Angelus League Basketball Preview : Parity May Be Couple of Years Off as Mater Dei Picks Up 6-10 Transfer

This was supposed to be the year that parity returned to the Angelus League. Mater Dei High School would no longer fast break its way to a championship without losing a league game, as it had the past three years.

Opposing coaches thought they would be competitive with Mater Dei after Tom Lewis and Mike Mitchell moved on to USC and Fresno State. The formidable duo had helped the Monarchs to an 86-5 record and two CIF Southern Section titles before graduating.

There was a chance. The coaches pointed to the Monarchs’ nine losses in summer-league action and thought their time had come to get even.

All that changed when LeRon Ellis, a strapping, 6-foot 10-inch junior from Parkrose High of Portland, Ore., checked into the Santa Ana parochial school in September. As quick as you can say “transfer,” the Monarchs went from a good team to a great team.

Ellis, the 16-year-old son of former Los Angeles Laker center LeRoy Ellis, gives Coach Gary McKnight an added dimension simply with his presence on the floor. He didn’t score much at Parkrose, but he earned the reputation of being a good defensive player with his shot blocking.

“LeRon is a super defensive player,” McKnight said. “He has a good outside shot and a nice shooting touch, so I think you’ll see him become a bigger offensive threat at Mater Dei.”

The addition of Ellis has allowed Stuart Thomas, a 6-9 left-hander, to move to his natural forward position. Thomas played in the shadows of Lewis and Mitchell last season, but he should blossom into one of the top players in Orange County.

“This may be the biggest team I’ve had at Mater Dei,” McKnight said. “There won’t be a Tom Lewis to carry us, but we’ll be a total team with seven or eight players making a contribution.”

All of which adds up to bad news for the other teams in the league. Pius X was the only school besides Mater Dei to post a winning record in 1984-85. Bishop Amat, Bishop Montgomery, St. Paul and Servite were a combined 29-58.

Servite figures to be the most improved team. The Friars slipped to 10-14 last season when seven players defected, but Larry Walker did an admirable coaching job by getting Servite to the playoffs for the ninth consecutive year.

Here’s a closer look at the Angelus League:

BISHOP AMAT: Returning Starters--Jim Moreno (6-0, G), Tom Vetlesen (6-2, F), Stephon Pace (5-11, G) and Brian Kelly (6-2, F).

Top Newcomers--John Curley (6-2, F) and Jim Barrero (5-11, G).

Outlook--Coach John Montgomery enters his 12th season with an improved team that he hopes will contend for a playoff berth. “The league is stronger and better balanced than ever,” he said. “Obviously, Mater Dei is a cut above the rest.” The Lancers won only one league game and were 4-16 overall, but a young team gained valuable experience, and 10 varsity lettermen return. Bishop Amat had a fine summer, compiling a 23-3 record and winning summer leagues at Workman and El Monte. “The confidence we gained from a very successful summer should bolster a talented but small team,” Montgomery said. “We’re still looking for a consistent leader.” Pace was an all-league selection as a freshman.

BISHOP MONTGOMERY: Returning Starters--James Taylor (6-3, F) and Ken Sale (6-3, F).

Top Newcomers--Ramses Reynoso (6-0, G), Peter Burke (6-3, F), Jeff Dreher (5-9, G), Joe Aki (5-10, G) and Bryan Dell Amico (6-0, G).

Outlook--The Knights tied Bishop Amat for last place in 1984-’85 and were 6-15 overall. Coach Tim Haley has five returning lettermen--including Taylor, who averaged 10 points and 5 rebounds per game as a junior. Bishop Montgomery compiled an 11-2 record in two summer leagues. “The abundance of capable guards and overall experience will be the strength of our team,” Haley said. “We don’t have a true center or much height, but I think we’ll contend for a playoff spot.”

MATER DEI: Returning Starters--Thomas (6-9, F), Jim Dwyer (6-5, F) and Tom Peabody (6-4, G).

Top Newcomers--Ellis (6-10, C), John Mounce (6-3, G), Chris Patton (6-2, G), Erik Quigley (6-4, G) and Kevin Rembert (6-4, F).

Outlook--Awesome, once again. The frontline of Ellis, Thomas and Dwyer is superior to any in the league. The bench is deep with Rembert, Quigley and Patton expected to make big contributions. “Stuart Thomas is the most improved player on the team,” McKnight said. “At the beginning of the summer, I thought he was an average player. He really came on in the summer tournament at Phoenix.” Offensively, the Monarchs will have a new look with an emphasis on the passing game in anticipation of facing a zone defense from most opponents. McKnight said his team will also feature more outside shooting. Quigley is considered the sleeper of the program, and the junior is already being recruited by the University of Utah. If the Monarchs have a weakness, it’s their lack of quickness.

PIUS X: Returning Starters--Anthony Jenkins (6-4, G), Earnest White (5-11, G) and Rory Ewing (6-5, F).

Top Newcomers--John Finau (6-5, C), Dan Livingston (6-5, F), Chip Meyers (6-0, G), James Gibson (6-1, G) and Matt Smith (6-4, F).

Outlook--The Warriors finished second in the league last season and should be Servite’s top competition for the runner-up spot. Jenkins, who averaged 16 points and 7 rebounds as a sophomore, was a Top 20 selection at Superstars Camp in Santa Barbara over the summer. “Anthony may be one of the best guards on the West Coast right now and will be highly recruited next season,” said Mike Murphy, Pius X coach. White was the team’s starting point guard as a sophomore, averaging seven assists per game. “The head coach at Marquette (Rick Majerus) touted Earnest as one of the best ballhandlers he has ever seen for his age,” Murphy said. Pius X will be the quickest team in the league, but like everyone else, will have problems matching up against Mater Dei’s frontline.

ST. PAUL: Returning Starters--John Scott (6-2, G), Armando Ayala (6-2, G), Matt Willig (6-7, C) and Jeff Willis (6-2, F).

Top Newcomers--Joel Willis (6-4, F), Mike Moore (6-0, G), Dave Tritz (6-0, G) and Alex Flores (6-2, F).

Outlook--The Swordsmen figure to start slowly since five members just finished competing in the football playoffs. Scott, a four-year varsity player, will be in the starting lineup for the third straight season. He’s the starting quarterback on the football team and is considered the best player on the squad. He averaged 18 points, 6.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists last year. Coach Mike Dinneen has a good shooting team with six lettermen who shot a combined 79% from the free-throw line in league play. “With four starters and the top reserve returning, I think we’ll be good if we stay healthy,” Dinneen said. “We won the La Habra summer league and finished second at Westminster’s summer tournament, which is nice, but our goal is to do well in the league.”

SERVITE: Returning Starters--Bob Coady (6-4, G) and Tony Smalley (6-4, F).

Top Newcomers--Shawn Sullivan (6-0, G), Mike Murphy (6-1, G), James Rollins (6-3, F), John Arabia (6-8, C), Brett Caya (6-1, G) and Nick Marusich (6-7, F).

Outlook--Walker has four talented but inexperienced juniors who will share playing time on the frontline with Smalley, an all-league selection as a junior, being the best of the bunch. Coady, who averaged 11 points per game last season, will be recruited by Division I schools. “Bob rates with Scott and Jeff Sinek, Steve Buechele and Tim Osgood as the best point guard we’ve had at Servite,” Walker said. “Tony Smalley is the most talented player on the team. He and Bob Coady will handle most of our scoring load.” Walker, who won his last league title in 1982--before McKnight’s arrival--doesn’t think there is a dominant team in the league. “All of the teams will be good because of the places (road games) you have to play. I think it will be a dog-fight for the top three spots.”

Tomorrow: Century League.