CHATTER: CLEVELAND'S YOUNG GETS A FINAL SEASON.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

It looks as though Cleveland High of Reseda will have senior basketball player Nick Young for one more year after all.

According to Cavaliers coach Andre Chevalier, Young was granted a final year of eligibility by the City Section rules committee Thursday after a successful third appeal. Young had been turned down on two other appeals and was planning to attend a East Coast prep school this fall before attending USC on a basketball scholarship in 2004.

``I was told by (Cleveland principal Al Weiner) that Nick was given another year to come back and graduate from Cleveland and be able to play ball,'' Chevalier said. ``Obviously, I am very excited about this. I spoke to Nick a little while ago and he's ready to go.''

Young has been at Cleveland for two years after attending Dorsey and Hamilton in Los Angeles as a freshman and sophomore. During his first two years of high school, family turmoil set him back academically and, as a result, he was unable to graduate after his fourth year. Despite the fact he did not participate in sports those first two years, his athletic eligibility ran out at the end of the last school year.

Young argued he should get another year to participate because he had played just two years of high school. Until Thursday's ruling, he had been unsuccessful.

Canyon High quarterback Nate Longshore, considered one of the top football prospects in the nation, has narrowed his college choices to seven: favorites USC, UCLA and California, along with Oregon State, Arizona, Brigham Young and San Diego State. USC and UCLA are the only two that haven't officially offered, although Longshore was spotted wearing a USC hat at one of the Trojans' practices last week.

``Well, it was a hot day, so a good day to wear a hat,'' he said with a wink.

Longshore, a 6-foot-5, 230-pounder who passed for more than 2,000 yards last season, participated in the national Elite 11 camp in San Juan Capistrano this summer.

Although four of his listed favorites are out of state, he said he probably would prefer to play in California. He especially likes Cal because so many NFL quarterbacks have come through there lately, notably former Hart of Newhall standout Kyle Boller, a recent first-round draft choice. ...

Speaking of Boller, he is one of a number of rookie and second-year NFL players from the region making strong pushes for regular-season roster spots and starting jobs with their respective teams.

Going into this weekend's final games, former Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and USC star Justin Fargas was leading the league in rushing. The Oakland Raiders rookie third-round pick had 197 yards through three games.

In addition, Boller was the top passer for the Baltimore Ravens, throwing for 357 yards and two touchdowns, completing 33 of 59 passes.

Two rookie tight ends from the region also are making positive showings, with Mike Siedman (Westlake/UCLA) catching three passes for 34 yards for the Carolina Panthers and George Wrighster (Sylmar/Oregon) catching one pass for 5 yards with the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Defensively, Kevin Bentley (Montclair Prep of Panorama City/Northwestern) is the likely starter at middle linebacker with the Cleveland Browns, Will Demps (Highland of Palmdale/San Diego State) is listed as second string at free safety with the Ravens and Scott Fujita (Camarillo/California) has won a starting linebacker job with the Kansas City Chiefs. ...

Steve Bralver, an infielder/outfielder from Westlake High, has committed to the University of Hawaii. ...

Gerry Gittelson contributed to this report.

Vincent Bonsignore, [phone]

vincent.bonsignore(at)dailynews.com