HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL / CITY SECTION PREVIEW : VALLEY PAC-8 CONFERENCE : EAST VALLEY LEAGUE (4-A)

Grant

COACH: Howie Levine, 7th season

LAST SEASON: 16-7; 1st in league, 10-2

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Only one starter returns, but league foes won’t likely be fooled by the Lancers’ lack of experience. Levine always builds a contender regardless of what he has to work with. Levine is looking to senior returning guard Darwin Alfelor (5-foot-7) for scoring and leadership. Alfelor made 36 three-point baskets last season and averaged 10 points and 2.7 assists a game. “I can see him having some big nights,” Levine said. Senior forward Rod Robinson (6-1) and junior point guard Sean Hackett (5-10) got a lot of playing time and have earned starts. Junior Chi Chen (6-0), “a great shooter,” will have the green light. Junior Rick Forscutt (6-6) will start at center and “improves every time he touches the ball.” Junior Marc Scorza (6-1), who did not play last season, will start at forward. Off the bench are sophomore Terry Smith-Harris (6-2), juniors Ante Bilaver (6-4) and Tommy Showater (6-2), in addition to senior Derrick Wilkening (5-11), the league’s junior varsity player of the year.

OUTLOOK: North Hollywood is the obvious league favorite, but Grant won’t likely bow out easily. The Lancers are young, inexperienced and rebuilding, but tenacious basketball is a Levine trademark. “Nobody will be able to play a flat zone against us,” Levine said.

North Hollywood

COACH: Steve Miller, 8th season

LAST SEASON: 26-2; 1st in Mid-Valley League, 11-0

PLAYERS TO WATCH: The Huskies lost three starters to graduation, but no one should notice because talent is still plentiful. Junior forward Damon Ollie (6-5, 220 pounds) is the only full-time starter returning. He was the leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 16.6 points and 13.5 rebounds. Ollie, who just completed his first season of football, already has collected dozens of recruiting letters. Seniors Anson Credille (6-2) and Marcus Sanders (6-4) started occasionally. Credille averaged 8.8 rebounds. Junior guards F.J. Johnson (6-0) and Romaine Coleman (6-3) got a lot of playing time and will move up to starting positions. Senior center Lafayette Baker (6-6) is a transfer from Reseda. Sophomore point guard Arthur Lee (6-0) and junior forward Michael Poole (6-1) are reserves who should see plenty of playing time in the Huskies’ up-tempo, running, pressing system.

OUTLOOK: Miller thinks the overall depth of this team is better than last year’s, but there is less experience at the guard position. “We have more players that can do more things,” Miller said.

Sherman Oaks CES

COACH: Ed Weathersby, 1st season

LAST SEASON: 13-13; 2nd in league, 7-6

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Weathersby has his work cut out for him in his debut season. Sherman Oaks CES moved up to the 4-A Division by virtue of its second-place finish last season. And what Weathersby did not lose to graduation, he lost to transfers. Barry McWright is now at San Fernando, Keith Whitner at Roosevelt. Senior center John Cannon (6-5), the lone returning starter, is a three-year starter. “He’s the foundation of the team,” Weathersby said. Senior Rahsaan Bradley (6-0) is a point guard. The other three starting positions will be filled by juniors whom Weathersby coached on the junior varsity level last year. Oscar Castillo (5-9), a shooting guard, was the junior varsity’s leading scorer. Arthur Rodgers (6-1) and Stuart Shine (6-0) are forwards. Off the bench are junior Jeff Cannon (6-2), John’s brother, senior Oleg Vosicher (6-2) and freshman Ricardo McClean (6-2).

OUTLOOK: Weathersby coached most of these players at the junior varsity level over the past three seasons, so the coaching transition should be smooth. But the team lost a lot of talent to graduation and transfers. “We realize we’re not going to be as good as the last couple of years,” Weathersby said. “They know what to expect.”

Van Nuys

COACH: Ken Lee, 4th season

LAST SEASON: 9-16; 2nd in Mid-Valley League, 7-4

PLAYERS TO WATCH: Only one starter returns for the Wolves, who are aligned with the 4-A East Valley League this year because of their solid finish in the Mid-Valley. The small, inexperienced Wolves face a challenge. Senior Cesar Felici (6-2) is a returning starting forward whom Lee hopes to build a team around. “He’s developed into a very good shooter,” Lee said. “He’ll have to do just about everything.” Senior Lorenzo Bobadilla (5-9) did not play last year but will start at off-guard. Seniors Ben Haripotepornkul (5-7) and Neil Paialii (5-6), and sophomore Alvaro Miranda (5-6) are guards. Up from the junior varsity are senior forwards Fidel Rubio (5-11) and Krikor Trossian (5-11). Seniors Najib Hassankhial (5-6) and Salvador Hernandez (5-9) are reserve guards. “We will use the whole bench, because we’ll be running,” Lee said.

OUTLOOK: The Wolves are not deluding themselves. Lack of experience and team height are tough obstacles to overcome. “They understand their situation,” Lee said. “We’ll rely heavily on shooting, hustle and teamwork.”