VALENCIA PLAYER CHOOSES FULLERTON.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

Day Weathersby is an inspiration to all undersized athletes who believe they don't measure up.

The 5-foot-2 senior from Valencia High has committed to Cal State Fullerton to play women's basketball, and she plans to sign today once the weeklong official NCAA early signing period begins.

``I don't worry about how tall everyone else is. I get them with my speed,'' Weathersby said. ``I feel blessed to be going to Cal State Fullerton, and I just thank God for leading me in the right direction.''

Weathersby fell in love with the campus during an official visit, and she will join former Valencia teammate Tamaiya Smith, a CSUF freshman.

``I just felt Cal State Fullerton was the right fit as soon as I got there,'' Weathersby said. ``The campus is beautiful, the coaches are excellent, and I even got a chance to meet some of the professors.''

Valencia teammate Kelley Tarver, the school's all-time leading scorer, also is close to making an early commitment. She's narrowed her choices to Howard University and Div. II Cal State Bakersfield after turning down Rhode Island.

``Right now, I just have to talk it over with my parents. It's a matter of me being OK with going away to the other side of the country, or staying at a good school that's close to home,'' Tarver said. ``At first I was leaning toward Howard, but I hear Bakersfield is going to move up to (Division I) and join the Big West Conference, so I'll decide over the next few days.''

Tarver's father, Bernard, is a former USC football player who grew up in Bakersfield. But he believes Howard could provide more connections in the future for his daughter.

``We've still got relatives in Bakersfield, but Howard is kind of the Harvard of black colleges,'' he said. ``It's very prestigious and because it's in Washington, D.C., there's a lot of networking that can be done there. I guess it's just hard to tell if my daughter will get homesick or not.''

--In other girls' basketball news, returning Heritage League MVP Micaela Sulham has transferred from Santa Clarita Christian to Valencia. Sulham, a 5-11 post player who averaged 16 points as a junior last season, is a welcome addition to the starting lineup, according to Valencia coach Jerry Mike.

``She would have been our best returning player,'' Santa Clarita Christian athletic director Garrick Moss said.

Sulham's father, Larry, who coached Santa Clarita Christian's girls' team last season, has resigned. His replacement is Liz DeWaalMalefyt, who played for The Master's College last season.

--The most famous ex-Hart quarterback? If you guessed Kyle Boller, you might be wrong. Joe Kapp, who played at Hart in the 1950s, went to Cal and eventually made it to the NFL, just like Boller. Kapp guided the Minnesota Vikings to the Super Bowl in 1969, and also starred in the Canadian Football League. He's the only player to play quarterback in the Rose Bowl game, Super Bowl and CFL Grey Cup. And Kapp is the last quarterback to throw seven touchdown passes in an NFL game.

He also coached at Cal and earned Pacific-10 Conference Coach of the Year honors in 1982. He has appeared in several motion pictures, including ``The Longest Yard.''

--The College of the Canyons football team no longer has Ramon Perry (now at Pierce), perhaps California's most dangerous kick returner in junior college. But return specialists Kris Theus, Brandon Clayton and Roshawn Marshall are doing just fine. Theus (Highland of Palmdale) is averaging 35.5 yards on kick returns, and Clayton (Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks) is averaging 27.8. As a punt returner, Marshall is averaging 11.2.

--Former Hart quarterback Sean Norton, the Cal-Hi Sports Football Player of the Year last season, is enjoying life as a redshirt freshman at Fresno State.

``Things are going well. There's a lot to learn up here, and I'm not in any rush, so I'm sitting back and taking my time,'' Norton said. ``But the coach told me the other day that the quarterback job will be wide open next season, so I'm learning the offense, and I hope to do well.''

Former Hart teammate Kevin Ciccone is a receiver at Fresno State, but he's missed the entire season after undergoing shoulder surgery to repair a torn tendon.

``It's obviously frustrating for Kevin,'' Norton said. ``But he's doing well, and of course we see each other every day.''

A third ex-Hart player at Fresno State, second-year freshman offensive lineman Chris Piligian, has yet to appear in a game this season.

--Golden Valley High's freshmen football team plays host to California School For the Deaf of Riverside at 3:15 p.m. Thursday.

In the past, CSDR's team has used a drum beat on the sideline instead of a quarterback cadence.

``It should be an interesting game,'' said Tina Carson, Golden Valley's media chairwoman.

CAPTION(S):

2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Valencia High's Day Weathersby is expected to commit to Cal State Fullerton today.

David Crane/Staff Photographer

(2) Valencia's Kelley Tarver is narrowing her choices to Howard and Cal State Bakersfield.

John Lazar/Staff Photographer