Alston coaching at GBOA Summer Classic

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It’s been nearly two months since Rafer Alston’s last visit to the Southland.

And who could blame him for not wanting to return? His most recent recent trip out West, during the first week of June, was with the Orlando Magic and the end result was a 101-96 loss to the Lakers in the second game of the NBA Finals. Not exactly a fond memory.

Plenty has changed since. The Lakers won their 15th Larry O’Brien championship trophy, defeating Alston & Co. in five games. Shortly thereafter, the 10-year veteran was traded to the New Jersey Nets. Remarkably enough, Alston is coaching nowadays.

Alston was stalking the sidelines during Wednesday’s GBOA Summer Classic tournament at Long Beach Cabrillo High as coach of the New York Panthers, a 17-and-under club team from back East that could end up in Thursday’s title game at 6:40 p.m.

‘Here I am, back in Cali,’’ said Alston, a New York native. ‘It’s good to be back, actually. Good to be back with some kids from my old neighborhood. Basketball is in my blood, so coaching comes easy to me. It’s what I’d like to do down the road.’’

First things first. And that’s playing well against a loaded field at the GBOA Summer Classic.

Alston and the Panthers must contend with the Compton Magic, featuring Los Angeles Price’s Richard Solomon and Woodland Hills Taft’s Bryce Jones. And there is the team fielded by Santa Ana Mater Dei, which includes Tyler Lamb, Gary Franklin and Keala King.

‘I’m here, my team is here because we want to see how we stack up against some of the best teams the nation,’’ Alston said. ‘We came to California for the competition. As a player, as a coach, that’s what you want.’’

In that case, welcome back.

-- Sean Ceglinsky