PREP BASKETBALL / SOUTHERN SECTION BOYS’ PREVIEW : Artesia Has Another O’Bannon and More

Last season, Artesia High’s basketball team could have been titled “The Ed O’Bannon Show.” O’Bannon, a 6-foot-8 senior forward, was the force behind the Pioneers’ drive to State Division II and Southern Section 4-A Division titles and a 29-2 record. He was considered one of the nation’s top recruits while leading Artesia in scoring, rebounding, blocked shots and dunks.

O’Bannon has left for UCLA, where he’s sitting out his freshman season because of a knee injury, and Artesia has to replace him. Normally, this would be a difficult task, but Coach Wayne Merino appears to have the players to keep the Pioneers’ program on top.

A look at The Times’ top 15 Southern Section preseason basketball poll.

1. ARTESIA

Suburban League (Division II)

Last Season: 28-2

The Pioneers lost O’Bannon and point guard Chris Thompson but have some fine players returning. De Andre Austin, a 6-4 scoring guard, is the only returning starting senior, and he will be assisted by two returning starting underclassmen--O’Bannon’s brother Charles, a 6-5 sophomore; and Jae Park, a 6-7 junior center. Sophomores Avondre Jones, a 6-11 center, and James Cotton, a 6-4 forward, also will play key roles. Artesia is seeking its fourth consecutive Suburban League championship under Merino.

Artesia will be tested when it plays at Long Beach Jordan Saturday and later next month when it plays host to such powers as DeMatha of Hyattsville, Md., and Manual Arts in the recently moved Fiesta Bowl tournament.

“I’m very much surprised to be ranked as the top team,” Merino said. “Even though we have three starters returning, we are still very young.”

2. SAN BERNARDINO

San Andreas League (Division I)

Last Season: 26-3

Last season, San Bernardino lost in the quarterfinals of the 5-AA Division playoffs to Lakewood, but with 6-8 Ray Owes returning, expect the Cardinals and Coach Scott Kay to do better. Owes, who has signed with Arizona, averaged 26.3 points last season and was selected first-team Southern Section Division I. He will be joined by 6-4 Kofi Bass, 5-9 Quan Ha and 6-1 Benson Ector. San Bernardino is seeking its eighth consecutive San Andreas League title.

3. COSTA MESA ESTANCIA

Pacific Coast League (Division III)

Last Season: 21-10

Estancia is the top-rated team in Orange County and has seven of the top eight players from last season’s 3-AA Division championship team. Coach Tim O’Brien lost All-Southern Section guard Agustin Heredia to graduation but has a balanced team featuring 6-5 junior forward Matt Fuerbringer and 6-5 Torrey Hammond.

4. LONG BEACH POLY

Moore League (Division I)

Last Season: 28-3

Coach Ron Palmer led the Jackrabbits to Moore League and 5-AA Division titles last season and came within seconds of reaching the State Division I final, only to be defeated by a 20-foot desperation basket by Mater Dei’s Jason Quinn. This season, Poly will be strong again and will be led by UCLA-bound point guard Tyus Edney and forward Yikeem Craddock.

5. TUSTIN

Sea View League (Division II)

Last Season: 20-8

Coach Tom McCluskey has four starters from last season’s team, which reached the 4-AA quarterfinals. Guard David Beilstein, who averaged 17.7 points, and forward Thomas Clayton should play major roles for the Tillers. At 6-6, Brian Reider is Tustin’s tallest player; the Tillers do not have another starter taller than 6-1.

6. HUNTINGTON BEACH MARINA

Sunset League (Division I)

Last Season: 18-9

Marina will rely on Cherokee Parks, a 6-11 center who signed with Duke, to lead a team that lost in the second round of the 5-A playoffs. Coach Steve Popovich will need guard Sean Haselrig to step forward to help Parks, who averaged 22.1 points and 13.4 rebounds.

7. SANTA ANA MATER DEI

Angelus League (Division I)

Last Season: 34-1

Last season, Mater Dei was the best team in the state with an all-senior starting lineup, but this season Coach Gary McKnight will rely on junior leaper Reggie Geary, senior Mark Moneypenny and sophomores DeJuan Matthews and Kamran Sufi in hopes of repeating as State Division I champion.

8. PASADENA MUIR

Pacific League (Division II)

Last Season: 15-13

First-year Coach Bill Moore has four returning starters and adds sophomore guard Jacque Vaughn. Phillip Turner, who averaged 15 points, is expected to be the Mustangs’ top scorer with Darren Greene being their top inside player.

9. GLENDORA

Baseline League (Division II)

Last Season: 28-6

Two years ago, Tracy Murray, now a UCLA sophomore, led Glendora to the State Division II final. His brother Cameron will take his turn in the spotlight. The younger Murray, a 6-3 freshman, will join a Tartan team that does not have a returning starter from last season’s 4-AA championship team. Coach Mike LeDuc also has a fine shooter in sophomore guard Adam Jacobsen.

10. LONG BEACH MILLIKAN

Moore League (Division I)

Last Season: 21-8

Two seasons ago, Millikan won the 5-AA title and last season reached the second round of the playoffs. This season, Bill Odell, who has won 326 games in his 20 years of coaching, hopes to return to the final with swingman Pat Thacker, who averaged 16.8 points, and guard Dante Powell, who averaged 11.7.

11. HUNT. BEACH OCEAN VIEW

Sunset League (Division I)

Last Season: 17-10

The Seahawks have size in 6-8 senior Marcel TenBerge and outside shooting in guard Ryan Martin, who made 45 three-point baskets last season. Coach Jim Harris, whose son Jimmy will start at point guard, hopes to improve on last season’s 5-A semifinal appearance.

12. SANTA BARBARA

Channel League (Division I)

Last Season: 22-6

Coach Bob Purdy has a solid team returning, headed by his son, Matt, a 6-7 swingman, who averaged 18 points, and Dave Palmer, who averaged 14 points and eight rebounds. The Dons, who lost to Mater Dei in the 5-A semifinals, also bring up an undefeated junior varsity team.

13. SAN MARCOS

Channel League (Division II)

Last Season: 24-8

Last season, San Marcos reached the 4-A final behind 6-9 center Rob Ramaker, who averaged 15 points and nine rebounds. Ramaker is back along with three other starters, including All-Channel League guard Zak DeMatteo.

14. INGLEWOOD MORNINGSIDE

Ocean League (Division III)

Last Season: 24-4

Inside play should be a strength for Morningside with 6-7 Arthur Savage and 6-8 Pauliasi Taulava, but co-coaches Carl Franklin and Ron Randle’s most-talented player could be 6-3 forward Stais Bozeman.

15. LYNWOOD

San Gabriel Valley League (Division I)

Last Season: 31-3

Last season, behind the scoring of Earnest Killum, Lynwood reached the 5-AA final. Killum is gone, but first-year Coach Bill Lee has Joaquin Hawkins, who averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds, and Nathan Ware, who was the Knights’ top reserve.