UC Irvine Gets Verbal Commitment From Saddleback’s Craig Marshall

Craig Marshall, a 6-foot-2 guard at Saddleback High School, has made a verbal commitment to attend UC Irvine in the fall.

Marshall averaged 14.3 points and 7.5 rebounds for Saddleback, but it was his reputation as a fine defensive player that attracted college scouts and coaches.

Marshall helped lead Saddleback to 22 consecutive victories before it lost to Long Beach Millikan in the Southern Section 5-AA championship game. Saddleback compiled a 51-8 record in two years with Marshall in the lineup.

Marshall also visited the University of the Pacific before selecting Irvine, where he said he will major in social science. The first day high school seniors can sign national letters of intent is April 12.

Marshall is the third county player successfully recruited by UC Irvine. Earlier, the Anteaters signed Dylan Rigdon of Mater Dei and Khari Johnson of El Toro. Rigdon and Marshall were Times’ All-County selections.