ANALYSIS : CSUN Must Lure Impact Players in Basketball

With three starters and a key reserve finished with their eligibility, the letter-of-intent signing period that begins today is critical to the development of Cal State Northridge’s basketball program as it heads into its third season at the Division I level.

Coach Pete Cassidy and assistants Tom McCollum and Jerry Carrillo are trying to replace top scorer Keith Gibbs, top rebounder Shelton Boykin, center Brian Kilian and reserve shooting guard David Keeter.

Cassidy can sign as many as five players, excluding Geoff Gorham, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard from Riverside College and the lone signee from the early period last fall.

Northridge got its first oral commitments for this signing period Tuesday from North Hollywood High guard Robert Hill, Woodbridge High guard Todd Lowe and Utah State transfer Brent Lofton. Lofton, a former El Camino Real High standout, is ineligible until the 1993-94 season.

Three junior college players and perhaps another high school senior are expected to sign over the next two weeks.

“We’re at that stage of recruiting where there are a lot of people we are talking to,” Cassidy said. “We are crossing swords with (teams) we will play. We are all after the same type.”

Last season, Northridge’s recruits did not have an immediate impact in the lineup. Freshman shooting guard Ryan Martin started for the first 10 games, then lost his position to sophomore walk-on Brooklyn McLinn. Martin, who averaged 5.1 points a game in 16.7 minutes, also played occasionally behind Keeter.

The junior college signees, James Morris and John Moses, were reserves. Morris gave Northridge a lift off the bench, however, averaging 7.9 points in 19.1 minutes. Moses averaged 2.0 points and 1.8 rebounds in 10 minutes.

Zak DeMatteo, the other signee, was on a partial scholarship and was redshirted. He transferred to Westmont College during the winter break.

Northridge had to replace two starters, shooting guard Kyle Kerlegan and center Todd Bowser, after its inaugural Division I season, in which the Matadors went 8-20. Martin, McLinn and Keeter split time as Kerlegan’s replacement, but none were as successful from three-point range.

Kilian and Percy Fisher split time at center. Neither was as steady as Bowser in terms of rebounding or inside scoring, although Kilian improved dramatically during the season and Fisher was, at times, productive. Fisher finished with scoring and rebounding averages of 9.3 and 5.4 in 22.3 minutes.

With more impact players to replace this time, it would appear that the staff needs to sign a few players who are skilled enough to start immediately. If the 1991-92 reserves are moved into starting positions simply to fill vacancies, the program is not upgrading to a more competitive level.

A possible replacement for Kilian is 6-7 center Peter Micelli, who averaged 1.8 points and 1.5 rebounds in 5.7 minutes as a freshman in 1990-91. Micelli redshirted last season in an effort to improve his strength and skills, and Cassidy believes he can compete for a starting position.

Because the Matadors finished 11-17 last season after an 0-10 start, Cassidy and his staff have had an easier time selling their program to recruits.

“Maybe we’re getting better vibes than we were before,” Cassidy said. “Our program has become more attractive, we’ve been on TV more and we’ve been in the media more. It indicates to the people we want coming here that we have good, local media coverage and that the chance of growing and expanding is good.”

CSUN’s 102-95 win over Loyola Marymount gave the program perhaps its biggest boost.

“It’s a name program and I don’t think people expected us to compete with them this soon, let alone beat them,” Cassidy said. “We’ve heard a lot of comments about that win along the scouting trails. Other coaches are telling us they are really happy the way it turned around after the (0-10) start. And again, coaches get too much credit for success. We relied on the players to turn the corner.”

Cassidy is aware that the loss of Gibbs, Boykin, Kilian and Keeter might mean another uphill climb.

Gibbs, the team’s top all-around player, led the Matadors in scoring (15.2 ppg), steals and blocked shots, and was second in assists (88) and third in rebounding average (5.0).

Boykin was Northridge’s top rebounder the past two seasons with a combined average of 6.2 per game. He also improved as an inside scorer toward the end of the season, raising his average from 5.0 to 7.3. Kilian averaged 4.3 points and 4.3 rebounds and Keeter averaged 5.1 points.

“We think we are (losing a lot),” Cassidy said, “but the plus side of that is that we can tell (recruits) that the positions are right there for them.”

As usual, the program needs size. At 6-5, Boykin was one of the smallest inside players in Division I the past two seasons and CSUN has not had a center taller than 6-7 in the Division I era.

“What’s really hard is (that) the pool we draw from is so small,” Cassidy said. “When you have a good-sized pond, there’s a lot of fishermen, and we’re all going after the same fish. There’s not a lot of 6-7 whales, and then there’s skill level. Can they pass and run and play defense? Can they get into school and pass their classes?”

While Gibbs eventually emerged as a go-to scorer to replace Kerlegan, a recruit might have to take that role next season. There does not appear to be a player on the current roster who can average 15 to 18 points, although Cassidy is hopeful one will emerge.

Regardless of scoring potential, Cassidy is hopeful of signing at least one swingman to replace Gibbs.

“We are looking for someone to take the perimeter shot and take it to the (basket),” Cassidy said. “He might not be able to jump and dunk like Keith, but he could play the position.”

The backcourt might remain intact. Although point guard Andre Chevalier stands less than 6-feet and Morris is only 5-8, Cassidy paired them on occasion last year and can envision them starting.

A priority for the 1993-94 season might be to sign an impact player from another state.

“Not that California doesn’t have the kids,” Cassidy said. “It is hard to keep some of the top kids in California. They’ve lived in California all their lives. There is no mystique for them.”