Sports DIGEST : Pierce’s Lessert Shows His Recruiting Clout

Larry Lessert, the new head basketball coach at Pierce College, has been busy rounding up players ever since he took over the post.

Point guard Darrell Flores is Pierce’s only returning player from a team that was 1-13 in the Metro League and 8-22 overall under Bill Hughes, who recently resigned. Lessert will be making his college head coaching debut after splitting four seasons as an assistant for Cal State Northridge and Loyola Marymount.

He already has received commitments from at least four area prep players: Tony Goodall, a 6-6 forward from El Camino Real High; Nate Williams, a 6-5 forward from Van Nuys High; Kent Young, a 6-3 guard from Hawthorne High; and Darren Riley, a 6-7 forward from Inglewood High.