Many of Last Year’s Seniors Are Still Hitting the Hoop in College

Judging by statistics, former Wilson High basketball star Scott Williams’ freshman season at the University of North Carolina was not impressive.

The 6-10 center averaged only 5.5 points and 4.2 rebounds, made 49.7% of field-goal attempts and 55.8% of free throws.

But Williams, The Times’ 1985-86 San Gabriel Valley player of the year, had his moments.

Most noteworthy was his last-second jumpshot that tied Virginia and sent the game into a second overtime in the Atlantic Coast Conference semifinal. The Tar Heels won, 84-82.

Williams also tied with J.R. Reid and Dave Popson for the team lead in blocked shots with 27.

Williams played in all 36 games as a reserve for North Carolina, which was ranked among the top five teams in the nation most of the season and reached the NCAA East Regional final. He played 10 to 15 minutes a game and could move into a starting position next season.

Another of last year’s all-stars, 6-6 forward Eric McArthur of UC Santa Barbara, a South Pasadena High standout, scored only 29 points in 70 minutes but had 13 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists against San Francisco.

McArthur would have played more if he had not broken a finger in preseason. He is expected to contend for a starting position next season.

Muir standout Stacey Augmon did not play in his freshman season at Nevada-Las Vegas. The 6-8 forward was academically ineligible but is expected to have an impact as a sophomore for the Rebels.

Kevin Partington, a 6-2 guard from Damien, averaged about 2 points in limited playing time as a reserve for UC Riverside. Teddy Jones, a 6-6 forward from Blair, averaged 3.7 points and 3.1 rebounds as a part-time starter at Cal State Los Angeles and established himself as one of the team’s top defensive players.

Standouts Charles White of Monrovia and Kevin Cutler of Ganesha have established themselves as top community college players.

White, a 6-6 forward at El Camino in Torrance, averaged 15.7 points and 7.5 rebounds and earned All-South Coast Conference honors after leading his squad to the third round of the state playoffs. “He has displayed a tremendous outside shooting touch and is working hard to make the transition from high school to college basketball,” El Camino Coach Paul Landreaux said.

Cutler, a 6-7 forward at Arizona Western in Yuma, averaged 14 points and a state-best 15 rebounds to earn all-conference honors. Cutler had signed a national letter of intent with Cal State Fullerton but was released after he failed to meet the NCAA’s academic guidelines.

Another player who took the community college route is Ken Boldt, a 6-7 forward from South Pasadena, who averaged 5 points and 3 rebounds as a reserve for Sheridan of Wyoming. “He’s a good finesse player,” Sheridan Coach Bruce Hoffman said. “He just needs to work more on the physical part of his game.”

Former Claremont standout Travis Watkins was the only senior from last year’s team who did not play basketball in college. However, Watkins made an impression as a wide receiver for the University of Iowa.

The 6-1 Watkins, an all-valley selection in football and basketball, caught 4 passes for 96 yards and 1 touchdown and is listed as a second-string wingback on the Iowa depth chart for next season.

The only junior on last year’s team, Derwin Collins of Pomona, missed most of his senior season for the Red Devils because of academic problems and was not selected to the all-valley team. But the 6-5 Collins, who averaged 30 points and 19 rebounds in limited playing time, is considered a strong college prospect for next season.

Perhaps the most successful of the girl all-stars from last year was Judy Mosley, a 6-0 forward at the University of Hawaii, who stood out as a prep player at La Puente.

Mosley, an All-CIF performer, was the leading scorer at Hawaii. She averaged 14.8 points, 11 rebounds, made 74% of free throws and was the top scorer for the Rainbow Wahines in 17 of 28 games. That earned Mosley recognition as the Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. freshman of the year and a spot on the all-conference second team.

The biggest surprise from last year’s team may be Walnut High star Kristy Greenberg, who made an immediate impact as a 5-9 off guard in her first year at Pepperdine. Greenberg, a two-time all-valley selection, averaged 10.7 points and made 82% of free throws.

Greenberg also made a conference-leading 37% of three-point field goal attempts to establish herself as the team’s top reserve.

Another all-valley selection who performed well was 6-2 forward Geannine Jordan of Nevada-Las Vegas, formerly of Muir, who averaged 9.1 points and 5.5 rebounds and started in 15 of 30 games to earn a post on the All-Pacific Coast Athletic Assn. freshman team.

Nevada-Las Vegas will receive a boost next season when another all-valley player from last year, Geannine’s twin Pauline, joins the team. Pauline, a 6-3 center, did not play this season because she failed to meet the NCAA academic requirements but is expected to be the team’s top player as a sophomore.

One junior from last year’s all-star team, Missy Phillips, did not play basketball as a senior at Arroyo High. But the 5-10 Phillips, an outstanding all-around athlete, is playing softball as a shortstop for the Knights and the All-CIF performer is expected to sign a national letter of intent to play for UCLA.

Four other underclassmen from last year’s all-star team were repeaters this season: 6-4 junior Rachel Norris of San Gabriel, 5-11 senior Stephanie Coons of Wilson, 5-4 senior Lisa Crosskey of Monrovia and 5-6 senior Rachonne Jones of Pasadena.

Another underclassman on last year’s team, 5-9 senior Kelly Collins of Marshall Fundamental, earned honorable mention on this year’s squad.