First, it was the colors.
"I guess it was something about that purple and yellow," Darrell Bush said.
Then, it was the championships.
"It seems like every time I was watching them, they were winning titles," Bush said.
Bush, a soft-spoken senior at Woodbury High School, said Louisiana State University has been his "dream school" since he was in eighth grade.
On Wednesday, Bush's dream became reality when the 5-foot-9, 155-pound speedster signed a letter of intent to attend LSU on a track scholarship.
"When they first contacted me, I couldn't believe it," Bush said. "It didn't seem real. I've always loved that school, loved that program. When I found out they wanted me, it was like a dream come true."
LSU is a Southeastern Conference power and a program to watch every spring at the Penn Relays as well as the NCAA championships. The Tigers run with the fastest cats in college track.
Bush might be a small kid from a small town who competes for one of South Jersey's smallest schools. But his blazing speed and competitive heart, especially in the grueling 400-meter dash, have persuaded LSU coaches that he's ready for the big time.
"The best thing about him is his stride," Woodbury outdoor track coach Dan Jones said. "He has this long, graceful stride and looks like he's just gliding along the track."
Bush has sprinter's speed. He went from a signing ceremony at Woodbury on Wednesday to the Ed Poreda Invitational at the Lawrenceville School, where he won the 55-meter dash in 6.53 seconds against some top competition.
"That's getting out and going," Jones said of Bush's time.
Bush was second in the state in the 100 meters in 11 seconds flat at the Group 1 meet last spring, and won the 200 in 22.09 seconds.
But his best event is the 400 meters. He won the Group 1 state title in 47.46, then finished second to Najee Glass of St. Peter's Prep in the Meet of Champions in a blazing time of 46.95.
"You get under 47 seconds, that's elite," Jones said. "He actually could run anything from the 100 through the 800. He's that good."
Bush said his sub-47-second time in the 400 was what drew LSU's attention.
"Everybody hates the 400," Bush said. "I guess I'm good at it, so that's why I like it. It's a hard race to run, but I deal with it."
Bush took a recruiting trip to LSU's campus in Baton Rouge in mid-January. He also visited Clemson and Virginia Tech.
