PREP : Boys’ Basketball Playoffs : Lamoureux’s Stock Rises With Each Victory

The further Los Alamitos High School advances in the Southern Section 3-A boys’ basketball playoffs, the more attention center Dre Lamoureux draws from college coaches.

Lamoureux, a bulky 6-foot 9-inch senior, played well most of the season but drew only moderate attention from major colleges despite averaging 20.8 points and 13.5 rebounds per game and shooting 63% from the field.

But since the playoffs opened a week ago, Lamoureux’s stock has risen, and so has the number of college coaches attending the Griffins’ playoff games.

Coaches from UCLA, Washington, University of San Francisco, Arizona State, UC Irvine, USC, Wake Forest, San Jose State, San Diego State, Cal State Long Beach and Northwestern have been watching.

Lamoureux hasn’t disappointed his new-found audience, scoring 42 points and getting 22 rebounds in two playoff games. Los Alamitos (21-6) continues its quest for the 3-A title at 7:30 tonight when it plays host to Rolling Hills (20-6) at Cypress College.

“Dre has several things that make him attractive to the colleges,” said Steve Brooks, Los Alamitos coach. “Obviously, colleges are always looking for a big guy. He wears a size-18 shoe and will probably grow some more.

“He’s got a nice shooting touch and good hands. He lost 35 pounds this year, so I think that shows he has a tremendous desire to become a player. He also scored 1,100 on his SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test).”

Lamoureux has established four school records this season, including marks for season and career field-goal percentage and single-game scoring (42 points). He’s also approaching the school’s single-season scoring record.

Rolling Hills advanced to the 3-A title game last season, but all five starters graduated from that team. Coach Cliff Warren did a fine job rebuilding the team, and has one of Southern California’s best three-point shooting teams. The Titans have an 8-2 record in the playoffs over the past three years under Warren.

Warren will be well-acquainted with the Griffins’ standout point guard, Brett Pagett. Pagett’s father, Dana, played for Warren in 1967 at El Segundo where he was the 3-A division’s player of the year. Warren and Pagett have remained close.

In other 3-A games:

Saddleback (24-4) vs. Kennedy (19-7) at Western High: Top-seeded Saddleback has won two playoff games by an average of 21 points, but the Roadrunners will be tested by an equally quick Kennedy team. The game is a modified sibling rivalry, with brothers Michael and Maurice Keith of Kennedy pitted against Gylan and Malru Dottin of Saddleback. One key matchup will be Kennedy’s Wendell Lauderdale against Saddleback’s Craig Marshall, who is one of the county’s best defensive players.

Tustin (22-5) vs. Alhambra (22-5) at San Gabriel High: Forwards Kent Wang and Cecil Yang head the Alhambra frontline, with guards Rick Febres-Cordero and Hong Hua in the backcourt. Alhambra is making its first appearance in the quarterfinals since 1955. Leo Parker, Tustin’s 6-6 center, is averaging 22.5 points per game in the playoffs and gives the Tillers a distinct height advantage.

Palos Verdes (18-8) vs. Sunny Hills (22-3) at Biola College: Palos Verdes is riding a seven-game winning streak. The Sea Kings have a balanced scoring attack led by forwards Mike Matteoni (16 points) and Jeff Whitley (14 points) and guard John Mika (14 points). Many thought second-seeded Sunny Hills would struggle when point guard Chris Drakos was declared academically ineligible for the playoffs, but replacement David Chisum has responded with 33 points in two playoff games. Forward Brian McCloskey averages 18.4 points and 12.3 rebounds per game.

In the 4-A division:

Buena (23-2) vs. Santa Ana (25-3) at Rancho Santiago College: Buena has averaged 97 points in two playoff games, but the Bulldogs have yet to face a pressure, man-to-man defense as good as Santa Ana’s. Buena center Shawn Kirkeby is listed at 6-10 but is closer to 6-8. Still, the matchup between Kirkeby and Bobby Joyce of Santa Ana will be interesting. The game also features two fine point guards--Buena’s Mike Sandoval (10.3 assists) and Santa Ana’s Scootie Lynwood (8.8 assists).

Capistrano Valley (24-4) vs. Diamond Bar (23-4) at Cal Poly Pomona: Diamond Bar’s Brian Hendrick, son of California Angels outfielder George Hendrick, is one of the top centers in Southern California. Hendrick, 6-9, averages 25.7 points and has scored 69 points in two playoff games. Capistrano Valley’s seven-foot center, Jim Waikle, will have the formidable task of guarding Hendrick. Todd Marinovich leads a balanced attack with a 15.2 scoring average for Capistrano Valley.

In the 2-A division:

La Canada (25-2) vs. Woodbridge (20-5) at Irvine High: Two of the division’s top players will be matched in this game. Chad Givens, a 6-6 junior, averages 22.4 points per game for La Canada and has a high game of 34 points this season. Adam Keefe, a 6-9 senior, averages 26.3 points per game and has a high game of 47 points this season.