CITY BASKETBALL PREVIEW : L.A. Powers Crenshaw, Manual Arts Again Have State Intentions

Since March, when Manual Arts, the City’s top-ranked and last surviving postseason basketball team, was ousted from the state playoffs, anticipation started to build for this season.

With several City programs on the rise, at least four teams are considered among the state’s best. City teams have won five of the nine modern State Division I titles: Crenshaw four of them and Manual Arts one.

Last season, Manual Arts won its first City 4-A title since 1981 by defeating Crenshaw, 84-72. But in the state playoffs, City teams were slighted. Manual Arts was seeded only third and Crenshaw and Fremont, which was runner-up in the 3-A Division with a 29-3 record, were passed over.

This season, quality teams and players can be found throughout the City Section.

A look at The Times’ preseason top 10 City Section basketball teams:

1. MANUAL ARTS

Western League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 27-4

Third-year Coach Randolph Simpson has a solid team that is expected to repeat as City 4-A champion. Marcell Capers and All-City center William Celestine are gone, but the Toilers are still loaded with high-flying Kevin Beal, a 6-foot-5 forward, and Dwain Bradberry, a returning starter at guard.

Manual Arts will start three forwards and two guards because it does not have a true center. The Toilers’ strength will be balance: every Manual Arts starter is taller than 6-3. Roland Merriwether (6-3), Bryan Smith (6-4) and Wilbert Knight (6-3) are the other starters.

“We don’t have the real big man,” Simpson said. “But, we have guys who all can handle the ball well, shoot well, and everyone plays above the rim.”

2. CRENSHAW

Southern League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 22-5

Last season was supposed to be an off year for the Cougars, but Coach Willie West simply led Crenshaw to the 4-A final and finished with a 22-5 record. The Cougars have the two players who led them last season--guards Kevin Ollie and Alexious Scruggs.

Ollie, a 6-2 senior, led Crenshaw in scoring last season and is joined in the backcourt by Scruggs, a 6-2 junior, who loves to shoot. Last season, Crenshaw did not have its usual depth but look for it this season as West goes for his 12th City title.

3. FREMONT

Central League (3-A Division)

Last Season: 28-3

There are many who think that Coach Sam Sullivan has the best team in the City, despite being in the 3-A Division, and they may be right. Last season, the Pathfinders blasted into the 3-A final with a chance to win 30 games but were upset by North Hollywood. This season, Fremont may be even better.

Chris Ford, a 6-2 scoring swingman, and Michael Tate, a 6-7 inside force, lead the way for the Pathfinders, who won the 3-A title two seasons ago. Point guard Robert Moore controls Fremont’s offense but a full-court pressure defense will again be the key for the Pathfinders.

4. FAIRFAX

Western League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 22-6

Coach Harvey Kitani may have the sleeper team of the season, led by 6-5 Ryan Hickman and scoring guard Burt Harris. Last season Hickman averaged 18.5 points and 12.5 rebounds a game, and Harris has been the leading scorer for the Lions so far this year.

5. CARSON

Pacific League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 19-9

Carson is best known as a football power, but this season, Coach Richard Masson has a basketball team that could duplicate its counterpart’s success.

Leading the way for the Colts is Rudy Washington, a 6-4 junior forward. The key for the Colts, though, could be the return of Khary Stanley, a 6-9 junior center, who has been out with a back injury. Look for Carson to be a force late in the season when it can feature a deep lineup with Stanley and several football players , who will return to action.

6. WESTCHESTER

Western League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 16-11

The Comets have only one starting senior, but he is LeRoi O’Brien, a 6-8 center. O’Brien averaged double figures in both scoring and rebounding last season. Coach Ed Azzam will look for leadership from O’Brien, but juniors James Gray, Lorenzo Ball and Marty Cotwright will have to contribute as well.

7. RESEDA CLEVELAND

North Valley League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 21-5

The Cavaliers had Crenshaw on the ropes in the 4-A semifinals last season before losing in overtime, 91-90. Kevin Crider, who previously coached at Los Angeles High, is now the coach at Cleveland and has an experienced starting five. Kayheed Murray, a 6-5 senior, and Brandon Martin, a 6-4 junior, give the Cavaliers a solid forward combination. Cleveland will need time to adjust to Cryder, who is the team’s fourth coach in a little more than a year, but should be a contender for the playoffs.

8. WASHINGTON

Southern League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 12-10

Before starting high school, Barnabas James was touted as one the area’s top players. Now, the 6-7 James is a senior and has slowly begun to live up to his potential. James, who averaged 18 points a game last season, leads a Washington team that will also have the scoring of guard Kevin Griffis.

9. DORSEY

Southern League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 22-6

First-year Coach Kevin Gibson has a team that may be a year away, but look for the Dons to get better as the season goes on. Lynell Wiggins, a 5-6 point guard, and Juan Harris, a 6-7 center, are key returners. Depth will be a key for the Dons with Marquette Davis, Davey Fortson and Eric Scott, who will be joined by Keyshawn Johnson and Lamont Warren when football season ends.

10. GRANADA HILLS

North Valley League (4-A Division)

Last Season: 17-9

The Highlanders have two starting forwards returning, Adrian Sellers and Jerry Allen, who combined to average 19 points a game last season. Coach Bob Johnson will feature a running attack, with point guard Jevon Lee leading the way.