Alexander Made Most of His Seniority : Shrine football: Hawthorne running back had a big year after missing most of junior season with a broken arm.

As the South team gathered for the first time Thursday to prepare for the 39th annual Shrine all-star football game, Chris Alexander of Hawthorne High School said he felt honored to be among the 60 players selected for the July 28 contest.

Considering that the speedy 5-foot-9 running back missed most of the 1988 football season because of a broken arm, Alexander’s path to becoming an all-star was not an easy one. After a promising sophomore year in 1987, Alexander saw his junior season end after only five quarters of play.

Alexander gained more attention on the track, where he was one of Southern California’s best sprinters as a junior. He finished fifth in the State meet 100 meters, with a best time of 10.5 seconds, and ran a leg on Hawthorne’s State record-breaking 400-meter relay team.

Despite this success, Alexander wanted to prove that his favorite sport was also his best.

“A year ago, I watched (Hawthorne teammate Curtis) Conway play in the Shrine game, and I told myself that I’m going to make it into this game,” Alexander said. “I was real determined to play football again.”

With that added motivation, Alexander made the most of his final prep football season, averaging more than 10 yards a carry as he ran for 1,204 yards and 15 touchdowns while leading the Cougars into the Southern Section playoffs. He also caught 11 passes for 369 yards and two touchdowns.

One opposing coach said Alexander was the most explosive back he ever saw, and Hawthorne track Coach Kye Courtney said Alexander has excellent potential in football.

It did not take long for college recruiters to take notice of his performances on the football field, and he was soon near the top of the blue-chip lists. He signed a letter of intent to attend UCLA last February.

However, after committing to the Bruins, Alexander suffered through a frustrating spring caused by a left hamstring injury that cost him his senior track season.

“After football season ended, I started off in track better than normal,” said Alexander, who broke the Sunkist indoor high school football 50-meter record with a time of 5.87 seconds last Jan. 19. “I initially injured my leg qualifying for the Times indoor 60 in late January and then reinjured it in two separate comebacks.”

With football season approaching, Alexander decided not to push himself to regain his track form for the State meet last month.

“I had to be real cautious because I want to be ready when I report for camp at UCLA,” said Alexander, who plans to study sports medicine in college because of his own injury rehabilitation experiences.

“I’m in good football-playing shape now but I’m not ready to run 100 meters,” he said. “I know UCLA has a great group of quality backs there already, but they plan to use me at more than one position.”

For now, Alexander’s sights are on the Shrine game as he gets a chance to show off his football ability at the high school level for the last time.

“The Shrine game is a chance for all of us to have a good time and meet a lot of people,” he said. “I may not be as (well) known as some of the other players but I like that. With or without the publicity, I am going to play the same. But when I come out and do well . . . people are going to be asking, ‘Where did he come from?’ ”

Shrine Game Notes

The co-coaches for the South team are Jim Barnett of Trabuco Hills High and Ken Sutch of Paramount. . . . The South’s passing game is expected to be explosive with Todd Gragnano of Los Alamitos and Jack Manu of Paramount at quarterback. . . . On the receiving end will be Michael Ross of Carson, Jeremy Smith of La Puente Bishop Amat and Rodney Johnson of Cajon, along with tight ends Elic Mahone of Pasadena Muir and Jason Green of Bishop Amat.

The North team will be coached by Randy Blankenship of Nevada Union and Mark Speckman of Merced. . . . The North’s defensive backfield will be anchored by UCLA-bound Bryan Adams and USC-bound Jason Oliver, both of Bakersfield. . . . Heading the North’s offense will be quarterbacks Dave Barr of Concord and Eric Bjornson of Oakland Bishop O’Dowd. . . . Mark Hatzenbuhler of Sacramento Galt and Deon Strother of Oakland Skyline will lead the North’s running attack.