National signing day at Sacramento High, where basketball is almost a religion, took on the atmosphere of a spiritual revival Wednesday.

There were smiles and tears from relatives and peers as they cheered for Darius Graham, Erik Kinney, Jasmine Ware and Jehiah Cook, who became the latest in a long line of Dragons basketball players to earn college athletic scholarships.

Graham, a 5-foot-10 point guard, will join new coach Jim Les' program at UC Davis. Kinney, a 6-3 forward, will play for Cal State Bakersfield. Ware, a 5-10 guard, is headed for UC Santa Barbara. Cook, a 5-5 point guard, is off to UNLV.

They were among the dozens of athletes across the region to make their college choices official during the NCAA's early signing period, which started Wednesday and continues for one week.

While Sac High's four signees are fulfilling their youthful dreams, their stories differ from some of the megastars that have come before them at the Oak Park charter school.

Unlike players such as Vicki Baugh (Tennessee), Brittany Shine (Florida), Josiah Turner (Arizona) and Chase Tapley (San Diego State), these four Dragons have had their confidence and wills tested since they stepped on the campus.

"Today was really emotional because every one of us has been through a struggle – whether it's emotionally, physically or financially," Ware said. "We overcame that. We've learned that nothing is going to hold us back from earning a scholarship and succeeding."

Before Ware developed into a three-year starter and All-Metro Conference player last season, she was a befuddled freshman.

"I came in and I was playing with Brittany Shine, Kyra Dunn (Pittsburgh) and Erica Barnes (Arizona State)," she said. "They were so good, and I had no experience. Those were hard times, but coach Michele (Massari) kept telling me to be confident, that I would get there one day."

Graham found the same situation while practicing against Tapley, Turner and Traven Abraham, who played last season at Rice and is now at Yuba College.

"Going against those guys every day was tough," said Graham, a three-year varsity player and standout student interested in mathematics. "Sometimes I asked myself, 'Am I a D-I athlete?' Each day I just tried to get a little better, and with the support of my family and the belief in myself, I realized I couldn't fail."

Sebastian Graham, Darius' father and a former Grant and Utah football player, knew his son had talent while watching and working with him as a basketball became Darius' best friend starting at age 5.

"I've told Darius that I've been through this before in terms of signing a letter of intent," Sebastian Graham said. "But to have your son go through it, it's tenfold better. I'm so proud of the work he's put in the classroom as well as on the court to attain his dream."

Cook gave an emotional, halting and tearful speech thanking all those who helped her through the years. She singled out the hard-nosed and demanding Massari for special attention.

"You've been like a mother to me, putting personal stuff aside to deal with me," Cook said. "You've always encouraged me to stay humble, work hard and be a leader."

As Cook and Ware spoke, Massari beamed.

"It's amazing to watch them become young women," Massari said. "I feel if they can play for me, they can play for any college coach in the country as far as discipline and accountability. I am hard on them, but they know I love them."

Sac High boys coach Derek Swafford, also renowned for his no-nonsense style, smiled as Kinney and Graham spoke of their good fortune and love for family.

"This is the payoff for me," Swafford said. "As much as it is their day, it's my day, too. They've let me push them. They've taken my discipline.

"They are achieving and will soon be joining the other kids we have playing in college across the nation."

WHERE THEY'RE GOING

Area high school athletes who have confirmed their NCAA letter-of-intent signings:

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