1988 ALL-STARS : Los Angels Times : Kings and Queens of the Court : South Bay Squad Proves You Don’t Always Have to Be a Big Fellow to Stand Head and Shoulders Above the Rest

The all-star boys and girls teams, each consisting of 10 members, their coaches and parents will be guests of the Times at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 1, at the annual Times High School Basketball Awards Brunch where all-star teams from 12 circulation areas will be honored at the Anaheim Hilton. The featured Speaker will be Loyola Coach Paul Westhead. The players and coaches of the year from each area will be announced.

The teams were chosen on the basis of a poll of area coaches, who are asked to fill out ballots nominating their own players and opponents, plus the observations of college scouts and sportswriters. Each player will receive the traditional Times golden basketball plaque and award certificate.

With no player taller than 6-5, The Times South Bay High School All-Star Basketball Team would be considered small by most standards.

Coaches contend it isn’t short on talent, however.

“There wasn’t a preponderance of big men, but there were a lot of quality perimeter players who adapted to the three-point shot,” said Palos Verdes’ John Mihaljevich, the dean of South Bay coaches with 21 years experience. “I think the quality of play was outstanding.”

The 10-player squad includes seven all-Southern Section selections, five of whom were honored with either the most valuable or most outstanding awards in their respective leagues. Each player represents a different high school.

“I do think there were quite a few good 6-4 guys,” said Rolling Hills Coach Cliff Warren. “There’s not that many good big players anyway. If you have a good group of 6-4 guys, you’re just as well off.”

Serra forward James Moses, a sharpshooter headed for the University of Iowa, is the only all-star repeater.

Two of the newcomers are outstanding juniors. Rolling Hills center John Hardy and Inglewood forward Harold Miner emerged as two of the South Bay’s most dominant players, each carrying their teams to the playoffs.

Another junior, El Segundo forward Shawn Foster, was named to the team, which was chosen on the basis of coaches’ votes and the opinions of Times sportswriters.

Other forwards selected were Damon Estell of Carson, Eric Nelson of St. Bernard and Keith Pullen of Leuzinger.

While the team is dominated by front-court players, the South Bay also had its share of quality guards. John Mika of Palos Verdes, Denny Hocking of West Torrance and Dwayne Lucas of Morningside make up the all-star back court.

Perhaps no player burst on the South Bay scene with more impact than Miner. The muscular 6-5 forward began the year playing in the shadow of senior point guard Bobby Sears, but that quickly changed.

Miner scored 39 points in the fourth game of the season against Carson and went on to average 27.2 points, 11 rebounds, 2.6 steals and 2 assists a game. “He’s one of the best in the nation,” said Inglewood Coach Vince Combs, who feels that Miner will be highly recruited next season.

Miner was at his best during Inglewood’s drive to the Southern Section 4-A playoffs. In must-win games, he had 46 points and 11 rebounds in an upset over Ocean League champion Beverly Hills and, two days later, had 35 points and 17 rebounds against Hawthorne in a tie-breaker for the third and final playoff berth from the league.

Although the Sentinels lost to Buena in their playoff opener, Miner scored a game-high 46 points. He was named the Ocean League’s Most Outstanding Player and was selected to the all-Southern Section 4-A first team.

Rolling Hills figured to have a rebuilding year after losing all five starters from the 1987 team that reached the Southern Section 3-A finals. However, the junior-dominated Titans repeated as Bay League champions and reached the 3-A semifinals.

Hardy’s play was one of the main reasons. The 6-4 junior, playing out of position at center because of Rolling Hills’ lack of height, averaged 25 points and 10 rebounds for the 21-7 Titans. “He was the key to our winning,” said Warren.

Hardy was named most valuable player of the Bay League and was chosen to the all-Southern Section 3-A first team.

Moses--a four-year varsity starter, the last three at Serra--led the South Bay with a 34-point scoring average. The 6-5 senior was chosen to the all-CIF 5-A team, marking the third straight year he was so honored.

Nelson, headed to UCLA on a football scholarship, was the top player for CIF 5-A semifinalist St. Bernard. The 6-4 forward was regarded as one of the area’s defensive standouts and averaged 16 points and 6 rebounds. He was named to the all-CIF 5-A squad.

“He was the best player in the South Bay,” said St. Bernard Coach Jim McClune.

Leuzinger’s Pullen helped forge the most dramatic one-year turnaround in the Southern Section last season. The Olympians went from a 1-19 record in 1987 to a 17-6 mark, the Pioneer League championship and a berth in the 3-A playoffs.

The 6-5 Pullen, named co-most valuable player of the league with teammate Roger Thomas, led Leuzinger by averaging 17.2 points and 9.7 rebounds. Also, he was among Southern California’s top three-point shooters with 88 baskets from beyond the 19-foot, 9-inch arc. He was named to the all-CIF 3-A second team.

Foster and Lucas shared the most outstanding player award in the Pioneer League. Foster, a 6-4 forward, led El Segundo to third place and a 3-A playoff berth by averaging 20 points and six rebounds. Lucas, a 5-10 guard, used his 40-inch vertical leap to help him average 15 points, 8 assists and 3.5 steals for league runner-up Morningside.

By the end of the season, there were few guards playing better than Palos Verdes’ Mika. The 5-9 playmaker contributed in several areas for the Bay League runners-up, averaging 15 points and leading the team in assists and three-point shots (36).

Mika also was called upon to defend the opposing team’s top scoring threat, as he did several times in the Sea Kings’ drive to the 3-A semifinals. He was named to the all-CIF 3-A first team.

Hocking was a talented all-around player for West, which finished third in the Bay League and advanced to the 3-A playoffs. He averaged 13.2 points, 6.3 assists and 2.2 steals a game and set a school career record with 285 assists. He was named to the all-CIF 3-A second team.

Estell opened the season as the “other” forward in Carson’s front court. Rodney Bowen and Stephen Smith were more highly regarded, but Bowen had an off year and Smith was hampered by illness. The 6-5 Estell stepped in and led the Colts by averaging 12.3 points and 8.9 rebounds a game to earn a spot on the all-Marine League first team.

Players receiving honorable mention are Charlton Jackson, Chadwick; Randy Lavender, Hawthorne; Kevin Lilley, Morningside; Mike Matteoni, Palos Verdes; Terry Newman, Banning; Bobby Sears, Inglewood; Ed Stokes, St. Bernard; Tim Stowe, West Torrance; Mark Tesar, Rolling Hills; and Roger Thomas of Leuzinger.

BOYS PREP TEAM Name: Damon Estell School: Carson Year: Senior Height: 6-5 Average: 12.3 Name: Shawn Foster School: El Segundo Year: Junior Height: 6-4 Average: 20.0 Name: John Hardy School: Rolling Hills Year: Junior Height: 6-4 Average: 25.0 Name: Denny Hocking School: West Torrance Year: Senior Height: 6-0 Average: 13.2 Name: Dwayne Lucas School: Morningside Year: Senior Height: 5-10 Average: 15.0 Name: John Mika School: Palos Verdes Year: Senior Height: 5-9 Average: 15.0 Name: Harold Miner School: Inglewood Year: Junior Height: 6-5 Average: 27.2 Name: James Moses School: Serra Year: Senior Height: 6-5 Average: 34.0 Name: Eric Nelson School: St. Bernard Year: Senior Height: 6-5 Average: 16.0 Name: Keith Pullen School: Leuzinger Year: Senior Height: 6-5 Average: 17.2