UPDATE: It’s a total head scratcher, but Loyola, a Division 1 team in the Mission League, told the LA Times that it will challenge the transfer of running back Drake Beasley on grounds of “undue influence”.
Beasley is already enrolled at La Canada and practicing with the Spartans.
In what may be the biggest coup of the offseason, the La Canada High School football team appears to have hit the transfer lottery.
Drake Beasley, the standout running back at Loyola and a player who many consider to be one of the top ball carriers in the state, has enrolled at La Canada after leaving Loyola late last week.
“From what I understand, he checked in yesterday (Monday) and got his CIF paperwork,” La Canada head coach Ryan Zerbel said. “That leads me to believe that he will come out and play for La Canada. I’m going to take a backseat in all of this because I’ve got a team to coach. But if Drake Beasley shows up and says he’s here to play football, then great. He’ll be a great addition to what we have.”
Beasley playing at La Canada would automatically make the Spartans one of the favorites in what looks like a very interesting Rio Hondo League. San Marino has a record-setting quarterback and receiver to replace. Monrovia was hit hard by graduation and had some key returners leave the program.
The Spartans were thought to be one of the teams vying for a playoff spot. But adding Beasley, who rushed for 1,647 yards and 17 touchdowns in 2015, would give the Spartans arguably the top overall player in the area, let alone the league.
“I really want to see him in our pads, practicing and have the paperwork done, and from there I will get excited,” Zerbel said. “Who knows what’s going to happen? You’re talking about a high-profile kid. In this whole thing, there are so many factors. It’s really crazy, all the hoopla. I’m just trying to maintain a calm environment for my players. But they’re young and they see it all on Facebook.”
Beasley played for La Canada’s youth football program before starting his high school career at Loyola. La Canada went 4-6 last season and missed the playoffs due to a loss to South Pasadena, which ultimately determined third place.
The Spartans open the season on Aug. 26 at Hawthorne.
Aram’s take: If you’re South Pas and Temple City, you just threw up a little in your mouth. And that’s because your chances of finishing in the top three with San Marino, Monrovia and LC just probably grew real slim. And if you’re San Marino and Monrovia, the two perennial favorites, your stranglehold on the league title may be in doubt. Beasley immediately becomes the top talent in the league.