Big Man on Harvard-Westlake Campus Wasn’t Named Collins

A tall, muscular, stranger with a shaved head strolled into the Harvard-Westlake gym on a recent Saturday. He stretched, he jogged. He grabbed a basketball and approached juniors Jason and Jarron Collins.

He was unaware that the Collins brothers, who led the Wolverines to the Southern Section Division III-A title last season, are among the nation’s most-talented high school players.

But the dumbstruck twins instantly recognized the visitor.

The giant of a man was none other than Shaquille O’Neal, 7-foot, 300-pound center for the Orlando Magic and one of the most-recognizable athletes in the world. And he had a request.

“He wanted to know if he could shoot around with us,� Jason said.

Shoot around? With Shaq? We must be dreaming!

“We were like, ‘Sure,’ � Jason said.

At 6-11, Jason isn’t used to looking up to many people. Neither is Jarron, who stands 6-10 1/2.

Harvard (29-3 last season) opens the season Tuesday against Westlake in the Thousand Oaks tournament. And the Wolverines’ twin towers are poised to perform to new heights. Both players added 20 pounds over the summer. Jason weighs 245, Jarron 235.

Shaq made both players feel small.

“He was huge ,� Jason said. “A very big man. He’s a lot bigger than I am.�

However, the NBA star came down to the Wolverines’ level, running the floor during an impromptu practice and offering a few pointers. A crowd gathered as players tried to keep their jaws from dropping.

“The kids were trying to be cool about seeing one of their favorite people in the world,� Harvard Coach Greg Hilliard said. “But they practiced hard, trying to impress the Shaq.�

O’Neal, who reportedly owns a home in the area, previously had been spotted jogging at the Studio City campus along with a personal trainer. O’Neal has been sidelined since suffering a broken thumb against Miami in an exhibition game in October.

During his rehabilitation, it appears Shaq has found a place to play. And perhaps a pair of pupils.

“He asked about the twins,� Hilliard said. “He had never heard of them. I told him he’d see them in the NBA in five years. He said he’d like to come back.�

Said Jason: “He said, ‘When I come back, I want to show you some moves.’ �

*

Cody Joyce didn’t play football as a sophomore and he wasn’t so sure he wanted to play as a junior.

But Joyce is glad he changed his mind. And so is everybody at Hart.

Joyce, a junior transfer from Florida, caught five passes for 102 yards in Friday night’s 37-3 victory over Peninsula at College of the Canyons in the Southern Section Division II semifinals.

Joyce has 47 receptions for 1,042 yards and 18 touchdowns.

Not bad, considering he hadn’t played since his freshman year at South Lake High in Clermont, near Orlando.

Joyce moved to the Santa Clarita Valley in November of 1994. The family relocated to be near Joyce’s sister, Cassidy Rae, an actress who appeared in the series Models, Inc.

Joyce, who also has dabbled in acting, immediately heard of Hart’s perennial potent passing attack and considered suiting up again. But he wasn’t sure he would fit in.

“I wasn’t sure, but [running back] Ted Iacenda just kept bugging me about it,� Joyce said. “I was worried about meeting their expectations because I hadn’t played in a couple of years.

“It’s different than in Florida. In Florida, we just ran one pattern. Here, we have to read the defense and react more. It’s a lot more complicated.�

*

Chaminade’s 14-10 loss to Diamond Bar on Friday night in a Division III semifinal brought a heartbreaking end to the high school careers of Jason Zdenek and Jason Giovannettone.

Zdenek, who played quarterback and safety, rushed for 531 yards and had eight interceptions while leading the Eagles to an 11-2 record. Giovannettone, who rushed for 170 yards and a touchdown against Diamond Bar, finished with 1,639 yards.

“Gotta hang this up now,� Giovannettone said, holding his helmet by the face mask. “I’ve got one more chance at winning a [Southern Section] championship, and that’s with baseball.�

Zdenek battled tears.

“A lot of people might say, ‘Why the heck is a senior crying after a loss?’ � Zdenek said. “But it’s not because we lost. It’s because of all the fun we’re going to be missing.�