devin montgomery

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SoCalHoops Tournament News

Devin Montgomery To Play Football?
Er, Um, We Don't Think So. . .--(June 4, 1999)

Today's LA Daily News carried an interesting article, written by Gerry Gittelson, a staff writer for the paper. The topic was tomorrow's "Third Annual Valley Conference All-Star Football Game" which will take place at Cal State Northridge tomorrow night at 7:00 p.m.

But wait a minute. This is SoCalHoops, right? Why are we writing about a football game? Here's why. Read the following excerpt from Mr. Gittelson's article:

One last showcase for All-Stars
By Gerry Gittelson, Daily News

Devin Montgomery looks to Saturday's third Valley Conference All-Star Football Game at Cal State Northridge (7 p.m. kickoff) as more than a celebration for high school seniors.

The Alemany High wide receiver figures it's an opportunity to showcase his skills one last time, perhaps for a college coach who still has a scholarship available.

"Devin is the one guy who really is on the bubble," said East coach Jim Bonds of Alemany. "This is a good chance for him to show what he can do."

Montgomery gained 1,500 yards in eight, eight-man football games as a tailback at Ribet Academy when he was in ninth grade. He transferred to San Fernando, where he concentrated on basketball for two years before transferring to Alemany and playing both sports as a senior.

Montgomery took a full load of summer school classes last year and was late learning the Alemany offense. He didn't catch a pass until the fifth game but finished with 45 receptions for 796 yards and eight touchdowns, helping the Indians to the Division III semifinals.

Bonds said Montgomery wants to play football and basketball in college.

Er, um, ok. Someone should perhaps tell Coach Bonds or Gittelson that if Devin's on a "bubble" it's a pretty big one. In fact, Devin probably won't be playing getting a football scholarship, and he also won't be signing any letters of intent to play football at any schools. In fact, he won't be playing football at all, at least not for the next two years. Why not? Because Devin Montgomery has signed a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at Dusquesne University in the Atlantic-10 Conference. The letter was signed, sealed and delivered on or about May 15, the last day to sign LOI's, about three weeks ago. While perhaps not as widely reported as some other local signings, his signing with Dusquesne hasn't exactly been a secret either.

We spoke with coach Josh Oppenheimer, men's assistant basketball coach at Dusquesne, and read him the portion of the article quoted above, and after a stunned moment of silence, he said, "Nope. No way. We received a letter of intent from Devin to play for us next year. It's all done. I don't know why people write these things, but he's signed to play with us next year."

Under NCAA rules, a player may only sign one letter of intent in one sport. If a player signs a letter of intent to play basketball, the player also cannot compete in football for at least the first two years of college either.

At least the article is correct in one respect: It is "an opportunity to showcase his skills one last time." But not for a football scholarship. This time it will just be for the fun of playing the game.

Go Dukes.