H.S. FOOTBALL: TAFT LB NARROWS SCHOOLS.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Staff Writer

Will prized football recruit Malcolm Smith remain loyal to family and friends by committing to USC, or is he ready to forge a new start at Notre Dame or Cal?

That's the burning issue with national signing day looming next month.

Smith, a 6-foot-2, 212-pound linebacker from Taft of Woodland Hills who runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and sports a 3.0grade-point average, took an official visit last weekend to USC, where his brother, Steve, is a starting senior receiver and his best friend, Oaks Christian's Marc Tyler, has committed as a running back.

It's been reported that Smith narrowed his choices to USC and Notre Dame, but he confirmed Monday that Cal also is in the mix. He plans to announce his decision Friday or early next week.

Smith said Tyler hasn't overdone things on the recruiting front.

``Marc hasn't been too hard on me,'' Smith said. ``We're friends but he wants me to make the best decision for me.''

The latest on Longshore: A scholarship offer appears imminent for Canyon quarterback Ben Longshore, who met at home Sunday with Utah State head coach Brent Guy. It looks good for Longshore because another quarterback Utah State was recruiting committed to UNLV instead of the Aggies.

Hart players left out? Still no news on Hart quarterback Alex Pettee's quest for a scholarship, so for the first time since 1991 the Indians might not send a player to a Division I university. Pettee, who passed for nearly 3,000 yards and accounted for 23 touchdowns this season, is 6-3.

Hart receiver Brandon Arndt, recovering from brain surgery last month to remove a cancerous tumor, is undergoing chemotherapy in Memphis, Tenn.

Colleges passing on quarterbacks: It seems a lot of top local quarterbacks remain on the cusp, including Birmingham's James Beloff, who's 6-5 and passed for 2,292 yards and 16 touchdowns to carry the Patriots to the City Section title.

``New Mexico has shown the most interest, but James hasn't been offered yet,'' Birmingham coach Ed Croson said. ``He hasn't been a quarterback that long, but he's got a lot better. I think he's a diamond in the rough, and he's going to end up playing a long time, but he just hasn't been doing it very long, so there's some things he needs to catch up on.''

Things look better for Beloff's favorite receiver, Willie Chandler, who's narrowed his choices to Nevada and UNLV.

[e-mail]

[phone]