 |
 |
|
Former Edison standout joins CCSF squad
By: Jason Anderson, Record Staff Writer
Lavelle Hawkins left one national champion for another.
The Record confirmed on Friday that the former Edison High star has left Louisiana State University and will suit up for City College of San Francisco when the 2003 national champion Rams play host to West Valley College at 1 p.m. today.
Hawkins, a freshman, signed with NCAA champion LSU in February and spent the last three months there attending classes and practicing with the football team. Hawkins, The Record's All-Area player of the year and a Parade All-American in 2003, worked out with the Tigers on Sunday but returned to California on the team's off-day Monday.
He began practicing with CCSF on Tuesday and is enrolled there as a full-time student, according to CCSF coach George Rush.
"It's been a week of turmoil for him," Rush said. "He's made a big decision to leave school, and now he has the pressure of that college trying to get him back. He's also thinking, 'What do I tell my friends?' But like I told him, it takes courage to leave and come back and say, 'Maybe I made a mistake.' "
Attempts to reach Hawkins on Friday were unsuccessful, but according to family friend Rudy Badillo, Hawkins hopes to spend one year at CCSF before transferring to a school in the Pacific-10 Conference, possibly Cal or USC. Hawkins will rejoin former high school teammate Ruben Jackson at CCSF, where 21 players earned Division I-A football scholarships last season.
"People out there think Lavelle is lost, and that's the furthest thing from the truth," Badillo said. "He knew he could go to City College for one year and then go to the Pac-10, and he would never have done that if he wasn't confident in the (CCSF) program to put him at Cal or USC."
|
|
|
