City Basketball Preview : Crenshaw, Who Else, Is at Head of Pack

It should come as a surprise to no one that Crenshaw is the No. 1-ranked team in The Times’ City high school preseason basketball poll.

In the last 15 years, Crenshaw, under Coach Willie West, has established itself as the dominant basketball school in City Section history.

During that time, the Cougars have won two State championships, eight City titles and have finished second four times.

Only once has Crenshaw failed to make the City playoffs. That was in 1972 when--with what West has called his best team ever--the Cougars were 14-0 but had to forfeit all victories and a playoff spot because they had used an ineligible player.

Crenshaw, thanks to a new ruling by the City that allows overnight travel, will try to enhance its reputation even more this season.

The Cougars will go to Myrtle Beach, S.C., to play in a tournament that includes among other nationally prominent teams, DeMatha High of Hyattesville, Md.

The challenges of some of the best teams in the nation, however, will not be the only formidable ones Crenshaw will face this season.

The Cougars will have to contend with a young but very talented team from Fairfax, which won the 3-A Division title last season and has moved up to 4-A.

If the Cougars advance to the regional and State playoffs, Santa Ana Mater Dei and San Francisco Riordan will most likely be waiting.

Here’s a look at The Times’ City preseason top 10:

1. CRENSHAW (24-0)--The Cougars have one of the best players in the nation in Stephen Thompson (6-foot 3 1/2-inch senior). As a junior, he averaged 28 points and was named the City 4-A player of the year after leading his team to the City and State titles. Although Thompson is listed as a guard, West will play him wherever he is needed. “He’s a very good inside player with excellent leaping ability and his jump shot is improving, but it’s his intensity level that is most important,” West said. “It’s contagious. He leads by example.” Also starting at guard are Troy Batiste (6-2 senior) and Tracey Freeman (6-1 senior). Dion Brown (6-4 1/2 senior) is a returning starter at forward where he averaged 13 points a game, and Ronald Caldwell (6-7 senior), a part-time starter last season, will open at center. Coming off the bench will be Cortney Able (6-5 senior), Marcus Williams (6-3 junior) and Douglas Meekins (6-6 sophomore). West, who rarely carries sophomores on the varsity, described Meekins as not very heavy but very active. In discussing the team generally, West said, “We’re not quite as far along at the same stage as we were last year but we’re close.” Asked if he would continue to use the same press that made the Cougars so effective last season, he said, “We will try but if it is not as effective we will change.”

2. FAIRFAX (25-2)--It is commonly agreed that Sean Higgins, at 6-8, is one of the five best juniors in the nation. Last season he was named the 3-A player of the year after averaging 19.8 points and 8 rebounds a game, and leading the Lions to the title. “Sean has great range up to 25 feet, and when the defense comes up to guard him, he has the quickness and size to take the ball to the basket,” Coach Harve Kitani said. Higgins is also an excellent passer. Joining him up front are two newcomers, forward J. D. Green (6-5 junior), a transfer from Santa Monica, and sophomore Chris Mills (6-6). “Green will play both guard and forward for us,” Kitani said. “He’s very quick for his size and when he is playing well he can dominate a game. He’s a good shooter to 18-feet and can drive to the basket. Mills is the type of player you don’t always notice but when you look at the stats at the end of the game, he’s got 18 or 20 points and 8 or 10 rebounds. He has a good instinct for where the ball is and could be our leading rebounder as a sophomore.” The starting guards will be Mike Miller (6-2 senior) and Peter Gerber (5-11 senior). Guard David Henderson (6-2 senior) and center Edwin McKinney (6-8 senior) will provide bench strength.

3. CARSON (17-8)--For the second straight year, Coach Dick Masson has had to revise his season game-plan at the last minute. Clifford Allen (6-10 senior), one of the most highly regarded big men in the country, played for the Colts the last two summers but each year off-court actions have made him ineligible during the school year. “Without Allen we have gone from being a power team to a quickness team,” Masson said. “Our kids now have to change their roles. We didn’t lose a game this summer when we had Allen” The player who might be most affected is forward Anthony January (6-6 senior), who averaged 19 points and 9 rebounds last season as a starter, and will move to center. Another returning starter is guard Issy Washington (6-1 senior), who averaged 12 points and 5 assists a game. Richard Holt (6-2 1/2 junior) and either Reggie McCready (6-3 senior) or Timothy Presley (6-2 senior) will be the starting forwards. John Howell (6-0 senior) or Michael Helms (6-2 senior) will start at guard with Washington.

4. PALISADES (12-9)--Coach Jerry Marvin has the tallest team in the City. Derek Strong (6-10 senior) and Victor Malbrough (6-8 senior) are returning starters at the double post. Strong averaged 13 points and 7 rebounds, and Malbrough accounted for 14 points and 8 rebounds last season. At the forwards will be Bill Heikel (6-4 senior), a part-time starter last season, and Bobby Jordan (6-5 senior). The point guard position could be a key for the Dolphins. Cornell Rucker (5-9 senior) started last season but will probably be ineligible until at least the second half of the league season. Starting in his place will be Jeff Bronner (6-1 senior). Three reserves to watch are, Paul Garrett (6-9 sophomore), a transfer from Brentwood who didn’t play last year, Ken Steffas (6-5 senior), a volleyball player, and Sean Gardner (6-0 senior). “We don’t play as well together and our defense isn’t as good as it was on the 1969 and 1970 City Championship finalists, but we have more depth,” Marvin said.

5. CLEVELAND (22-2)--After being an assistant for the last five years, Bob Braswell, has taken over as head coach. This season’s squad will be built around forward Trevor Wilson (6-7 1/2 senior), who averaged 25 points and 14 rebounds a game as a junior. “Trevor is playing with great confidence,” Braswell said. “It is going to be very hard to stop him inside. He has put on 15 pounds, mostly in the upper body, and we will try to get him the ball as much as possible down low.” Antoinne Shofner (6-4 1/2 senior), who averaged 11 points and 8 rebounds as a starter, is also back at forward. Chris Wheeler (6-3 senior) will also start in the three-forward alignment. Damon Greer (6-1 1/2 sophomore), called by Braswell the best outside shooter on the team, played on the varsity last season and will be the point guard this season. Williams Dixion (6-2 senior), Andre Williams (5-10 junior) and Joey Manliguis (5-11 sophomore) are all battling for the remaining starting guard spot.

6. DORSEY (7-13)--With a Ford and a Shelby in the starting line up, the Dons figure to motor up and down the court with the best of teams but look for forward Lafayette Dorsey (6-4 senior) to put the ball in the basket. Dorsey averaged 25 points and 11 rebounds last season but couldn’t even make first team in the Central League. “Last season he was mainly an inside player,” Coach Dave Gordon said. “This year he has developed his shooting range to 20 feet.” Anthony Wilcox (6-4 senior) is also a returning starter at forward. He averaged six points and four rebounds. The third returning starter is Chucky Shelby (5-11 senior). “He has great speed, quickness and jumping ability,” Gordon said. Shelby and Dorsey are the best outside shooters on the team. The point guard is Darius Henderson (6-4 senior) who averaged 15 points a game on the JV team. Either Ruben Smiley (6-4 senior) or Dameyon Ford (6-7 senior), both up from the JV team, will start at center. Marcus Nash (6-2 sophomore), Rudy Haggood (6-4 junior) and Randall Bivens (6-1 senior), should all get playing time.

7. BANNING (17-8)--The Pilots have reached the City semifinals five of the last six years, missing only in 1981. But with just one starter back, a return to the “Final Four” is probably asking too much. “If you had asked me in September how good we were going to be this season, I would have said horrible,” Coach Don Nichols said. “But I can’t believe how well we are playing. This is the best size I’ve had in 15 years at Banning and we are still able to do the same things (fast break) that we did before. We don’t have any superstars but the kids are looking for each other and our passing has improved.” David Lee (6-7 senior), who averaged nine points and seven rebounds and is the only returning starter, will be at one forward and Eric Leftwitch (6-5 senior) will be at the other. Marshall Lineberger (6-3 senior) and Ronnie Vaughn (6-3 senior) will play at either guard or forward. The fifth starter will be Victor Ward (6-1 senior), the best outside shooter on the team according to Nichols, Marcus Slater (6-8 senior) or Marvin Pollard (6-2 junior).

8. WESTCHESTER (10-10)--The Comets’ offense will revolve around forward Michael Courtney (6-5 senior) who averaged 19 points and 11 rebounds last season. “He is the best player I’ve had in my seven years at Westchester,” Coach Ed Azzam said. “He will get his points. He has the ability to create his own shot and is very aggressive on the boards.” George Copeland (6-2 senior), a transfer from Manual Arts, is the other forward. Kenny Horton (6-2 senior) and Ronnie Shaw (5-11 senior) will rotate between point guard and off-guard. “Shaw is an outstanding shooter but he doesn’t always shoot when he should,” Azzam said. Guard Tony Payne (5-10 senior) is the fifth starter in the three-guard offense. Top reserves include, Jemal Ross (6-6 junior), Michael Brown (6-3 sophomore) and point guard Brian Lewis (6-0 senior).

9. FREMONT (13-9)--The Pathfinders have just one returning starter, Russell Gilson (6-7 senior), who averaged 12 points and 9 rebounds a game and has signed at Weber State. “He has a very soft touch from the outside and we’re hoping his rebounding improves,” Coach Sam Sullivan said. Although neither Calvin Kyles (6-1 junior) nor Brad Ware (6-0 senior) started last year, both got plenty of playing time. Forward Brian Jones (6-4 junior), who averaged 18 points for the JV team last season, and center Dale Lindsey (6-5 senior) round out the starting five. Darren Dafney (6-4 sophomore) and Joe Jones (5-11 senior) will play as top reserves.

10. SAN PEDRO (15-6)--San Pedro lost to Fairfax in the 3-A final last season, 65-61, and, like the Lions, are now in the 4-A. The Pirates have a very tough player in Zlatko Josic (6-4 senior), who averaged 13 points and 10 rebounds in gaining All-City honors. “He is the best rebounder I’ve ever had.” Coach Jack Kordish said. “He’s a good player inside who uses his muscle.” Another returning starter is Damon Whitsitt (6-0 senior), whose brother Novian was the City’s scoring champion in 1983 and is now playing at Stanford. As a junior, Whitsitt averaged 7 points and 3 assists a game. Rounding out the starting lineup are Mike Woods (6-1 senior) at forward, Mike Sestich (6-5 senior) at center and either Lawrence Crawford (6-0 senior) or Bierre Miles (5-10 senior) at guard. Rob Karmelich (6-3 senior), a good outside shooter, is the top reserve.

OTHERS TO WATCH--Gardena, Kennedy, Manual Arts, Marshall, South Gate and Taft.