The USD men's basketball team has signed three players to national letters of intent and scholarship agreements and the women's team four, the school announced yesterday.

Committing to the Toreros' men's team were high school seniors Chris Manresa, a 6-8, 245-pound forward from Tesoro High in Mission Viejo, Ken Rancifer, a 6-5, 215-pound forward from El Cerrito High in El Cerrito and Cameron Miles, a 6-1, 160-pound point guard from Skyline High in Dallas, Texas.

Manresa was the 2007-08 co-Player of the Year in the South Coast League in Orange County after averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds and 3 blocked shots per game. “It seems like Chris Manresa has been a part of the program for a while now since he committed to us over a year ago,” USD head coach Bill Grier said. “Chris is terrific facing the basket, he can shoot the ball out to three point range and is an exceptional passer.”

Rancifer was a first-team, All-Alameda/Contra Costa Athletic League selection after averaging 14 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists and 1.5 steals per game as a junior. “Ken Rancifer will give us much needed athleticism on the perimeter and at the wing position,” Grier said.

Miles won district and regional honors last season, averaging 11 points, 7.1 assists and 2.5 steals per game. He is rated the 27th-best player in Texas by TexasHoops.com for the 2009 class and is a preseason all-state pick by Texas Basketball Magazine.

“Cameron Miles will give us quickness and speed at the point guard position,” Grier said.

Toreros women's coach Cindy Fisher announced the signing of four high school seniors.

In addition to Mt. Miguel's Danesia Williamson, the Toreros will add San Clemente's Jacquelyn Marshall, Brittany Conger from Mountain View, Ariz., and Felicia Wijenberg from Toronto, Canada.

Williamson, a 5-6 guard, averaged 20 points, 4.7 steals and 5 assists per game.

“Danesia is an exceptional athlete who will give us great speed and athleticism in the backcourt,” Fisher said in a statement. “We are thrilled to have such a great local talent committed to our USD family. I expect her to make an impact immediately.”

The others bring noticeable size. Marshall is a 6-2 guard/forward, Conger a 6-0 guard and Wijenberg is a 6-0 post player.

– HANK WESCH and NICOLE VARGAS