Basketball Preview : Team Better Than State Rank, Harbor Coach Says

Ken Curry looked at the JC Athletic Bureau’s preseason basketball rankings and laughed.

His Harbor team, which is favored to place second to L.A. City in the seven-member Southern California Athletic Conference, isn’t ranked in the state’s top 20 or even in the Southland’s top 15.

The third-year coach chuckled for two reasons: one disbelief and the other confidence that his club can beat a lot of the teams ranked in the state.

“It’s amazing,” he said, shaking his head. “This is the best team I’ve had since I’ve been here. Well, we’ll get to play all these people, so I’ll find out if I’m right or wrong.”

If he’s right, Harbor will climb into the rankings immediately. Curry believes that this team is a lot better than last year’s, which reached the second round of the playoffs. The coach is confident that his club can go further despite losing scoring machines Keith Billingslea (18.8 points a game), Ronald Lewis (16) and Jerome Hendrix (14.7).

“I think I have a team that everybody has to reckon with,” Curry said. “I know I have a contender.”

The Seahawks have more depth than ever before and can score inside and from the perimeter. Curry says he has at least three consistent three-point shooters and about a dozen big men who can muscle inside the key for a basket.

“We have so much depth,” Curry said, “that we can go 13, almost 14, deep before there’s a major drop-off.”

Harbor starts four sophomores and one freshman. Eddie Shannon, a speedy 5-foot-9 sophomore, is the point guard, Calvin Kyles (6-1, 190) the off guard. Shannon is a transfer from UC Irvine, where he saw limited action as a walk-on. Kyles, a part-time starter last year, is one of the team’s best shooters and a strong passer.

Vernon Middleton (6-4, 175) and Terry Nelson (6-6, 205) are the forwards. Middleton, a part-time starter last year, averaged 18 points in the playoffs. Nelson, a freshman from Long Beach Poly High, will do a lot of scoring and play a lot at post.

Center Roneil Powell is the only returning player who started in every game last year. The 6-6, 200-pound sophomore’s experience and consistency have already proved to be great assests.

“We’re so well-balanced,” Curry said. “We have so many weapons and so many places to go that we don’t have to rely on any one person.”

Eric Carpenter (6-3, 175), Joe Hay (6-4, 190) and George LeDay (6-6, 180) will see plenty of action. Carpenter is a freshman guard from Serra High, LeDay a freshman forward from Jordan High and Hay a sophomore who can fill in at any spot.

After winning their first three games, the Seahawks defeated Long Beach, 83-81, in the consolation final of the Compton Tournament.