Recently in Josh Shirley Category

In a reaction to his arrest along with two other players for suspicion of felony theft by UCLA police last week, the school dismissed former Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley from the football team today. Shirley, a two-time first-team all-Sun player, was arrested along with Gardena Serra wide receiver Paul Richardson and Los Alamitos defensive back Shaquille Richardson.

Jon Gold's UCLA blog detailing the dismissal can be accessed here. Apparently there is a possibility for Shirley to return in January according to the blog.

According to a blog by the Daily News' UCLA beat writer Jon Gold, former Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley was among three incoming freshman UCLA football players arrested for felony theft on campus. Gold's blog detailing the situation can be read here .

The other two Bruins involved, Gardena Serra wide receiver Paul Richardson and Los Alamitos cornerback Shaquille Richardson, were released on $20,000 bail while Shirley was released without bail according to this blog by KTLA.

The school winners for the annual Ken Hubbs Award, named after the late Colton graduate and 1962 Rookie of the Year for the Chicago Cubs, will be honored tonight at the 66ers' game with the Quakes today at Arrowhead Credit Union Park.

They are listed below. The overall winner will be announced Monday at the Ken Hubbs Banquet at the Elks Club in San Bernardino.

Alex Saunders - soccer and cross country - Aquinas
William Quanstrom - volleyball and basketball - Arrowhead Christian
Damon Ogburn - football and track & field - Arroyo Valley
Jake Murie - cross country and track - Big Bear
Richard Marquez - soccer and football - Bloomington
Tanner Clark - baseball and wrestling - Cajon
Ryan Coleman - football - Carter
Derrick Malone - football and track & field - Colton
Alex Varner - basketball - Eisenhower
Hugo Cardoza - soccer and water polo - Fontana
Joshua Shirley - football and wrestling - Kaiser
Trevor Pascoe - football - Miller
Canon John Castro - water polo, wrestling, soccer, swimming, golf - Pacific
Joe Barich - water polo, volleyball and soccer - Redlands
Andrew Hudson - football, wrestling and track & field - Redlands East Valley
Giordan Porter - wrestling and football - Rialto
Dustin Fay - cross country and track & field - Rim of the World
Devonte Chattman - basketball - San Bernardino
Greg Valdivia - cross country and track & field - San Gorgonio
Corey Jennings - soccer and cross country - Summit
Wyatt Padgett - baseball and football - Yucaipa

If football doesn't work out for Josh Shirley, poker should be his call. After rampant speculation of a final four of USC, Miami (Fla), Arizona and Washington, Shirley threw a curveball and picked UCLA - a school he didn't take an official visit to.

"There were ups and downs, I'm not going to lie, but in the end, UCLA was where I wanted to be," Shirley said. "It was between UCLA and Washington and I felt most comfortable in blue and gold."

This flies in the face of the conventional wisdom of every recruiting service, my article in the Sun this morning and my blog entry from just over an hour ago. Even Shirley was a litte bit surprised.

"Two days ago I wasn't even thinking about UCLA," Shirley said. "I probably surprised a lot of people with that decision. I was looking for reasons to not go to every school on my list and UCLA had the least amount of reasons."

While I was shocked at the announcement, a couple of things, in retrospect, should have tipped me off. When I saw Shirley in the lobby of the building where the studio was located, he had a UCLA letter of intent on top of a stack of papers. And a UCLA hat was surprisingly in the stack of caps brought into the studio, not to mention the fact that Shirley insisted on another UCLA hat after the original Bruin hat the station brought out didn't fit.

After over an hour of pacing around and being nervous, Shirley was relaxed after the annoucement, signing his letter of intent in the Prime Ticket break room with a smile on his face. And afterwards, he somewhat marveled at his decision.

"That was a surprise," Shirley said right before his contingent of family and friends left for a hearty meal at Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles.

Just arrived at the Los Angeles studios of Fox Sports Prime Ticket, where I, along with several of Josh Shirley's family members and the Press-Enterprise's Mirijam Swanson, are awaiting the Kaiser linebacker's college announcement.

As for Shirley, he's dressed to impress, with snazzy white dress shoes with gold laces with white dress pants and a white button-down shirt with a black t-shirt under it. He is also loaded with envelopes and National Letters of Intent.

"Anxious," said Shirley simply about his mood at this moment. Shirley also indicated that this decision was more nerve-wracking than any football game he has played to to date.

Also in attendance is Rancho Cucamonga running back Michael Boyd, a friend of Shirley who's also looking to sign a letter of intent over the next

So who will Shirley pick of USC, Miami (Fla), Washington and Arizona? He's done a great job of holding his cards tight and he seems to be still debating the decision as we hang out in the hall of Fox Sports Prime Ticket, but my hunch is either USC or Miami, more than likely USC. But I guess we'll see in less than an hour.

Been working the phones a bit this morning and got information on a few signing-day press conferences. Redlands East Valley will be holding its press conference at the crack of dawn Wednesday, with a 7 a.m. signing with DE Andrew Hudson (Washington), QB Tyler Shreve (Utah) and OL David Peterson (San Jose State) set to be in REV's football office.

Serrano will be holding its signing at 10:30 a.m. in the performing arts room on campus. Set to sign are DE Everett Beed (San Diego State) and RB Dionza Bradford (UNLV), along with a few soccer players according to athletic director Ray Maholchic.

Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley will be at the FOX studios in Los Angeles for his announcement Wednesday. While the exact time of the announcement hasn't been set yet, Shirley was told to be at the studios at 11 a.m. according to a text he sent me. Shirley is deciding between USC, Miami (Fla), Washington and Arizona.

Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley returned from an official visit from Miami (Fla) Sunday indicating that he was still undecided on a college choice according to an article published by Miami's Rivals.com site. The article, written here says that Shirley will be choosing between USC, Miami (Fla), Arizona and Washington on National Signing Day Wednesday.

According to USC's Rivals.com site, Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley said that he is going to announce his college choice on Fox Sports for National Signing Day next Wednesday. The article, which can be accessed here with a Rivals.com subscription, also outlined his official visit to USC this weekend and his plans between now and National Signing Day.

Shirley confirmed that he is visiting Miami (Fla) next weekend and also confirmed that he's scheduled an in-home visit with new USC head coach Lane Kiffin for the day before NSD. Shirley also discussed his trip, notably his interactions with USC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin, who showed him tapes of former Tampa Bay Buccaneers Pro Bowl linebacker Derrick Brooks.

"It was the whole nine-yards," said Shirley. "Just being compared to (Derrick) Brooks is an honor. I think I'd be comfortable on either side - (SAM or WILL)."

We'll continue to keep you posted on Shirley - the top uncommitted prospect left in the county - as we head closer to Signing Day.

Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley - a top 150 recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com - has kept his poker face pretty well throughout the recruiting process, as it has been tough to get a read on the 6-foot-3, 225-pound linebacker's intentions.

"I have a lot of schools I'm looking at right now," Shirley said. "I wouldn't say that there's one school that's my favorite right now."

Shirley has been frugal with his official visits, taking one to Washington in October and another to Arizona in November to go along with several unofficial visits to USC and UCLA. But the next two weekends will see Shirley on the road, as he heads to USC this weekend and out to Miami (Fla.) in the last weekend before National Signing Day on February 2.

As one would expect, division champion Palm Springs dominated the superlatives, with QB Michael Karls and RB Nephi Garcia splitting offensive player of the year honors, LB Christian Spears splitting defensive player of the year with Kaiser LB Josh Shirley and Steve Fabian winning coach of the year.

The first of what likely will be many were announced today, as Granite Hills tight end Bryce Quigley is replacing Rancho Cucamonga tight end Randal Telfer while Redlands linebacker Cole Gridley replaces Kaiser linebacker Josh Shirley. Telfer is out with an injured shoulder, according to an e-mail sent by San Bernardino coach Kurt Bruich, while Shirley will be playing in the U.S. Army All-American game in San Antonio instead.

The San Bernardino all-star roster for the IE Football Classic. These things are bound to change. For example, Kaiser's Josh Shirley is slated to play in the U.S. Army All-American Game in San Antonio the same day that he's scheduled to play in the IE Classic. Just a hunch, but I think he'll take the trip to San Anton.

Sean Alston, WR, Los Osos (Fresno State)
Uche Amajoyi, DL, Aquinas
Everett Beed, TE/DE, Serrano
Jered Bell, DB, Colony (Colorado)
Steven Bethley, DB, Don Lugo
Gary Berwick, OL, Rancho Cucamonga
Anthony Brown, RB/DB, Kaiser (USC)
Gary Brunt, DL, Serrano
Ryan Coleman, DB, Carter
Justin Corrales, OL, Redlands
Dillon Curley, LB, Redlands East Valley
David Dash, RB/DB, Miller
Ronald Douglas, RB, Chaffey
Adrian Equihua, P, Arroyo Valley
A.J. Fernandez, RB, Redlands East Valley
Ofa Fifita, LB, Arroyo Valley
Tim Helton, LB, Upland
Jeremy Henry, LB, Silverado
Patrick Kim, OL, Ayala
Manuel Madiz, OL, Carter
Derrick Malone, DB, Colton (Oregon)
Nick Martin, OL, Los Osos
Jesse Messer, OL, Apple Valley
Damon Ogburn, WR, Arroyo Valley
David Peterson, OL, Redlands East Valley
Bobby Ratliff, WR, Etiwanda (Washington State)
Vanzell Richardson, WR, San Bernardino
Angel Santiago, QB, Etiwanda
Kenneth Scott, WR/TE, Colony (Utah)
Josh Shirley, LB, Kaiser
Tyler Shreve, QB, Redlands East Valley (Colorado State)
Corey Sims, DB, Upland
Randal Telfer, TE, Rancho Cucamonga (USC)
Jordan Thomas, DL, Redlands (San Diego State)
Richard Thorpe, LB, Fontana
Edward Todd, LB, Colony
George Uko, DL, Don Lugo
Tony Washington, DL, Los Osos (Oregon)

The U.S. Army All-American Game selection tour is stopping locally a next Monday, as they'll be swinging by Kaiser High School according to a press release sent earlier today. They will hold a ceremony at 11:43 a.m. with a pep rally to announce the selection of a player to the game, which will be held January 9 in San Antonio, Texas. A jersey will be presented to the player.

The release didn't indicate who the player would be, but the easy money is on Kaiser LB Josh Shirley - a four-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Shirley, who had 17 sacks a year ago and is the anchor of a ferocious Cats defense, has scholarship offers from around the country and is down to a final 8 of USC, UCLA, California, Notre Dame, Tennessee, Miami (Fla.), Arizona and Washington.

This will be the second stop in the IE for the tour, as it stopped at Rancho Verde High School last week to present 5-star DE Ronald Powell with an invitation. Arroyo Valley's Michael Philipp, now a freshman at Oregon State, played in the game last year.

According to Scout.com, Kaiser LB Josh Shirley, Don Lugo DT George Uko and Summit junior WR Devon Blackmon are at the UCLA-Kansas State game on unofficial visits. I'm at the Rose Bowl right now, so I'll see if I can somehow spot those guys - along with seeing how much freshman QB Richard Brehaut - a Los Osos graduate - will play tonight.

Since opening in 1998, Kaiser has known one football coach - Dick Bruich. The legendary coach quickly turned the Cats into a Sunkist League and Eastern Division power, leading the Cats to two CIF-Southern Section titles and eight Sunkist League titles before retiring after this past season with 292 victories.

So with Bruich riding off into the sunset, does that mean that Kaiser's Sunkist dominance will do the same? While its impossible to tell in the long term, the answer in the short term seems to be no. Kaiser's new coach, Phil Zelaya, was Bruich's longtime defensive coordinator and retaining most of the coaching staff from a year ago, so there shouldn't be much transition.

Kaiser defensive end Josh Shirley, a first-team all-Sun player last year, has added offers from Arizona and UCLA to the three other offers he's already received. Shirley - the younger brother of Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle and Kaiser graduate Jason Shirley - was offered by Arizona today and UCLA over the weekend according to this article by Rivals.com.

Shirley has also been offered by San Diego State, Fresno State and Stanford. As a junior, the 6-foot-3, 220-pound defensive end had 17 sacks, leading the county in that category.

Also from John Rice.

Sunkist League

First Team

Offense
MVP - Devon Blackmon, So., Fontana Summit
First team
QB - Eric Johnson, Sr., Bloomington.
RB - Marquise Boyd, Sr., Bloomington; Anthony Brown, Jr., Fontana Kaiser; Ken Braden, Sr., Riverside Patriot; Andre Franco, Sr., Patriot; Montigo Alfor, Sr., Summit.
WR - Jayson Allmond, Sr., Bloomington; Nick Merancio, Sr., Kaiser; Kevin Washington, Sr., Patriot; Jamaal Anderson, Jr., Summit.
OL - Jeremy Salgado, Sr., Bloomington; David Esquivel, Sr., Jurupa Valley; Emmanuel Wilson, Jr., Kaiser; Christian Martinez, Jr., Kaiser; JR Latuela, Sr., Riverside Norte Vista; Kyle Estes, Sr., Patriot; Demetrius Watson, Sr., Summit.

Defense
MVPs - Simon Martinez, Sr., Kaiser; Josh Shirley, Jr., Kaiser.
First team
DL - Jose Mejia, Sr., Bloomington; Zack Collier, Sr., Patriot; Derrick Washington, Jr., Summit; Tim Parker, Sr., Kaiser; Christian Sandoval, Jr., Norte Vista; Eric Jammeshan, Sr., Patriot.
LB - Adam Ramirez, Sr., Kaiser; Jose Romero, Jr., Bloomington; Justin Johnson, Jr., Summit; Lou Mele, Sr., Patriot; Cody Bryan, Jr., Summit; Dwayne Boyd, Sr., Bloomington; Alec Goodman, Jr., Summit.
DB - Miles Basham, Sr., Patriot; Dennis Taylor, So., Kaiser; Taylor Hollowell, Sr., Jurupa Valley; Carlos Lacefield, Sr., Summit.
K - Luis Yanez, Sr., Patriot.

Second Team
Offense
QB - Richard DeLuna, Sr., Kaiser; Rolland Gibbons, Sr., Norte Vista; Kevin Sullivan, Sr., Patriot.
RB - Curtis Slater, Sr., Jurupa Valley; Anthony Eddington, Jr., Norte Vista
WR - Chris Vasquez, Jr., Bloomington; Tim Mast, Jr., Jurupa Valley; Dontrelle Jackson, Sr, Summit; Isaac Cisneros, Jr., Summit
TE - Erwin Sandoval, Sr., Norte Vista; David Amaro, Jr., Bloomington; Michael Gant, Sr., Bloomington
OL - Daniel Salgado, Sr., Bloomington; Brandin Stevension, Sr., Bloomington; David Togia, Jr., Jurupa Valley; Robert Reyes, Jr., Norte Vista; Oscar Carbajal, Jr., Kaiser; Randy Cardenas, Sr., Patriot; Joe Broda, Jr., Patriot; Ryan Vierra, Sr., Kaiser; Paul Ibarra, So., Summit; Tony Gallegos, Sr., Summit; Gabriel Perez, Sr., Patriot; Ramiro Hernandez, Sr., Patriot.
K - Francisco Picazzo, Sr., Bloomington

Defense
DL - Chad Marcy, Jr., Bloomington; Caleb Calderon, Sr., Jurupa Valley; John O'Brien, Sr., Jurupa Valley; Tildone Walls, Sr., Kaiser; Juan Martinez, Jr., Norte Vista; Angel Tejada, Sr., Kaiser; Keanu Carradine, Sr., Kaiser; John Soltero, Sr., Norte Vista.
DE - Joe Silva, Jr., Kaiser; Andrew Tapia, Sr., Bloomington; Jeffrey Fajardo, Sr., Bloomington; Perry Walker, Sr., Summit; Edson Gonzalez, Sr., Summit; Adam Patron, Sr., Bloomington
OLB - Joshua Allmond, So., Bloomington; Adam Delgado, Sr., Bloomington; Donavo James, Sr., Jurupa Valley; Cameron Vandostendorp, So., Norte Vista; Keenan Braden, Jr., Patriot; T.J. Garcia, Sr., Patriot
ILB - Michael Carranza, So., Bloomington; Danny Kozine, Jr., Kaiser; Matt Saevi, Sr., Jurupa Valley; Abraham Caisedo, Sr., Jurupa Valley; Ryan Beckman, Sr., Norte Vista.
DB - Mario Johnson, Jr., Bloomington; Edward Randolph, So., Bloomington; J'Mac Godlock, Sr., Bloomington; Jamar Robinson, Sr., Norte Vista; Desman Carter, So., Kaiser; Nathan Murphy, So., Kaiser; Josh Brewton, Sr., Patriot; David Hollingsworth, Sr., Summit; Joseph Henderson, So., Summit.