Steve Guiremand
1. Kareem Kelly
6-1, 185, WR
Long Beach (Calif.) Poly
100 points
Few, if any, prep wide receivers in the nation have as much speed as Kelly, who won the California 200 meters crown (20.76) as a junior and also has a hand-timed 10.2 100 meters. Combine that blazing speed with good size and good hands and you have what one coach called "a future NFL wide receiver. I think he may be the best in the country." Caught 42 passes for 1,068 yards and a school-record tying 16 touchdowns as a senior and had 46 touchdown receptions during his brilliant three-year career.
College: Committed to USC.
2. Shane Lehmann
6-5, 275, OL
Corona (Calif.) High School
92 points
"He has the best technique and is the best finisher of any offensive lineman on the West Coast this year," one college coach said. Very strong and aggressive blocker who picked up his share of 15-yard penalties for pancaking defenders into the ground and keeping them down long after the whistle. Reminds some scouts of another offensive lineman from his area, former USC All-American and current Raiders lineman Pat Harlow, who also had a nasty streak. Has excellent feet and good hip flex.
College: Committed to UCLA.
3. Chris Lewis
6-4, 205, QB
Long Beach (Calif.) Poly
86 points
The national player of the year as named by Gatorade and Scholastic Coach magazine, Lewis led the Jackrabbits to 27 straight victories over a two-year span including the CIF Division I title in 1997. Finished his career with a California state record 107 touchdown passes and 8,616 passing yards. "He's a very poised, athletic and smart quarterback," one college coach said. "As a dropback passer, he and Chris Simms (Franklin Lakes, N.J.) are the best." Also considered one of the nation's top volleyball prospects.
College: Committed to Stanford.
4. Mike Seidman
6-5, 235, TE
Westlake (Calif.) High School
82 points
Considered by some scouts to be the best tight end prospect to come out of California since former Cal and current Kansas City Chiefs star Tony Gonzalez (Huntington Beach High School), Seidman combines excellent size with 4.7 40-yard-dash speed. "He's very athletic and is an excellent receiver," one college coach said. Caught 54 passes for 807 yards and six touchdowns as a senior. Also excelled on defense, making 67 tackles as a senior.
College: UCLA or USC.
5. Darrell Rideaux
5-9, 180, CB
Long Beach (Calif.) Poly
73 points
A rare four-year starter for arguably the top prep football program on the West Coast, Rideaux used his outstanding speed and quickness to shut down some of Southern California's top wide receivers. He's the defending California 100 meters champion (10.31). "He's an outstanding man-to-man cover guy," one college coach said. "He's the best corner in the West." Also blocked more than 20 kicks in his career, including 10 as a junior. Had 44 tackles and two interceptions as a senior.
College: Committed to USC.
6(tie). Paul Arnold
6-0, 200, RB
Seattle (Wash.) Kennedy
71 points
"He's a great combination of speed and size. He reminds me of Marcus Allen," one college coach said of Arnold. Little wonder new Washington coach Rick Neuheisel has targeted Arnold as his No. 1 prospect. Carried 197 times for 1,975 yards and 34 touchdowns as a senior despite battling several injuries. Also caught 12 passes for 150 yards and one more touchdown. Has been timed at 10.6 for 100 meters and 21.8 in the 200 meters. "Best running back in the west," one college scout said.
College: Washington or UCLA.
6(tie). Bernard Riley
6-2, 305, DL
Los Alamitos (Calif.) High School
71 points
One college scout called Riley the "best defensive line prospect in the west since Darrell Russell (USC, Raiders)." Very strong (395 bench press) and quick. Rolled up 73 tackles, including nine quarterbacks sacks, and also knocked down five passes as a senior despite almost constant double-teaming. Used his 4.9 speed to make tackles sideline-to-sideline. "I think if you lined him up in the secondary, he could cover guys," his coach, John Barnes, said.
College: Committed to USC.
8(tie). Ricky Manning
5-9, 175, CB
Fresno (Calif.) Edison
49 points
An excellent athlete who combines good cover skills with aggressive hitting, Manning was a two-way star for Edison and helped lead his team into the CIF Central Section title game as a senior. Passed for more than 6,800 yards and 67 touchdowns in three seasons at quarterback. Has a 41-inch vertical leap. Also a top-notch baseball prospect who hit .410 with 40 stolen bases as a junior. "He's a Rocket Ismail, Rod Woodson-type of guy," one college scout said. "He can play either side of the ball at the next level."
College: UCLA, Notre Dame, USC, Michigan.
8(tie). Joe Weber
6-1, 225, RB
San Bernardino (Calif.) Pacific
49 points
A strong, explosive tank of a runner, some scouts believe Weber could be the best big running back prospect to come out of Southern California since 1998 Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams came out of Patrick Henry High in San Diego. Rushed for 2,694 yards and scored 30 touchdowns as a senior and had 5,772 yards and 69 touchdowns during his three-year career despite splitting time his first two years with William Blocker, who signed with Arizona.
College: Wisconsin, Colorado, USC, Texas A&M or UCLA.
10. J.P. Losman
6-4, 180, QB
Venice (Calif.) High School
48 points
The Los Angeles City Section Co-Player of the Year, Losman passed for 3,514 yards and 48 touchdowns as a senior for the Gondoliers and threw just 11 interceptions. Displayed excellent accuracy and touch on his passes. Has good vision and reads coverages well. Also excels in the classroom and graduated at mid-term so he could take part in spring practice this year and perhaps challenge for playing time as a true freshman. Also a good baseball prospect.
College: Committed to UCLA.
11. Jerry Owens
6-3, 190, WR
Newhall (Calif.) Hart
42 points
Known for his size and acrobatic catches, Owens pulled down 63 receptions for 1,373 yards and 16 touchdowns despite breaking his leg in the 10th game of the season for the eventual CIF Southern Section Division III champion Indians. Also had 63 receptions as a junior and played safety on defense. Has great hands and is not afraid to go over the middle. "He makes the big plays," one college scout said. "He kind of reminds me of Johnnie Morton (USC, Detroit Lions)."
College: Committed to UCLA.
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