Northwest Valley Conference : North Valley League

Cleveland COACH: Kevin Crider, 2nd season LAST SEASON: 19-7; 1st in league, 9-1 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Crider says that junior center Shawn Bankhead (6-foot-6), who averaged 6.4 points last season as a starter, is vastly improved and capable of playing any position. “He’ll play wherever we need him,” Crider said. “He might just become the best player in the Valley.” Bankhead might have to soften the sting of the departure of All-City Section forward Brandon Martin, who transferred to Washington after averaging a region-high 25 points last season. The graduation of three other players who averaged in double figures adds to the void. The most promising newcomer is senior guard Terrayne Evans (6-2), a transfer from Palisades who drives well on the dribble, Crider said. Probable starters moving up from the junior varsity are senior guard Jeremy DeGracia (6-0) and junior point guard Corey Wallace (6-2). Several other players are battling for the fifth starting position. The front-runner is 6-foot-7, 210-pound sophomore Roderick Jones, mostly because he is the most physical under the basket. The probable sixth man is junior Tou Toule Ntoya (6-5), a good outside shooter. Junior forward James McWilliams (6-1) is “a big-time rebounder who also runs the floor well,” Crider said. OUTLOOK: In the three seasons that the City has used the conference format, Cleveland has lost a total of two games, both to Granada Hills. No such domination is expected this season. “We’re borderline in some places and adequate in others,” Crider said. “At this point, to say we’re the best team in the Valley, I don’t buy it.”

Granada Hills COACH: Bob Johnson, 13th season LAST SEASON: 18-6; tied for 2nd in league, 7-3 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Last year’s success--the Highlanders were the only team to beat Cleveland in league play--came with a heavy price tag. All but one player graduated, leaving Granada Hills with a roster that will include four sophomores among its top 10 players. Shelton Simmons, a reserve as a junior, will start at forward. Simmons (6-5) has shown marked improvment and should rank among the league’s best players. “He’s looked awfully good,” Johnson said. “He makes the most of what he’s got.” The rest of the lineup is new. Junior Jeff Brown (6-4) will star at forward. Sophomore whiz-kid Todd Battles (5-10) is a superior ballhandler and starts at point guard. “He’s a fine, fine player,” Johnson said. “He’ll only get better.” Senior Omari Miles (6-1) and junior Tyrone Jackman (6-1) start on the wing. Sophomores Rowan Pearson (6-2), Steve Fisher (6-2) and Michael Burke (6-0) will play extensively in Granada Hills’ fast-paced attack. OUTLOOK: The talent is there, Johnson said, but it is unrefined. “We’ll get a lot of help from the young guys,” Johnson said. “But we have a lot to learn.” Granada Hills again will attempt to play up-tempo as much as possible. “We’re gonna run, boy,” he said. “We’ve got 10 guys who can play, and I’ll play ‘em all.”

Kennedy COACH: Yutaka Shimizu, 9th season LAST SEASON: 9-15; 4th in league, 2-8 PLAYERS TO WATCH: Kennedy took its lumps last year but should improve. Nine of Kennedy’s first 10 players are seniors and the team is stocked with returning talent. Eight lettermen are back, led by senior guard Bobby Winn (6-2) and junior forward Joe Wyatt (6-3). Wyatt averaged 11.9 points last season and Winn averaged 9.4. Shauhin Talesh (5-9) returns and will start at point guard. Other experienced starters are Vidale Little (6-3) at center-forward and swingman Ronnie Gipson (6-2). Little has an injured ankle and is expected to miss the first three weeks. David Haynes (5-10) and Greg Richardson (5-10), both returning lettermen, are the backup guards. Eric Rosen (6-4), who played on the junior varsity last season, is the backup center. OUTLOOK: Shimizu is having none of Taft Coach Jim Woodard’s assessment that Kennedy is the team to beat. The two coaches have battled for years, and both teams are expected to contend for the league title. “He’s doing that because he wants the heat off him,” Shimizu said. “They have a good team. We don’t have anybody that signed early.”

Taft COACH: Jim Woodard, 11th season LAST SEASON: 15-8; tied for 2nd in league, 7-3 PLAYERS TO WATCH: There are some new faces on the roster, but some familiar ones too. Senior guard Casey Sheahan, an all-league selection, will lead a team that can catch fire from the perimeter. “It’s the best three-point shooting team I’ve had,” Woodard said. Sheahan (6-2), who has signed a letter of intent to play at Cal State Fullerton, averaged 16.6 points, 4.5 assists and 3.1 steals as a junior. Senior Adam James (6-1), a reserve last season, will run the team from his point-guard position. Miguel Carrillo (6-1) can play all five positions and should start at forward alongside newcomer Larry Schneider (6-3). Johnny Williams (6-7) showed flashes of brilliance during the L.A. Watts Games last summer. Williams, a sophomore, starts at center. “He has a lot of natural talent,” Woodard said. “He’s still sort of raw, but he’s improving.” Another sophomore, reserve guard Lamont Magee (6-0), has all the attributes of a college prospect. “He could turn out to be a big-time player,” Woodard said. “Maybe even by next year.” Terry Prince (5-9) and Chris Ng (6-1) will receive substantial playing time off the bench. OUTLOOK: Taft has not won a league title since 1981-82, Woodard’s first season as coach. The Toreadors need to play at a consistently high level or it won’t happen this year, either.