BOYS : PREP BASKETBALL PREVIEW: SOUTHERN SECTION : A Changing of Guard : Verbum Dei and Long Beach Poly Don’t Figure Among Top 10 Teams for First Time in 15 Years

There are subtle changes this season in Southern Section boys’ basketball.

Some of them have been caused by the revising of leagues and divisions, which is done every two years and was done before this school year began.

In the 5-A Division, for instance, Playa del Rey St. Bernard has moved from the Camino Real League to the Angelus League, replacing Downey Pius X, which went to the Camino Real League. Recently, the Camino Real League has been the toughest in the Southern Section, and St. Bernard will probably have an easier time in the Angelus League.

More extensive changes have taken place in the 4-A and 3-A divisions.

Moving up to the 4-A Division from the 3-A are the Baseline League, which includes successful playoff teams Pomona, La Verne Damian and Upland, and the Sierra League, which includes La Puente Nogales, Hacienda Heights Los Altos and Diamond Bar.

Dropping from 4-A to 3-A are the Bay League, including Rolling Hills and Palos Verdes, and the Sea View League, which includes Costa Mesa Estancia and Santa Ana Saddleback. However, Santa Monica, which has been a power in the 4-A as a member of the Bay League, is now in the Ocean League, which is still in the 4-A.

The move from 4-A to 3-A has added significance at the state level because 4-A teams compete in Division I, 3-A teams in Division II.

There is one big change in the 2-A Division with the addition of a new league--the Pacific Coast--made up of five former 4-A schools, Costa Mesa, Laguna Beach, Laguna Hills, Orange and Irvine Woodbridge, and one free-lance team, Mission Viejo Trabuco Hills. Woodbridge in particular, led by 6-7 junior Adam Keefe, could be a real factor in the 2-A.

The Santa Fe League, featuring North Hollywood Harvard, which played in the 3-A Pioneer League last year, and Cathedral, has dropped from 2-A to 1-A.

Another change is that, for the first time in 15 years both Verbum Dei and Long Beach Poly, the two most dominant basketball powers in the Southern Section, are not ranked in The Times’ preseason top 10. Between them, those schools won 8 Southern Section championships and were runners-up 5 times in the last 16 years.

It’s not that their programs have fallen on hard times--they are still competitive--but a number of other schools seem to have caught up.

Here is The Times’ preseason top 10, with last season’s records.

1. Santa Ana Mater Dei (30-1)--Over the last four years, the Monarchs have a 116-6 record. And four of those six losses were in overtime--two against Long Beach Poly and two against Crenshaw. Coach Gary McKnight has always used the same style. Get a big man, set him up low and take the ball inside. First it was Matt Beeuwsaert, then it was Tom Lewis, followed by Stu Thomas. This year, it will be 6-11 senior center LeRon Ellis. Last season, teaming with Thomas, Ellis averaged 17.5 points and 7 rebounds a game. Ellis, with his quickness and mobility, is also an intimidating force on defense. “We have had 10 players sign with Division I teams, but he (Ellis) is the first kid we’ve had that you could say will be a pro,” McKnight said. “He can outrun anyone on the team. He causes so many problems for the other team. If you try to take him away, the other kids are going to be able to hurt you.” Joining Ellis in the starting lineup are forwards Eric Quigley, 6-5 senior, and Kevin Rembert, 6-4 junior, and guards Chris Patton, 6-2 senior, and Mike Hopkins, 6-4 junior. All but Hopkins, who was on the JV squad last season, have played a great deal. Hopkins has been a pleasant surprise. “Hopkins gives us a real outside threat,” McKnight said. “He has good height and quickness.” Char Ruppel, 6-6 junior, and John Boyle, 6-foot senior, should be the first players off the bench. McKnight said: “This is probably the deepest team we’ve had. With our overall team speed, we will do a lot more pressing and be looking to break a lot more.”

2. Santa Monica St. Monica (13-10)--Christmas came a little early this year for Coach Leo Klemm, in the person of 6-10 senior Brian Williams. The well-traveled Williams, who averaged 18 points a game for Las Vegas Bishop Gorman last season, will be attending his third high school in three years. “Brian is an excellent defensive player,” Klemm said. “He has worked into our system very well and does a good job of communicating on both offense and defense. He needs to work on his offensive game, however.” Joining Williams in the front line is forward Paul Eberhardt, a 6-7 senior. Opening at guards will be three-year starter Jason Matthews, a 6-3 senior; Jason Joe, a 6-1 junior who started as a freshman but missed last season because of a staph infection, and point guard Chris Cotton, a 6-foot sophomore. The first players off the bench probably will be forward Jerome Howard, a 6-5 senior who averaged 10 points and 11 rebounds a game as a starter last season, and Bobby Reason, a 6-3 junior. Playing last year in the shadow of guard Earl Duncan, now a freshman at Syracuse, Matthews averaged 25 points a game. “He is a very hard-nosed player,” Klemm said. “He will do whatever is necessary to win a game. He has a very quick first step and will go to the basket, given the chance.”

3. Long Beach Millikan (13-11)--With four returning starters, the Rams look ready to replace Long Beach Poly as the Moore League champion and a contender for the 5-A title. The front line returns intact with Eddie Carswell, a 6-6 senior, at center and Shawn Williams, a 6-3 1/2 senior, and Kenny Jarvis, a 6-4 senior, at forward. The fourth returning starter is Marlon Marshall, a 5-11 senior, who will be joined at guard by Craig Gordon, a 6-3 junior. Top reserves are Rodney Camper, a 6-4 senior who led the JV team in scoring and rebounding last season, and Frankie Edwards, a 6-6 1/2 junior. “We’ve have a lot of depth, good quickness and we have players who have been in tight places before,” Coach Bill Odell said. Jarvis also gives the Rams flexibility. “He plays facing the basket and can play both forward and guard,” Odell said. “He’s the complete ballplayer.” Last season, he led the team in rebounding and was the second leading scorer. Williams is not as strong as Jarvis but is an excellent inside player who can jump with players four inches taller,” Odell said.

4. Simi Valley (27-3)--If the Pioneers can find a backcourt to complement their frontcourt, they well be a very tough team to beat. The man in the middle is center Don MacLean, a 6-10 junior, who averaged 21.7 points and 13.9 rebounds. “He can play both inside and outside,” Coach Bob Hawking said. “He is better in every stage of the game. His knowledge of the game and his skill level have improved 33% from last season. We’re hoping he can also provide added leadership.” Joining MacLean up front are juniors Shawn DeLaittre, 6-4, and Scott Sharts, 6-5. DeLaittre averaged 15.2 points and 8.9 rebounds last season. “Last season, DeLaittre was primarily an inside player, but he will play a little more outside this year,” Hawking said. Sharts did not play basketball last year but has played on youth teams since the fourth grade with many of the players on the team. Two other frontcourt players expected to play are juniors Richard Murphy, 6-6, and John Jones, 6-4. The backcourt will consist of Travis Bice, a 6-3 1/2 senior, and 6-1 junior Butch Hawking, the coach’s son who was most valuable player of the JV team on which he averaged 14.5 points.

5. Pasadena Muir (28-3)--Stacey Augmon, last season’s 4-A Player of the Year who led the Mustangs to the title, has graduated, but three starters return. At the double post are Wayne Womack, a 6-7 junior who averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds, and Kirk Wagner, a 6-7 senior who averaged 8 points and 4 rebounds. The forwards are Dwayne Davis, a 6-2 senior, and Frank Beatty, a 6-2 junior, both up from the JV team. Returning at point guard is two-year starter Derek Brown, a 6-foot senior who averaged 6 points and 11 assists. Coming off the bench will be Kayjohnna Owens, a 6-2 senior who started last season at forward, and Gary Fowler, a 6-2 junior. Womack, who has some slick moves around the basket and a medium-range jump shot, could develop into the same type of player as Augmon. “We’ll be more balanced this season,” Coach Mike O’Connor said. “We have experience and will again have good quickness, but we must work on our defense and rebounding. Womack will probably draw the opponents’ best post man on defense.”

6. Huntington Beach Ocean View (20-4)--The Sea Hawks should have something to prove this season. Despite going undefeated in the Sunset League last season, they were on probation and ineligible for the playoffs. Senior forwards Ricky Butler, 6-6, and Desi Hazley, 6-4 1/2, are returning starters and are expected to lead the Sea Hawks back into the playoffs. Butler, a three-year starter who has signed a letter of intent with Kansas, averaged 16.2 points and 11.5 rebounds as a junior. “His best assets are his rebounding and his passing,” Coach Jim Harris said. “He will have to be a little less unselfish this season. When he gets the ball, he will have to think basket. He should average over 20 points per game. Hazley will have to take the pressure off Ricky and keep the other teams from double- and triple-teaming him.” In the three-guard offense, Drew Sheffield, a 5-8 senior, will be at the point and Doug Rice, a 6-2 senior, and Todd Pickard, a 6-4 senior, will be the off-guards. Two players who figure to get plenty of playing time are Geoff Graves, a 6-4 senior, and Todd Norman, a 6-4 sophomore who shot 72% from the floor for the freshman team. “We will play 10 players a lot this season,” Harris said. “That’s something I’ve never done before.”

7. Compton Dominguez (22-6)--Ernie Carr is one coach who is hoping--praying--that he doesn’t get a break this season. At least not the same kind of break he has gotten in each of the last two seasons. In 1985, a day before the 4-A final, forward Michael Moore, Carr’s most valuable player, broke his ankle. In 1986, junior Ronnie Coleman, the team’s leading scorer and rebounder, broke his wrist with a game remaining in the regular season. Still, the Dons advanced to the 4-A semifinals, losing to eventual champion Muir by two points. Joining the 6-6 Coleman, who averaged 12.5 points and 9.5 rebounds, in the three-forward front line are Dijon Bernard, a 6-3 sophomore, and Mark Mitchell, a 6-3 senior. The guards are Mike Elliott, a 6-3 senior who has signed with UC Santa Barbara, and Erick Washington, a 6-1 senior who has signed with Northern Arizona. Both were part-time starters last season. Two reserves to look for are John McLeod, a 6-3 junior transfer from Texas, and Xavier Edison, a 6-3 sophomore. In evaluating Coleman, who has signed with USC, Carr said: “Once he gets the ball within 17 feet of the basket, he can put it away. He doesn’t make many bad plays and can find the open man when he is doubled.” Carr lists shooting and the ability to run as his team’s assets, which means that the Dons will probably look a lot like they have the last two years when they were real factors in the playoffs.

8. Lakewood (12-12)--The Lancers are similar to Millikan, another Moore League team, in that they have four starters returning. Senior guards Dwayne Cooper, 6-1, and Ronald Brown, 5-10, started last season. Cooper averaged 18 points and Brown 8 points and 4 assists. Coach Tim Sweeney, who coached Michael Wiley and Johnny Nash at Long Beach Poly, said that Cooper is the most talented player for his position that he has ever coached. “He plays all-out all the time. He’s very quick, he can penetrate, and he will not back off.” Center Milton Robinson, a 6-5 senior, and forward Matt Ward, a 6-5 senior, are returning starters up front and will be joined by either Allan Wilson, a 6-2 senior, or Anthony Hill, a 6-3 senior who was the leading scorer on the JV team. The first two players off the bench figure to be Jonathan Chaney, a 6-3 junior, and Victor Camper, a 6-6 1/2 sophomore, whose brother Vincent went to Long Beach Poly. “We have a lot of experience this year,” Sweeney said. “Ronald and Dwayne have played together for six years. We have size and should be strong on the boards. Our bench is also good. Usually, we start slow, but this year could be different.”

9. Rolling Hills (21-6)--Last season, Coach Cliff Warren took over a team that no one expected very much from and led the Raiders into the 4-A playoffs and a victory over fourth-seeded Riverside North before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual finalist Simi Valley. If Warren’s name rings a bell, it should, at least to longtime followers of Southern Section basketball. From 1963 to 1967, he was the coach at El Segundo, where he won a Southern Section title in 1963, reached the semifinals in 1966 and lost in the final in 1967. After 18 years in business, Warren returned to the prep ranks last year as a walk-on coach. “We had no returning starters last year, but we had some good players,” he said. “It’s just that nobody knew it.” Rolling Hills has three returning starters and two part-time starters. Forward Doug Gehr, a 6-4 senior, averaged 18 points last season and is teamed with Mike Peretti, a 6-2 senior, the sixth man as a junior. Center Greg Thomas, 6-2 senior, was the seventh man last season. Cameron Terry, a 6-3 senior who averaged 13 points and 5 assists, and Trent Warren, a 5-8 senior, are the returning starters at guard. “We’re an excellent shooting team and have good overall speed,” Warren said. “We also play good man-to-man defense.”

10. Huntington Beach Marina (14-13)--If big is better, the Vikings should improve on last season’s record. Returning are center Mark Georgeson, a 6-10 senior, forward Steve Guild, a 6-6 junior, and guards Matt Hattenbaugh and Mike Myers, both 6-1 seniors. Rounding out the starting five is forward Dan Floyd, a 6-7 junior who averaged 18 points and 18 rebounds in earning MVP honors on the JV team. Georgeson averaged 13 points and 8 1/2 rebounds last season and has signed with Arizona. “He’s a mobile 6-10 player with range up to 17 feet, but I don’t put him out there,” Coach Steve Popovich said. “Over the past year, he has matured a great deal. He can now handle the double team and is much better at passing to the open man.” Guild, who averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds, has the ability to play both inside and outside, which is one reason Popovich has changed from to a single-guard offense with Hattenbaugh at the point and Myers, who averaged 14 points last season, on the wing. Giving the Vikings more versatility are Todd Sanders, a 6-2 senior, and David Yamate a 6-2 junior who was MVP of the sophomore team.

Times’ Preseason Top 10

SOUTHERN SECTION No. School, League ‘85-86 Record

1. Mater Dei, Angelus 30-1

2. St. Monica, Camino Real 13-10

3. Millikan, Moore 13-11

4. Simi Valley, Marmonte 27-3

5. Muir, Pacific 28-3

6. Ocean View, Sunset 20-4

7. Dominguez, San Gabriel Valley 22-6

8. Lakewood, Moore 12-12

9. Rolling Hills, Ocean View 21-6

10. Marina, Sunset 14-13