NOT PASSING THIS UP HART HIGH GRAD GETTING BACK IN THE GAME AT OREGON STATE.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

After 11 difficult months of false starts and indecision, former Hart High and UCLA quarterback Matt Moore has verbally committed to an Oregon State football scholarship.

Moore committed after an official recruiting visit this past weekend.

``It's awesome. The weekend went great, and I can't wait to get up there and start school,'' Moore said.

Moore quit UCLA's team three weeks before the final game last December, then didn't immediately transfer to another Division I-A university as planned because the schools he considered - Nebraska, Hawaii, Colorado State, San Diego State, among others - didn't offer scholarships.

Labeled a malcontent, Moore never flinched despite criticism in newspapers and Web sites. Many believed the 6-foot-4 sophomore shouldn't have left UCLA in a lurch before the season ended after losing the starting quarterback job to Drew Olson.

``It's been crazy. A lot of people have had their opinions, but I've just tried to keep to myself and not publicize everything,'' Moore said.

At one point Moore switched to baseball, competing in an adult league and trying out for various pro teams before being drafted by the Angels in the 22nd round in June. But Moore couldn't agree on a baseball contract - Moore's father, Don, said the Angels offered a $50,000 signing bonus and the Moores wanted $150,000 - so Moore, who from the beginning said his goal is to be an NFL quarterback, rededicated himself to football.

At College of the Canyons, Moore has taken classes since last spring and worked out informally with the football team. He said after finishing five courses this semester he'll have enough units to transfer.

A rule change allowing Pacific-10 players to transfer to another Pac-10 school after one year instead of two gave Moore an opportunity to accept the Oregon State offer.

In the meantime, he's stayed sharp under the guidance of quarterback guru Dean Herrington (offensive coordinator at College of the Canyons), and many agree the strong-armed Moore has never looked better.

``I just tried to keep working out, and I've stayed in shape,'' Moore said.

--Lashanda James is the new high school basketball coach at girls' lockdown facility Scott Academy, replacing Bob Welsch, who's been reassigned.

``We've got an excellent team. We're going to be a lot better this year because we're taller,'' said James, 35, who worked in the facility's front office last season.

Most of the players at Scott Academy are serving nine-month sentences after committing felony offenses. Among Scott Academy's top players are seniors Brittany Williams and Tierra Mack, both from Los Angeles.

--Former Canyon High boys' basketball standouts Harold Vollkommer, Greg Paskwietz, Greg Minor and Jeff Barrett, along with longtime volunteer scorekeeper Ben Kerr, are scheduled to be first inductees into the school's basketball Hall of Fame at a dinner ceremony scheduled for 7 p.m. Nov. 23 at the Elks Lodge.

Vollkommer (1977) set numerous Canyon scoring records and now works in San Bernardino as the assistant superintendent of schools. Paskwietz (1987) averaged 20.5 points and 7.8 assists as a senior. Minor (1995), the school's all-time leading scorer, played at California State University, Northridge, and was a member of Magic Johnson's all-star team. Barrett (1978) was Canyon's first All-Southern Section honoree, and he's now a successful businessman. Kerr has been Canyon's scorekeeper for more than 20 years.

All former Canyon players are invited to the Hall of Fame dinner, and organizers expected more than 100 guests. For information, contact coach Chad Phillips, [phone], Ext. 462., or booster club president Ken Guidroz, [phone].

--Santa Clarita Christian High's eight-man football playoff game at Windard of Los Angeles is at 2:30 p.m. Friday. Santa Clarita Christian coach Garrick Moss was unable to convince Windward officials to switch the game to Saturday - a common practice in eight-man football - so more Santa Clarita Christian supporters could be present.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Former Hart High and UCLA quarterback Matt Moore has verbally committed to an Oregon State football scholarship.

David Crane/Staff Photographer