SENIOR'S TRANSFER THE LATEST BLOW TO GOLDEN VALLEY.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON

SANTA CLARITA - Julian Easley, expected to be one of Golden Valley High's top returning football seniors, is playing for Kennedy of Granada Hills after transferring last semester.

Easley was perhaps Golden Valley's top defensive back, and he's also the team's second-leading returning receiver with 18 catches for 164 yards and two touchdowns last season.

Easley is the sixth reported Golden Valley player who has transferred following the program's first varsity season last year, during which the seniorless Grizzlies finished 2-8 against a freelance schedule.

Among the previous departures were team MVP Aaron Olivas (Hart), top defensive lineman Mike Spagnola (Canyon) and quarterback/running back/linebacker Jeremy Carson (Valencia).

Easley rotated in at defensive back and running back for Kennedy during the annual Hart passing tournament at College of the Canyons on Friday and Saturday.

Golden Valley joins the Foothill League this season under new coach Steve Pinkston, an assistant last season.

In other Golden Valley football news, former starting quarterback Justin White has decided not to return to the football team after breaking his leg last season. Also, defensive coordinator Bill Irace is the new defensive coordinator at Crescenta Valley High after the Golden Valley coordinator job was given to returning assistant Mark Chester.

``I ran the defense last year, and Steve gave the job to Mark Chester, but that makes sense because they worked together at Vasquez High (in Acton) and were successful,'' Irace said. ``Me leaving has nothing to do with the program. I think Steve taking over is a good deal, it's good for the school, and I think he'll do really well there. I just felt I still wanted to be involved with the defense, and then I got the offer from Crescenta Valley.''

Meanwhile, former Golden Valley coach Rob Swartz has remained low-key and, after spending recent weeks traveling to visit with friends and family, it looks like Swartz will take a year off from coaching despite family connections in college football.

``I do have some contacts but I'm not prepared for college football. It's of no interest to me,'' Swartz said.

Former Valencia High running back Edwin Weathersby never fulfilled his vast potential in high school because of a series of injuries. The 20-year-old was last strapped during the first month of his senior season, which ended after four games because of a knee injury, but Weathersby still has dreams of making it to the NFL -- as a scout.

``I've got a scouting mentor in Atlanta who knows some people, and after they read some of the scouting reports, he's trying to get me a scouting internship with Baltimore, Minnesota or maybe Kansas City,'' Weathersby said. ``I might also get a winter internship for NFL Europe. I just want to stay in the game.''

Valencia's boys' basketball team is rebuilding after graduating all five starters and most key reserves from last season.

But watch out for Skyler Seymour, who had two dunks this weekend in Valencia's first summer-league game.

``We're young but it's a really good group with the best attitude I've seen,'' co-coach Greg Hayes said. ``There's good chemistry and the kids are extremely coachable.''

Hayes' daughter, Megan, 14, leaves next month to play soccer at the Friendship Games in Holland, which features athletes from 30 countries.

Reigning Foothill League boys' golf MVP Louis Amira, who won't return for his senior season at Valencia because he's moving to Florida following his father's job change, said Valencia is his favorite place -- significant considering the much-traveled Amira has moved 10 times and will enroll in his fourth high school this fall.

``It's a hard choice because all my close friends are here, and I've had about 15 friends offer to let me stay with them,'' Amira said. ``This job opportunity is something my dad wanted to have after I graduated. I guess it just happened a year early.''