PREP BASKETBALL ‘91-’92: ORANGE LEAGUE

Western

1990-91 RECORDS: OVERALL: 22-4 LEAGUE: 8-2

COACH: Greg Hoffman RECORD AT SCHOOL: 112-71

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Chris Jackson Sr. 6-2 G

TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Neil Hensley Sr. 6-0 G

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Brandon Brennan So. 6-2 F Josh Cook Jr. 5-11 F Jason Etter Jr. 6-4 F Frank Floyd Jr. 6-3 G Ed Ingram Sr. 6-3 F Brett Turley Jr. 6-0 G

OUTLOOK

The defending champions lost four starters to graduation, and most of the players coming back are small and quick. Hoffman said the Pioneers sorely miss Tom Barraza, their floor leader and last year’s league MVP. Barraza is now playing at Cypress College. Jackson, meanwhile, has to step in and fill the vacant leadership role. “Chris is the guy who has to carry the torch for us,” Hoffman said. “He’s not the type of player who will go out and get 25 points or carry a team like Barraza. But Chris will carry our team emotionally. He’ll get about 12 to 15 points a game and will play good defense.” Also returning is Hensley, who played on the varsity as a freshman. “Neil’s not awed by the varsity situation,” Hoffman said. “He has pleased me so far.” Hoffman’s also pleased with Floyd, who is capable of rebounding, dishing off assists and scoring 10 points. But Hoffman’s quick to note the Pioneers’ weakness--lack of size. No one is taller than 6 feet 4. “Cook is our center,” Hoffman said, “and he’s only 5-11. He’s a Barney Rubble look-alike. But he does all the dirty work for us. When we scrimmaged Servite this year, he took three charges on Adam Anderson.”