PREP BASKETBALL / 1991-92 CITY SECTION PREVIEW : Washington Boys and Girls Have Home-Grown Talent

Four years ago, Brandon Martin and Charisse Sampson were Los Angeles eighth-graders living in the Washington High School attendance area.

They were talented basketball players who had tough decisions to make on which high school to attend.

Living only blocks from Washington did not mean that they were certain to play there, because in the Los Angeles school district students can consider a number of academic programs and attend nearly any school.

Martin decided on Cleveland High in Reseda, even though it meant lots of bus time. To him, it was time to get away from the inner city and play for a Valley school.

Sampson decided to stay home and go to Washington because she wanted to remain close to her friends.

Now, four years later, Martin and Sampson are both at Washington. Martin transferred from Cleveland last spring.

“I’m glad he decided to come to Washington now,” said Sampson, who has started for the Generals’ girls’ team since her freshman year and is a three-time All-City selection. “I didn’t really know him until he came in last year, but everyone seems to like him.”

Martin, a 6-foot-4 guard, is considered among the best players in the City Section after averaging 25 points a game last season for Cleveland. He left Cleveland last spring after a series of disagreements with Coach Kevin Crider.

“Having (Martin) join us is a great addition to our team,” said Washington Coach Kermit Taylor, whose Generals reached the City 4-A Division semifinals last year with a 21-5 record and are ranked third in The Times’ preseason ratings.

“The thing is . . . he lives in our attendance area. We were just fortunate. He is an outstanding passer, a great shooter and a skillful ballhandler. Everyone likes him because he distributes the ball.”

Martin, who has a 3.2 grade-point average, signed a letter of intent with USC last month.

Sampson, a 5-11 forward, is the City record-holder in rebounds with 1,198 in her career and is third in scoring with 1,470 points. She is not only considered the best girls’ player in the City but is ranked among the best in the country.

“When (Sampson) was in eighth grade, she was being recruited by all sorts of high schools,” Washington Coach Phil Chase said.

“We knew she was very good, but we didn’t know how much she would improve. All I can say is that we’ve won the City championship three years in a row, and she’s been on the team for all three years.”

In her first two seasons, Sampson played with All-City guards Detra Lockhart and Remitha Houston. She was not needed to score until last season when she averaged 21.8 points and 16.6 rebounds a game in leading Washington to a 25-5 record.

Sampson can play both inside and outside, but will probably play guard in college.

“I think I can execute from anywhere on the court,” said Sampson, who has visited Arizona, Kansas, San Diego State and UCLA. “But, I think my strongest point is inside.”

BOYS

Westchester, the defending 4-A Division champion, begins the season as the top team in the city, ahead of perennial powers Fremont, Crenshaw and Manual Arts. The Comets have four starters back from last season’s 18-8 team--seniors James Gray, a 6-foot-3 guard; Lorenzo Ball, a 6-5 forward, and Lavalle Ball, a 6-6 center, and junior Jason Sanders, a 6-3 guard.

Fremont, which has reached the City 3-A Division final for three consecutive seasons, has only Todd Whitehead, a 6-3 forward, back from last year’s 34-2 team. The Pathfinders were the state’s top team for most of the season until losing to Alameda St. Joseph in the state Division I final.

Washington, which finished 21-5 last season, will benefit from transfers Brandon Martin and Darryl Armstrong. Martin’s versatility and Armstrong’s rebounding will be key ingredients for the Generals.

After reaching the City final for three consecutive seasons and 11 of the last 13, Crenshaw lost to Westchester in the semifinals last spring. Alexous Scruggs, a 6-3 senior, is the leader for the Cougars, who have three starters returning from last season’s 21-5 team.

Manual Arts cruised through most of last season before losing to Westchester in the 4-A final. The Toilers graduated nearly their entire lineup from last season’s 23-5 team, but guard Keith Franklin and transfer Antwan Lewis are quality players.

Other teams to watch are Dorsey, with center Damon Simms; Carson, with guard Rudy Washington and 6-10 center Khary Stanley; Fairfax, with USC-bound guard Burt Harris, and Reseda, with UCLA-bound guard Marquis Burns.

GIRLS

Washington has all five starters back from last season’s 25-5 team. The Generals have won three consecutive 4-A Division titles and feature three All-City players--Charisse Sampson, Shakeisha Chambers and Keshana Ledet.

Wilmington Banning finished 15-9 last season and has two standout players back--Bernice Alafua, a 6-foot forward, and Michelle Campbell, a 6-4 center.

North Hollywood will be strong with Suzi Shimoyama leading the way from last season’s 23-5 team. Crenshaw, the 4-A Division runner-up with a 17-6 record, will be led by guard Cathy Grice.

Other teams to watch are Carson, Dorsey, University, Roosevelt, Huntington Park and Marshall.

City Section Players to Watch BOYS

Lorenzo Ball Westchester 6-5 F Marquis Burns Reseda 6-3 G Keith Franklin Manual Arts 5-11 G James Gray Westchester 6-3 G Burt Harris Fairfax 6-1 G Brandon Martin Washington 6-3 G Alexous Scruggs Crenshaw 6-3 G Damon Simms Dorsey 6-8 C Khary Stanley Carson 6-10 C Rudy Washington Carson 6-4 G Eric Wattree Fremont 6-5 C Todd Whitehead Fremont 6-4 G Eric Wright South Gate 6-3 G

GIRLS

Tamu Agiza Manual Arts 5-7 G Bernice Alafua Banning 6-0 F Michelle Campbell Banning 6-4 C Shakeisha Chambers Washington 5-11 F Alisa Collins University 5-11 F Maritza Cruz Huntington Park 5-8 G Francesca de la Rosa Belmont 5-6 G Ruth Flores Jefferson 5-11 G Cathy Grice Crenshaw 5-6 G Keshana Ledet Washington 6-0 C Charisse Sampson Washington 5-11 F Denise Takamoto Narbonne 5-8 G Shannon Williams Crenshaw 5-10 F

City Section Basketball Polls TIMES PRESEASON

BOYS

No.School Div. ‘90-91 1.Westchester 4-A 18-8 2.Fremont 3-A 34-2 3.Washington 4-A 21-5 4.Crenshaw 4-A 21-5 5.Manual Arts 4-A 23-5 6.Dorsey 4-A 7-16 7.Carson 4-A 16-10 8.Fairfax 4-A 16-9 9.North Hollywood 4-A 15-12 10.Reseda 4-A 14-9

GIRLS

No.School Div. ‘90-91 1.Washington 4-A 25-5 2.Banning 4-A 15-9 3.North Hollywood 4-A 23-5 4.Crenshaw 4-A 17-6 5.Carson 4-A 21-6 6.Dorsey 4-A 13-7 7.University 3-A 14-9 8.Roosevelt 3-A 22-2 9.Huntington Park 3-A 15-8 10.Marshall 3-A 20-3