Hundreds of photos form the wallpaper of the film room at Long
Beach Polytechnic High School. Photos of former football players
like Gene Washington, Tony Hill, Mark Carrier, Brandon Whiting and
Marquez Pope ““ all of whom have passed through the halls of
Poly. They are constant reminders of the memories, tradition and
history of Jackrabbit football.
Poly is a football factory that has produced more NFL players
than any other high school in the country. Last year, Poly had five
of the top 100 football players in the nation. They were known as
the Poly Fab Five and were on every college coach’s dream
list.
UCLA gained the first commitment from tight end Marcedes Lewis.
But USC, already with four Long Beach Poly players on its roster,
inked the other four on signing day. It continues what seems to be
a pipeline of football talent that starts at Poly and ends at
USC.
“Over the years, I think we’ve really established a
pathway to USC,” Trojan cornerback Darrell Rideaux said.
“Many of us have followed the trend. Guys like Willie Brown,
Willie McGinest and Mark Carrier have paved the way for us. The
legacy of Poly to USC was established years before we came
along.”
Come Saturday at kickoff, Rideaux, offensive lineman Winston
Justice, free safety DeShaun Hill, linebacker Mike Pollard and
receiver Kareem Kelly will all take the field in cardinal and gold
with the common bond that they have also worn the green and gold of
Long Beach Poly.
Meanwhile, Lewis will don the blue and gold. He, too, doubled
the number of Long Beach Poly players on the UCLA football roster
when he joined linebacker Dennis Link. And while the Bruins
don’t come close to the sheer number of former Poly football
players now playing for USC, with Lewis, many believe that the
Bruins inked the best of the Fab Five.
“They said this guy and this guy was the best player in
the country,” said Randy Taylor, UCLA’s Director of
Football Operations. “I think Marcedes has to be mentioned as
the best, or one of the best, players in the country. Marcedes saw
himself in a place where he could be challenged athletically and
academically, and I think he and his family like the structure we
have at UCLA. I think the other four guys were looking for a
different environment than the one we have.”
Still, it was extremely difficult for Lewis to stay committed to
UCLA. He announced his intentions of becoming a Bruin during his
junior year, which made for a long senior year of abuse from his
USC-bound high school teammates.
“They were telling me everyday about USC this and USC
that,” Lewis said. “And I’d come back at them
with UCLA this and UCLA that. I’m true to my word, though.
They’ll do what’s best for them, and I’ll do
what’s best for me.”
Even if it meant breaking up what was once called the greatest
assembly of talent on a high school football team. Even if it meant
breaking up a team that some recruiting experts claimed could
challenge several Division I football programs. And even if it
meant having to toss aside friendships for three hours on a
Saturday in November for the next four years.
“I still talk to them all the time,” Lewis said.
“All of us will be excited about the game, and there’ll
be some emotions out there. Hopefully, they’ll be able to
suck it up after the game, and we’ll still be friends
afterward.”
“I’m actually kind of looking forward to it,”
Justice said. “I see him on TV all the time. We still talk,
and we’re definitely still friends no matter what happens. I
want what’s best for him, just like he wants what’s
best for me. Except for, of course, that one game each
year.”
So, what once was the bond of high school football teammates,
now becomes the first of four rivalry clashes. Lewis will no longer
line up alongside Justice, but rather, against the likes of Hill
and Pollard.
“I cannot wait for Saturday,” Lewis said.
“I’ve been watching the UCLA-USC games on ESPN Classic.
I’m all hyped up about it. I’m just happy to be a part
of it all. It’ll be my first time, so I don’t quite
know what to expect yet. We’ll just see what
happens.”
In 1910, Long Beach Poly took on USC, falling 22-6. While Lewis
got no such chance while he was in high school, he’ll get his
first of four cracks at the Trojans on Saturday.