Same ol', same ol' for Edison High products

The trend continues at Edison High, where some of the best and brightest college football prospects are aiming for UCLA and USC instead of Fresno State. Obviously a kid should be able to choose whatever school he wants to go to, but one of these days a group of guys at Edison will buck this trend and truly represent their hometown the way Clifton Smith did in his awe-striking Bulldogs career that culminated with a rookie Pro Bowl appearance in the NFL.

Unfortunately for Fresno State, the local high school producing incredible athletes on a regular basis puts more talent at UCLA and USC than its hometown university. The latest in this line, a week after it was announced Tevin McDonald is headed to UCLA, is Wesley Flowers.

You might remember just a couple years ago a talented cornerback by the name of Courtney Viney also chose the Bruins over the Bulldogs. But a funny thing has happened in the past decade or so, just as Ryan Mathews (pictured) leap-frogged Viney, Fresno State has leap-frogged UCLA in program success.

Fresno State has beaten UCLA the past two times the teams played, and before last year's meeting at the Rose Bowl, a newspaper headline screamed a dose of reality: "UCLA seeks upset of 25th ranked Fresno State," it read.

Yes, that's reality now. When UCLA plays Fresno State, UCLA is the underdog. But for some reason, so many of these Edison High kids just aren't feeling the same way.

Hello Mr. Smith!

Huge news out of the men's b-ball program, and it couldn't have come at a better time. The No. 4 ranked center in the nation according to scout.com, Greg Smith, has reportedly chosen Fresno State and reneged on a verbal to Arizona.

The 6-foot-8 or 6-9 Smith (depending on who you listen to) is the most high-profile recruit since Melvin Ely. And hey, Ely, as a two-time WAC Player of the Year and best player in school history, turned out quite all right.

Moods had turned sour with fans after hearing prized point guard signee Reggie Moore wanted out of his letter of intent. The Seattle native waited 'til the last second to throw a wrench into the 'Dogs plans of handing the reigns over to him in '08-'09. Real nice of you Reggie...

But lo and behold, Smith, a three-year Edison player who has since transferred to the Bay Area for family/academic reasons, is just the anecdote. If he sticks to his committment and signs with Fresno State he will single-handedly stir up passion and excitement that's been missing from Fresno State basketball since Tark "retired."

And that deserves a lot of admiration. Red Wavers should thank Mr. Smith for having the desire to give back to his hometown and be a student-athlete at Fresno State. It takes a true hometown hero to pass up offers from a plethora of traditonal b-ball powerhouses to stay home and make a difference in the community that raised him. Not everyone realizes what a difference he can make, what trends he can set the standard for and what a huge piece of program history he can become by staying home and taking the 'Dogs to new heights.

All signs point to Greg Smith being the type of character individual who is mature enough to be the catalyst. And here's to hoping everything in his family life and in the classroom is on the upswing. Mr. Smith, count me in as one of your newest, and biggest, fans.