Spring Valley catcher realizes dream

Spring Valley's Cody Collins took a shot in the dark, a blind stab at a dream.

He had longed to play for the Cal State Fullerton baseball team since he was a young boy, wearing his Titans hat every day, watching his heroes lead the team to Super Regional after Super Regional.

It all boiled over in 2004, with his idol, Kurt Suzuki, behind the plate, as Fullerton won the NCAA championship.

And now, after a whirlwind eight-day recruiting process that started with an e-mail sent by Collins to the Fullerton coaching staff, he's on the verge of becoming a Titan.

"It still hasn't sunk in that this is really happening," Collins said. "It sort of felt like a joke on me at first. But now, I'm about to sign my national letter of intent in two weeks, and it'll really hit me then."

Collins is one of a handful of Las Vegas high school athletes heading to major programs next season. Mojave's Chelsea Hopkins will play basketball for Duke, Green Valley's Matt Harrison is heading to play baseball for North Carolina, and the list goes on.

The common thread to each of their stories is simple: dreams coming true.

But Collins' story is anything but common.

He had attracted interest from a number of schools but had his mind set on Fullerton. A little more than two weeks ago, before heading to a weekend tournament in Peoria, Ariz., Collins sent recruiting coordinator Sergio Brown an e-mail detailing his interest, and Brown asked if he could attend a camp near the school. Collins asked Brown to attend the Peoria tournament, and after four successful days at and behind the plate, Collins piqued the Titans' interest.

After a last-minute recruiting trip to Fullerton, Collins fell in love with the program. And a fateful breakfast before flying home sealed the deal.

"We went to IHOP, and I had the big breakfast, and we're talking, and Coach says, 'How does tuition and books sound?' " said Collins, referring to the Titans' scholarship offer. "I looked back and said, 'Sounds good,' and Coach says, 'So you in?' We shook hands, and I was officially a Titan."

Harrison's path to North Carolina was more typical.

After drawing much interest during travel-ball season with a club out of Southern California, Harrison took a trip throughout the South with his parents, Don and Cheryl, to scout schools.

Texas Christian, Tulane, Louisiana State, Vanderbilt, Virginia and Arkansas were on the list. But Matt's choice -- "I mean, he was really set," Don Harrison said -- was North Carolina.

Part of the reason was the history and success of the Tar Heels program. Especially the recent prosperity -- North Carolina has back-to-back national runner-up finishes and ended 2007 with a program-best 57 wins.

"With that type of program, it goes back to how and why they're successful," Don Harrison said. "You have to have great players, but you also have to have great coaches. And you can see why they're so successful.

"Yes, they want the best players and athletes, but they put a major emphasis on character. As a parent, I'm glad I'm surrounding my son with great people."

OTHER NEWS

* Four members of the Las Vegas Rage Gold travel softball team have chosen colleges to continue their careers: Shadow Ridge's Jasmine Harris and Rayna Bradshaw will attend Utah State, Palo Verde's Amanda Montalto will attend Ball State, and Las Vegas' Tiffanee Lucero will sign with UNLV.

* Several Mountain West Conference and Western Athletic Conference schools are recruiting Las Vegas linebacker Colin Shumate, and he recently returned from a recruiting trip to Boise State.

* Palo Verde defensive end/offensive tackle Ethan Drellack is planning a recruiting visit to UNLV.

Contact reporter Jon Gold at jgold@ reviewjournal.com.