Harbor College Plans to Take Strong Approach

Carl Strong, a two-sport athlete at Harbor College who has coached basketball at the high school, community college and NCAA Division I levels, has come full circle.

Strong, a retired history teacher and former Torrance High boys’ coach, is the new Harbor men’s coach. He replaces Ken Curry, who led the Seahawks to a 70-55 record and three playoff berths in four seasons.

Strong, 59, spent the past two seasons as an assistant at El Camino College. He was hired in late summer when Cliff Warren resigned from the post. Warren, the former Rolling Hills High boys’ coach, was originally hired to replace Curry, but resigned before officially taking over because of a family illness.

Strong says he had enough time to recruit several solid players. Among the Seahawks’ top newcomers are forwards Kent Bennett, Joe Zaletel and Bassirou Niang and guards Jerry Allen and Chris Hobbs.

The 6-foot-5 Bennett was the City player of the year at Manual Arts three years ago. He played at Butler (Kan.) County College as a freshman and will start at small forward for Harbor.

Freshmen Zaletel (6-6) and Niang (6-7) will share starting duties at forward. Zaletel was an All-CIF player at Torrance last season, and Niang, who is from France, played club basketball in that country.

“Bassirou runs the floor real well and he’s a 67% shooter,” Strong said. “He’s also our second-leading rebounder. He plays that European style, though. He needs to get the fluidity of the American game.”

Allen, a freshman All-City player from Granada Hills High, will start at point guard. Hobbs, a second team All-CIF freshman from Mira Costa High, will be a top reserve at off-guard.

“Jerry is an outstanding defender who will be heavily recruited next year,” Strong said. “He’s the guy we’ll stick the opposing team’s best scorer. He’s our stopper.

“Chris is a great outside shooter. He redshirted at Humboldt State last year so his experience will help us a lot.”

Sophomore Chris Mijanovic (6-6) will start at center. The former San Pedro High standout averaged 20 points and 12 rebounds a game last season.

“Our strength is definitely shooting,” Strong said. “We shoot the ball very well and we will become a good defensive team. But we’re young and it’s going to take us a while to jell.”

Freshman Jermoine Brantley (6-0) will be a backup point guard and freshmen Ty Merriweather (6-6) and Dario Del Cid (6-5) backup forwards. Del Cid led Harbor in shooting through six games last season, but was forced to redshirt because of a broken arm.

“I think physically this is the best team Harbor has had,” Strong said. “We really have some talented athletes.”

The Seahawks open Southern California Athletic Conference play at home Jan. 8 against Cerro Coso College.

The Harbor women’s team should be much improved from last season, when the Seahawks finished 5-21 overall and 0-13-1 in the South Coast Conference.

Second-year Coach Louie Nelson, who has only one returning player in forward Melanie Midget, recruited several talented players.

The Seahawks will start two freshmen from Morningside High, Jakeena Bacon at point guard and Bridgete Williams at off-guard. The other guard will be freshman Joanne Williams.

Sophomore Kim Young will start at small forward. Young was a standout at L.A. Jordan High and Compton College, but has not competed in three years because she had a baby.

“She’s definitely our best player,” Nelson said.

Freshman Angelina Adams will start at center, and freshman Loretta Thomas will be a backup guard.

“I had a chance to recruit this year and we had the whole summer to play together,” said Nelson, who was hired in the summer of 1990 when the school started its program. “This year we have some athletes who know how to play the game. They’re hungry and they want to get better.”

Harbor will play in the newly created women’s Southern California Athletic Conference, which also includes L.A. Southwest, L.A. Trade-Tech and Compton.

The Seahawks open SCAC play at home Jan. 24 against Southwest.