RECRUITING: College coaches noticing Gorman’s Stanley

Bishop Gorman’s football program is loaded with talented players at the skill positions.

But the Gaels’ best athlete might play in the trenches, and college coaches are well aware of his presence.

Gorman junior offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley has received scholarship offers from Arizona, Arkansas, California, Southern California and Utah.

The soft-spoken Stanley is also a budding basketball prospect. He is awaiting his first basketball scholarship offer but has heard from the likes of Arizona State, Duke, Oregon and UCLA.

“One sport complements the other,” Stanley said. “In basketball, you don’t see as many physical people now; that’s what football helps me with. And in football, not as many tackles are as nimble as I am, I’d like to think.”

At 6 feet 7 inches and 285 pounds, Stanley is no slouch athletically. He has been clocked in the 40-yard dash in the 4.8-second range.

“I’m more of a quicker, faster type of tackle, but I can still run block,” Stanley said. “My feet are quick from playing basketball, so my pass protection is pretty good, too.”

Stanley started at quick tackle, typically on the left side of the offensive line, last year on a team that went 15-0 and won the Class 4A state title. This season, he’s anchored an offensive line that has helped Gorman to a 3-1 start.

Stanley was a reserve post player in basketball last season but came off the bench with 14 points, six rebounds and four blocked shots in a state semifinal win over Bishop Manogue to help the Gaels advance and win the state championship.

He continued to blossom on the summer basketball tournament circuit with Dream Vision (Calif.), playing alongside prized recruits such as Gorman teammate Shabazz Muhammad and Findlay Prep’s Winston Shepard.

Stanley, who stays busy in the spring as a middle blocker for Gorman’s volleyball team, said he is “leaning a hair toward football” in college.

 

He said academics, campus lifestyle and a program’s tradition and stability will weigh heavily in his decision, whether football or basketball.

For now, Stanley just wants to play well when the Gaels visit De La Salle (2-0) in Concord, Calif., at 8 p.m. Saturday. The game will be shown tape delayed on CBS College Sports (Cox 333), beginning at 8:30.

“I’m just focusing on the task at hand,” Stanley said. “Right now, all our focus is on De La Salle.”

WILDCATS PLAN FUTURE — Las Vegas High senior shortstop Tanner Chauncey gave an oral commitment last week to Brigham Young, choosing the Cougars over an offer from Kentucky.

Chauncey said he plans to attend BYU as a freshman before serving a two-year mission.

 

“I’m super excited. When I took my visit (to Provo, Utah) a couple weekends ago, I fell in love with the campus and all the facilities,” Chauncey said.

 

Also, Wildcats senior right-hander Erick Fedde committed to UNLV on Tuesday, giving the Rebels six local seniors who already have committed to new UNLV coach Tim Chambers.

SOCCER DECISIONS — Four senior girls soccer players who star for the Las Vegas Premier ’93 club team have made recent oral commitments.

Arbor View’s Taylor Bonetti and Tori Rodriguez committed to Louisiana-Monroe. Silverado’s Christine Cooklin picked Dixie State (Utah), and Centennial’s Emily Murzinski chose San Francisco.

 

CHANDLER SIGNS — Recent Needles graduate Alex Chandler has signed to play softball at Bradley.

 

Chandler, a shortstop and outfielder who starred in three sports for the Mustangs, led Needles to the past four 2A state softball titles.