NOTES : Edison’s Jessie to Skip Football for Basketball

Brandon Jessie, son of former Ram Ron Jessie, recently made a difficult decision when he chose to sit out football his senior season at Huntington Beach Edison.

Jessie, 6 feet 6 and 220 pounds, is considered one of the top wide receivers in the Southland. Last season, he averaged 27 yards a catch and had seven touchdowns. He was expected to see more action this season.

But Jessie wanted to spend the fall concentrating on basketball. He also is one of Orange County’s top sprinters.

Carson, the defending City 4-A champion, will play a key game against San Diego Morse, defending San Diego Section champion, Sept. 20 at San Diego.

Morse features twin brothers Gary and Cary Taylor on offense and Glen Steele and Darius Benford on defense. Running back Gary Taylor rushed for a state-best 2,620 yards last season. Brother Cary is starting his first season at quarterback.

Crenshaw’s football program received national exposure this summer from alumnus John Singleton’s film “Boyz N the Hood,” which portrayed a star player from the school.

Crenshaw Coach Robert Garrett, however, was hoping for more than exposure from the film’s success.

“So far, we haven’t gotten anything from the film,” he said. “We were very helpful in letting them film here and use our stuff, but now we are short on equipment. It sure would be nice if they donated some helmets.”

For a change, the player generally regarded as the best in the state does not live in Southern California. Offensive lineman Jeff Buckey of Bakersfield, at 6-5 and 290, runs the 40 in five seconds and bench-presses 415 pounds. A senior, he is a three-year starter at guard.

Bakersfield has not lost since Buckey worked his way into the lineup.

Buckey also is a top discus thrower. He won the event at the State meet last May, with a throw of 182 feet 4 inches. His personal best is 210-1, a national record for juniors.

Miraleste, Rolling Hills and Palos Verdes consolidated during the summer to form Peninsula High. The Panthers will compete in the Bay League. The football coach is Gary Kimbrell, formerly of Rolling Hills. . . . Although league realignment won’t take effect until next season, several changes were made this year. The most noticeable involves Beverly Hills, which moved from the Bay to the Ocean League and dropped from Division III to VIII.

Last year, Hollywood High gained notice with its first undefeated start (3-0) in years, and this fall the Sheiks might be in the hunt for the Northwestern League title with running back Curtis Fisher leading the way. . . . In only its second year of varsity competition, Santa Ana Calvary Chapel is the favorite to win the Southern Section Division X title.