Orange County Community College Notebook / Steve Kresal : Smalls Made Big Impression Fast

It took one basketball game for Vincent Smalls to make a positive impression on his Saddleback College teammates.

Smalls, a freshman from Philadelphia, was visiting Saddleback last summer and played in a summer league game with the Gauchos.

“As soon as we saw him play,” center Scott Dwinell said, “I knew we were going to be good.”

Small, 6-feet 4-inches, was a second-team all-city player at University City High School in Philadelphia.

Jim Maloney, an assistant coach at Temple who scouted Smalls, recommended him to Saddleback Coach Bill Brummel. It turns out that Maloney and Brummel are friends, and Maloney thought that Smalls could benefit from a community college as a student and an athlete.

“Had I gone to a local college it would have been just like staying home,” Smalls said. “I like the people and the campus here. . . . And the weather is great. It’s snowing back home right now.”

Smalls, playing the post position, leads Saddleback in scoring (16.3 average) and rebounding (7.7). The Gauchos are 18-5.

“The competition is tough out here,” Smalls said. “I’m just lucky to be considered part of the elite crew here. I’m pretty proud of that.”

For the second consecutive week, there’s a new No. 1 basketball team in Southern California. Rancho Santiago moved from second to first after Saddleback lost to Orange Coast, 56-51, Saturday night.

Cerritos is second, El Camino and Compton are tied for third, Saddleback is fifth, Ventura sixth, Orange Coast seventh, Glendale eighth, Grossmont ninth and Cypress and Santa Barbara are tied for 10th.

Community College Notes

Eric Krivashei, a sophomore guard for Cypress, lost his starting spot earlier this season but returned to the lineup when the Chargers started the Orange Empire Conference schedule two weeks ago. “He just wouldn’t give up mentally or physically when he was out of the lineup,” said Don Johnson, Cypress coach. “He worked harder and continued to care about the team even when he was not playing.” . . . Jeff Bielman of Irvine High School, a first-team all-Mission Conference wide receiver, has signed a letter of intent with Cal State Long Beach. Linebacker Mark McGraph (Laguna Beach High School) and defensive back Jeff Kelly (Capistrano Valley) are expected to sign this week at Cal Lutheran. . . . The Cypress College women’s basketball team, with nine freshmen, has the state’s No. 2 offense, averaging 74.7 points a game. Forward Pam Fritsch, who averages 15 points and 12.3 rebounds a game, leads the team.