High School Standouts Heaps, Apo Sign Scholarship Agreements to Attend BYU

PROVO, Utah (Dec. 17, 2009) — BYU head coach Bronco Mendenhall today announced that quarterback Jake Heaps out of Skyline High School in Sammamish, Wash., and wide receiver Ross Apo out of the Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, have signed scholarship agreements to enroll at BYU in January.

“We are excited that Jake and Ross have decided to come to BYU,” Mendenhall said. “They are fantastic football players and outstanding individuals. We look forward to having them join our program in January along with several other quality young men who have signed with us previously.”

Heaps and Apo plan to enroll in January along with prior BYU commitments Kyle Van Noy, Famika Anae, Devin Mahina and Marcus Mathews. Van Noy, a linebacker out of McQueen High School in Reno, Nev., signed a National Letter of Intent in February, while Anae (OL, Timpview High School, Provo, Utah), Mahina (TE/DE Upland High School, Upland, Calif.) and Matthews (WR, Southridge High School, Beaverton, Ore.) have returned from missionary service after signing with BYU in 2007. Additional players could also join the team for January enrollment.

ROSS APO
A product of the Oakridge School in Arlington, Texas, Apo averaged an amazing 19.1 yards per catch over his three year prep career while totaling nearly 2,000 receiving yards. At 6-foot-3, Apo is an excellent red zone target because of his height and leaping ability (37-inch vertical). He made 22 touchdown receptions over his career, including 21 scoring grabs over the past two seasons.

Apo averaged 22.5 yards on 36 receptions as a senior in 2009 while totaling 810 yards and 10 touchdowns. As a junior he hauled in 37 passes for 764 yards for a 20.6 yards-per-catch average with 11 touchdown receptions. He also recorded 27 catches for 331 yards and one touchdown as a sophomore.

An explosive athlete with long arms to go along with his tall frame, Apo is a large target over the middle and covers a lot of ground quickly with his long stride. He joins Heaps among the 90 players nationwide to be named a US Army High School All-American and has accepted an invitation to play in the US Army All-American Bowl on Jan. 9 at the Alamodome.

FAMIKA ANAE
Anae is the son of BYU offensive coordinator Robert Anae and played for former BYU standout offensive lineman Louis Wong at Timpview High School in Provo. The 6-foot-5, 260-pounder helped lead Timpview to the 2006 4A State Championship title as a senior.

Anae blocked for an offense at Timpview that produced 26.5 points per game and was part of an offensive line that helped produce a 1,700-yard rusher and a 1,400-yard passer. Anae returned in 2009 from a two-year mission served in McAllen, Texas.

DEVIN MAHINA
Mahina comes to BYU after serving a mission in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The 6-foot-6 tight end was credited with 19 receptions for 373 yards, averaging 19.6 yards per reception as a senior at Upland High School in Upland, Calif. He added four touchdowns during his senior season and had a season-high 151 yards receiving in Upland's 40-23 win over Claremont.

Defensively, Mahina was credited with 36 tackles, including 21 solos and 15 assisted takedowns playing defensive end. He averaged 4.0 tackles per game and recorded six sacks on the season. He was also credited with a blocked field goal and a blocked punt and two safeties while earning all-CIF honors.