Local student-athletes give commitments to colleges

Adam Candee

Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002 | 9:30 a.m.

The opening of the NCAA early signing period arrived with a whimper around Las Vegas on Wednesday.

Just a handful of local high school athletes announced their intentions on the first day to sign a national letter of intent for sports other than football and soccer, although more commitments generally filter in throughout the week-long period.

The biggest name to commit from the basketball court thus far has been known about for weeks. Highly recruited Green Valley post player Mitch Platt is going to join rising powerhouse Oregon. Platt was ranked as the 10th-best center and the No. 81 overall prospect in the United States by ESPN.com.

Still undecided is Cheyenne shooting guard Lorenzo Wade. Ranked by ESPN.com as the No. 61 prospect in the nation, the 6-foot-5 Wade has yet to announce his next step.

On the women's side, Centennial's Rachael Schein, a second-team All-State performer at power forward for the state champion Bulldogs last season, signed with Arizona.

In volleyball, the city's two best middle blockers apparently will join the Pac-10 as well. Durango officials said Natalie Smart will commit to California, while word from Green Valley has Jenn Todd bound for Washington State. Both players were en route to Reno on Wednesday for the 4A State Tournament.

On the diamond, the commitments of note came weeks ago, when Green Valley's Ryan Tabor, Silverado's Wes Johnson and Bishop Gorman's Russ Warthen and Anthony Garcia announced their intention to attend UNLV.

Tabor, Johnson, and Warthen are pitchers while Garcia plays in the outfield.

Baseball commitments always come with the caveat that a player could be drafted and choose to enter the minor leagues instead of college ball.

A trio of local softball players are also set.

Centennial's Danielle Delgado signed Wednesday to play at Syracuse, while Silverado's Megan McPherson will head for Bowling Green and Cassie Koenig is bound for Villanova.