Chargers Sign Watts, ’92 Olympic Champion

Quincy Watts, 1992 Olympic champion in the 400-meter dash, has signed a free-agent contract with the San Diego Chargers, a team spokesman said.

The 6-foot-3, 190-pound graduate of Taft High did not play football in high school.

Watts played wide receiver for USC during the 1990 season but did not catch a pass.

The Chargers will try him at cornerback.

“It was something he always talked about, wanting to give football a try,” said Lon Rosen, his former agent.

Watts is expected to report to training camp in La Jolla on July 24.

HONORS

Dennis Gilbert of Agoura Hills, who became one of the top sports agents in America, and Ross Newhan, an award-winning baseball writer for The Times, are among 15 people who will be inducted into the Southern California Jewish Sports Hall of Fame on June 7 at the Westside Jewish Community Center.

The seventh induction ceremony, scheduled for 5:30 p.m., will also include Stanford Werner of Canoga Park, who once held a world record in rope climbing; Hal Lambert, former football coach at Taft High; Joel Gershon, former football coach at Channel Islands High; Zvi Friedman of West Hills, a former Cal State Northridge soccer coach; Stuart Blumkin, a former Cal State Northridge swimmer; Ray Rosenbaum, a long-time publicist; Ben Sohn, a former USC football player; and Eliot Teltscher, an All-American tennis player at UCLA who later was ranked in the top 10 as a professional.

Also scheduled for induction are David Epstein, a track star at California; Danny Goodman, former promotions director for the Dodgers; and Paul Raphael of Sherman Oaks, a former U.S. table tennis champion.

Tickets are priced at $150. All proceeds go to the Jewish Sports Hall of Fame. Information: (213) 938-2531.

DIVING

Bryce Lerman, a senior at Birmingham High, has signed a letter of intent with Cal State Northridge.

Lerman, a four-time All-West Valley League selection, was runner-up in the City Section championships as a junior.

SOCCER

Danny Juodvalkis, a member of the Santa Clarita United No Fear under-15 boys’ team, has been selected to participate in the 14-and-under Olympic Development Program.

Juodvalkis will participate this weekend in a tournament to determine invitations to ODP west regional tryouts in Boise, Idaho, next month.

The Apex Ricochet under-18 girls’ team, headed by Cal Lutheran Coach Dan Kuntz, recently won the California Youth Soccer Association-South championship in State Cup play in San Bernardino.