrive under new Knights' coach Bill Bedgood's system. Carter, a 6-3 guard, is expected to flourish in Taylor's up-tempo offense that employs four quick, athletic guards, with Calvin Haynes, Larry Drew Jr. and Oscar Bellfield joining Carter.

``If people thought Taft ran before, wait until they see us now,'' Taylor said. ``We've got guys who can get up and down the court. And the thing that's so great about (Carter) is that, at 6-3, he's big enough and strong enough to defend forwards, so you'll definitely see him doing some of that.''

--Former Taft quarterback Josh Portis is making big strides during his first training camp at the University of Florida. Portis was pushing for the No. 2 job, behind starter Chris Leak, as Florida concluded two-a-day practices Monday.

``The speed and athleticism is unbelievable,'' Portis said from Gainesville. ``The one thing I'm learning about training camp is that it's a total grind. It's work, work, work, but that's how I like it.''

Florida opens the season Sept. 3 against Wyoming.

--Former Hart of Newhall football standout Chris Frome is making a big impression on first-year Notre Dame coach Charlie Weiss.

Frome, a senior defensive end, played just 27 minutes and made seven tackles last year under former coach Tyrone Willingham, but he's all but won a starting job with an impressive training camp.

``I've been very pleased with Chris Frome and other guys playing that position, too,'' Weiss told the South Bend Tribune. ``But Chris Frome's been waiting a long time for an opportunity to get some significant playing time, and I think he relishes the chance. He'll be a tough guy to keep off the field.''

--UCLA is ranked second, behind two-time defending champion Indiana, in Soccer America's preseason top 25 men's soccer rankings. Cal State Northridge is ranked 22nd and Loyola Marymount 24th by the Oakland-based soccer magazine.

--UCLA senior defender Jill Oakes, a Harvard-Westlake of Studio City product, was selected for Soccer Buzz's 12-player preseason women's soccer All-America team.

Portland senior striker Christine Sinclair, a Canadian national team star, was chosen preseason Player of the Year by the Web site, which covers the women's college game. Other All-Americans include U.S. national-teamers Lori Chalupny, Heather O'Reilly and Lindsay Tarpley, all from North Carolina.

--Monroe of North Hills has promoted Jason Petro as boys' basketball coach, replacing Don Loperena, who took over at Granada Hills. Petro was Loperena's longtime assistant.

--Former Lancaster boys' basketball coach Jesse Parker has taken charge at Antelope Valley Christian, replacing David Nurse.

--A team of 13- to 16-year-old softball players primarily from the San Fernando and Conejo valleys won the Jewish Community Centers Maccabi Games last week in San Antonio. The team went 5-0 and outscored opponents 55-6, beating Chicago/St. Louis 9-2 in the championship game to extend its winning streak to 98 games over 17 years.

Area athletes on the team: Emily Bliss (Chaminade of West Hills), Kayla Dahlerbruch (Lawrence Middle School of Chatsworth), Brianna Grinbaum (Calabasas), Sammi Kraft (Millikan Middle School of Sherman Oaks), Miranda Polin (Granada Hills), Allison Schneider (Agoura High), Jessica Schwimmer (Cleveland of Reseda), Cailyn Steinhardt (Agoura) and Lisa Zeitlin (Calabasas).

Scott French and Ramona Shelburne contributed.

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com