Molnar commits to USC

Corona del Mar High senior boys’ water polo center Emery Molnar has verbally committed to play for USC, he said Saturday.

Molnar was a key component to the Sea Kings winning the CIF Southern Section Division II title this past fall. The first-team All-Pacific Coast League selection finished the year with 41 goals.

Molnar joins his CdM teammate, Dream Team Player of the Year Chase Watson, as a USC commit.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Molnar said. “We’ve always been competitive since junior polo. We can help each other in practice, critique each other. I know he’s helped me out a bunch throughout the years.”

Molnar had narrowed it down to USC and UC Irvine. He said he liked USC not only for his water polo but also for its strong engineering program.

CdM Coach Barry O’Dea won’t have to travel far to watch his two-meter standouts at the next level.

“I’ve got both my centers going to play for the Trojans,” O’Dea said. “It’ll be exciting to watch these guys grow up.”