Hawthorne’s Travis Hannah Catches Up to USC Scholarship as Runner and Gridder

It doesn’t hurt to be versatile. Just ask Travis Hannah.

The Hawthorne High senior parlayed his talents in track and football into an athletic scholarship Wednesday night, signing a letter of intent with USC on the first day of the spring signing period.

“I’m grateful,� Hannah said. “I know that it will be great. I’m happy.�

Hannah, national leader in the 400 meters, will attend USC on a track scholarship his freshman year and then the football program will pick up his tab for the rest of his stay at Troy, according to Hawthorne track Coach Kye Courtney.

“It’s the best deal I’ve ever heard of,� Courtney said. “The football scholarships were all eaten up and (USC track coach) Ernie Bullard needed a quarter-miler. They decided this is the way to go.

“It’s the best thing that ever happened to Travis. He needs time to acclimate to college and get his grades up. Football is time-consuming on the college level. He’ll have four or five months to learn how to become a college student.�

Courtney said USC football Coach Larry Smith has agreed to let Hannah run track even though he’ll be on a football scholarship after the first year. The 5-9, 165-pounder plays wide receiver.

“I like both sports the same,� Hannah said. “I started out in football and ended up in track.�

Hannah helped Hawthorne to a strong showing last Saturday at the Arcadia Invitational track meet. Hannah won the 400 in of 46.84 seconds, second best mark in the nation this year, ran on the winning 400 relay team and anchored the 1,600 relay team to a national season-best of 3:11.33. His split in the 1,600 relay was an impressive 45.5. Sophomore Chris Alexander, junior Curtis Conway and senior Leroy Thomas ran the other legs.

South Oak Cliff, the national power from Dallas, finished second in both relays. “We beat them easy,� Courtney said.

Other South Bay athletes who have signed or are expected to sign this week:

Redondo pitcher-shortstop Scott Davison signed with USC, although it is believed that the record-setting senior will turn professional if drafted high enough by a major league team.

Royce Clayton, the all-CIF shortstop for St. Bernard, is in the same situation. He signed with USC but says he will turn pro “if the offer is right.�

Cameron Terry, one of the leaders of Rolling Hills’ Southern Section 3-A finalist basketball team in 1987, signed with Gonzaga of the West Coast Athletic Conference. Terry, a 6-3 guard, played for Air Force Prep School last season before withdrawing from the academy in February.

Inglewood point guard Bobby Sears, considered one of the area’s top basketball prospects, signed with Long Beach State.

Marty Ward, a 1987 graduate of Narbonne who sat out last season, signed with Dominguez Hills. He is a 6-5 forward

Shaunda Greene, the area’s most sought-after girls basketball player, will decide between Washington and USC. The 6-foot forward says she will not sign before Friday.

Carson forward Damon Estell, an all-Marine League basketball choice, is expected to sign with Cal State Dominguez Hills.

Southern Section administrators met with high school officials Tuesday to discuss new playoff groupings that will be adopted for the two-year academic period of 1988-90.

Proposals include reducing the conference format in football and expanding the 5-A Division in basketball from five leagues to 10, including the new eight-team Bay League.

“I think basketball will undergo drastic changes,� said one CIF official, who said the intent of some changes is to bring the Southern Section more in line with other sections for the state playoffs.

New playoff groupings are expected to be completed May 5, the day that appeals from schools will be heard by the Southern Section council.

The Bay League softball race tightened up considerably Tuesday as the two leaders went down to defeat.

Previously unbeaten Torrance (5-1) suffered a stunning 6-3 loss to Palos Verdes (1-5) while South Torrance (4-2) upended West Torrance (4-2) to pull into a tie for second place.

South pitcher Ginger Ales out-dueled West’s ace, Juanita Olloque, giving up three hits, striking out seven and walking none. The teams meet again today at 3 p.m. at South.

PREP NOTES--A reunion/fund-raiser for the Rolling Hills football program will be held April 25 at Papadakis Taverna in San Pedro. Former football players and supporters are invited to welcome back Coach Gary Kimbrell, a former Rolling Hills assistant. For more information contact assistant principal Chris Bowles at 377-4888. . . . Quarterfinals of the Redondo/Palos Verdes Baseball Tournament will be played Saturday, highlighted by a double-header at Redondo. Leuzinger faces Taft of Woodland Hills at 3 p.m., followed at 7 by Redondo against St. John Bosco of Bellflower . . . Redondo and St. Bernard remain the top-ranked baseball teams in the Southern Section 4-A and 3-A sportswriters’ polls. El Segundo is fourth in 4-A. In the coaches’ 5-A tennis poll, Rolling Hills is fourth, Palos Verdes is sixth and Miraleste is seventh. Three area teams are ranked in the coaches’ 3-A volleyball poll: Bishop Montgomery (fifth), Miraleste (sixth) and Redondo (eighth). Mira Costa, 10th in the 4-A volleyball poll, will play host to top-ranked Santa Monica on Friday night in a showdown for first place in the Ocean League.

South Bay Top 10

Boys’ Baseball

Selected by Times sportswriters

(Records through Tuesday’s games)

Rank, School, League Record 1 Redondo (Pioneer) 15-1 2 St. Bernard (Camino Real) 10-3 3 El Segundo (Pioneer) 10-6 4 West Torrance (Bay) 10-3 5 San Pedro (Marine) 10-4 6 Banning (Marine) 8-6 7 North Torrance (Bay) 9-6 8 Gardena (Marine) 5-5 9 Bishop Montgomery (Angelus) 5-6 10 Carson (Marine) 6-5-1