How can we top that this year? Maybe I can actually make it a three-man race. Without further ado... the picks.

"Wherever I go to school on Monday, that's where I'm going to play this year,"
Lamb said Thursday. "But I can't talk about it yet."

My feeling after talking to him is that Lamb won't be at Colony next year. He indicated that discussion of transferring has been prevalent in the Lamb household for some time.

"My dad always wanted me to go to a big basketball school," he said.

Startled by the late offer, Irabor took a few days to mull it over but ultimately went with his original plan and committed to Arizona State on July 11. Apparently the verbal pledge to ASU hasn't deterred UCLA.

"(Head) coach (Rick) Neuheisel and coach (defensive coordinator Dewayne) Walker, they haven't given up," Irabor said. "They keep calling me but I'm pretty solid with Arizona State."

1. Los Osos
Had Upland won this game last year, it would probably be No. 1. UCLA-committed QB Richard Brehaut is the absolute real deal and will have a MONSTER year if a young O-line can protect him. He and Arby Fields are the best backfield in the area.
2. Upland
We'll settle this No.1-No.2 debate on Oct. 24. Tennessee probably wishes it already had Upland QB Josh Nunes on its roster (maybe he and Brehaut will face off again next year, only in Knoxville, Tenn., instead of Rancho Cucamonga).
3. Colony
Twice is a trend. The two-time defending CIF champs have built a program. This year, however, that have to contend with the Baseline and Sierra Leagues in the playoffs. Coach Anthony Rice: "If we have it easy, now they have it easy too."
4. Norco
Speaking of programs, last season was the first time in four years the Cougars didn't make an appearance in the CIF championship. They'll improve on last year's "disappointing" season even though their regular-season record may not reflect it.
5. Miller
The Rebels will miss dynamic quarterback A.J. Springer but they've got plenty of weapons in their spread offense, including Fontana transfer David Dash.
6. Ayala
The team that finished second in the Sierra League by a touchdown returns 14 starters. Their only question seems to be at QB. The 0-10 days are a distant memory.
7. Diamond Ranch
The Panthers have the motivation: they had to forfeit five wins last season after discovering an error in the paperwork of a transfer. Their defense will be awesome.
8. Etiwanda
The defending co-Baseline League champs return 17 starters. This will be junior QB Angel Santiago's breakout year. They'll give Upland and Los Osos all they can handle.
9. San Dimas
Nico Barbone will run for 2,000 yards if he's not on the bench too much during garbage time. The Saints just hope they don't draw Oaks Christian in the first round again.
10. Chaffey
The Tigers rugged style is timeless. If they can add a semblance of a passing attack to their brutal running game, they might improve on their 9-2 mark of last year.
Others receiving votes: Bonita, Kaiser, Chino Hills, Damien.

Former Etiwanda High School receiver Marvin Jones has been rotating between Cal's first and second teams in practice, according to Etiwanda football coach Steve Bryce.

When the Golden Bears host Michigan State in their season opener on Saturday, expect to see the 6-foot-2, 189-pound freshman get some decent playing time.

He won't be wearing No. 80, however. His number was switched to No.1, which used to adorn the jersey of DeSean Jackson, the receiver who racked up the third-most yards from scrimmage in school history during his three-year career at Cal before joining the Philadelphia Eagles.

Quipped Bryce: "I hope that doesn't go to his head."

Why? The linebacker is playing for free. Donating a few tackles to the Minnesota Vikings.

The league penalty for Barnett's arrest after an altercation outside a Wisconsin bar last June is one week's pay - $155,882 of his $2.65 million salary this season. Beats being suspended.

"Now I get to play Monday night," Barnett told ESPN.com. "Pockets are a little lighter, but I still get to play."

Here is a link to the story.

The guy couldn't have been out of high school long, but I couldn't place him on either of the Etiwanda teams I've covered since arriving in Southern California two years ago. I figured he might have been an obscure bench player that slipped from my consciousness - until I saw him play.

It was the hair that threw me off. Darren Collison just didn't look the same sporting a jheri-curl flat top, for lack of a much, much better term. But there was no confusing the UCLA point guard's game.

Some Elite 11 alumni include Vince Young, Matt Leinart, JaMarcus Russell, Derek Anderson and John David Booty. Past counselers, some of whom are expected to attend this year's camp, include Drew Brees, Carson Palmer, Ben Roethlisberger, Jay Cutler, Matt Schaub and Aaron Rodgers. The current counselers include Chase Daniel (Missouri); Colt McCoy (Texas); Mark Sanchez (USC); Matt Stafford (Georgia); Curtis Painter (Purdue) and Bobby Reid (Texas Southern).

The 2007 MLS rookie of the year attended Maryland for three years before forgoing his final year of eligibility to enter the MLS draft. A 6-foot, 170-pound midfielder, Edu has experience with the national team, having played in various friendlies and in World Cup qualifying, which is currently underway.

The Packers, fresh off an NFC championship game appearance, aren't welcoming back the quarterback that got them there? For what? So Aaron Rodgers can get the squeak out of his shoes? Even if the guy has a bright future, it's going to take time.The Packers are equipped to win now.

Because Brett Favre made a decision to retire before recovering from the mental strain of the season the Packers don't want to bring back a quarterback fully capable of winning them a Super Bowl in 2009?

Had UCLA offered sooner - the Sun Devils offered him in December - Irabor admitted he may have been swayed by the Bruins. UCLA's offer appearing a direct result of losing commitments from two defensive backs didn't help the Bruins' case either.

"It could've been a different story if (UCLA) had been involved earlier," Irabor said Friday night. "They were looking at other DB's too, which was not the situation at ASU. They were interested in me from the beginning. With UCLA, it was just too little too late."

UCLA was Irabor's 15th scholarship offer. He narrowed the field to three on Saturday - ASU, Arizona and Nebreska - and was set to announce his decision Wednesday before UCLA abruptly entered the mix.

Claremont High School 15-year-old freshman Noelle Tarazona finished 35th in the 200 butterfly and 55th in the 400 individual medley (Only the top two finishers in each event make the Olympic team). Her coach at the Claremont Club, John Ries, said Tarazona has the potential to be a major player at the 2012 trials.

In her second appearance at the Olympic trials, Upland 21-year-old Courtney Eads, a junior-to-be at Nevada, competed in four events. Her finishes are as follows...100 butterfly: 63rd. 200 butterfly: 63rd. 200 IM: 104th. 400 IM: 74th.

Less than a week after he narrowed his potential destinations to theree - Arizona, Arizona State and Nebraska - UCLA offered the 5-foot-11, 183 pound senior-to-be Tuesday night.

"I was ready to make an announcement the following day but I am going to hold on for a few days to consider UCLA's offer and really sit down with my family and think this completely through," Irabor said in an e-mail. "I was totally caught by surprise and to have a chance to play in the Rose Bowl would be something special. The next few days will be tough for me, and I'm going to research and think this through completely. It will be hard to sleep in the next 48 hours."

I flipped to the NASCAR nationwide race in the midst of an interview with driver Greg Biffle - as he circled the track.