City Teams to Regain Players Lost to Grades

It is unknown whether they give their teams a lift or simply take up space on the bench, but several players--albeit rusty--are expected to return to their playoff-bound City Section boys’ basketball teams in time for today’s games. After today, teams will have one game left in the regular season.

This week marks the beginning of the second semester at City schools, and players who were academically ineligible in the fall can rejoin their teams if their grade-point averages meet the minimum 2.0 standard.

For many teams, that could mean the return of impact players. How effective those players will be is uncertain because City rules prohibit ineligible players from practicing with their teams. In most cases, the final word on eligibility is expected today.

In the 4-A Division, Granada Hills is anticipating the return of forward Ryan Cravens, a 6-foot-1 junior who was a projected starter before becoming ineligible last fall.

“He could really help us,” said Coach Bob Johnson, whose team is tied with Cleveland for first place in the North Valley League. “He’s one of those hard-nosed, blue-collar inside guys.”

Kennedy, another member of the North Valley, is hopeful that center Athesis Harris will return. Harris (6-4) started last season as a sophomore. “He tells me he’s in good shape (academically),” Coach Yutaka Shimizu said. “We’ll see when the grades get here.”

Cleveland is expected to regain senior forward Brandon Battle, who has spent as much time on the sidelines as he has in uniform since transferring to the school two years ago. Battle (6-6), the leading scorer at Canoga Park as a sophomore, feuded last season with former Cleveland Coach Bob Braswell and played sparingly.

El Camino Real, tied for first with San Fernando in the 3-A West Valley League, lost starting center Bert Mitchell, who moved to Long Beach last week. That point became moot when Mitchell (6-2) was ruled ineligible Tuesday, Coach Mike McNulty said. The team also failed to regain the services of 5-9 senior Lamont Johnson, a scheduled starter. Johnson’s GPA remains under 2.0, McNulty said.

Reseda, tied with North Hollywood in the 3-A Mid-Valley, lost reserve swingman Jamar Sanders (5-11) to ineligibility.

North Hollywood, Grant, San Fernando, Sylmar and Birmingham, all of which have clinched or could secure berths in the 3-A playoffs, are not expected to be impacted by eligibility problems.