Mojave guard changes mind

Darian Norris almost had his flight set, his bags packed and his foot out the door.

Then he realized one important fact -- South Carolina is just a bit too far from home.

The Mojave guard and Sunset Region boys basketball Most Valuable Player was recently released from his letter of intent to South Carolina State, reopening his recruiting status.

"Different things started happening there on the educational and athletic side," said Norris, who wouldn't discuss specifics. "I didn't want to go down there so far from home into that situation."

Instead, he might be heading to Peoria, Ill.

Norris will visit Bradley this weekend for an official visit, as the Braves have joined Wright State, George Mason and UC Riverside in recruiting Norris.

Now a relative veteran of the process, excited about his new prospects, Norris said he feels on solid ground this time around.

"I'm experienced from the first time," said Norris, who averaged 18.7 points, 7.1 assists and 5.1 rebounds for the 25-2 Rattlers. "I know the whole (aspects) about my trips, know what to look for, know what to ask. This time, it's a little less stressful. I know I can have the opportunity to go to college. I'm a lot more relaxed this time."

The decision to leave South Carolina State before he arrived wasn't an easy one -- "It didn't just pop out of nowhere," Norris said -- but it was a choice that had to be made.

Further complicating matters was the fact that he had developed friendships with some of his would-be Bulldogs teammates.

"I had relationships with a couple (South Carolina State) players -- we'd already talk on a regular basis -- but they knew what was going on down there," Norris said. "They weren't mad; they just wished me good luck."

In other recruiting news:

* Bishop Gorman baseball player Paul Sewald signed with San Diego.

* Bishop Gorman girls basketball guard Kiara Belen signed with UC Irvine, giving the three-time state champion Gaels their third Division I signee of the year. Belen joins Ashley Gayle (Texas) and Darriel Gaynor (Oregon).

* Bishop Gorman athlete Jake Houser signed with Arizona to throw the javelin.

* Green Valley running back Frank Satterfield received a partial athletic/partial academic scholarship from Syracuse.

* Faith Lutheran wide receiver Conner Maloney will attend Washington State as an invited walk-on.

* Spring Valley had three recent football commitments -- fullback Eric Dyer signed with New Mexico Highlands; and Gy Lorick and Stefan Klein signed with University of Mary (N.D.)

Contact reporter Jon Gold at jgold@reviewjournal.com or (702) 380-4587.