Basketball’s New Blood : High Schools Get Infusion of Talent Via Transfers

Every season, star players emerge to lead their respective high school basketball teams to victory. But this year’s “Who’s Who” has turned into “Where Did He Come From?”

Among the area’s top 10 teams, at least 14 players started for other high schools last season. New additions include Crenshaw junior forward Kris Johnson, son of former UCLA and NBA great Marques Johnson, Louis Radford of Fremont and Kevin Pinckney of Manual Arts.

The central Los Angeles area, traditionally a hotbed of talented players, also has its share of returning stars. Two have already signed letters of intent with Division I schools.

This year’s class of standouts includes Dorsey point guard Kenya Wilkins, who signed early with Oregon, and Manual Arts senior guard Troy Matthews, who signed with Southern Methodist University. Loyola forward Toby Bailey and Pilgrim guard Victor Dean are among top juniors already attracting attention from college recruiters.

The infusion of new blood will make it easier for the top City Section teams to wrestle away the crown from two-time defending 4-A Division champion Westchester. In addition to last year’s 4-A finalist Crenshaw and upstart Dorsey, two-time 3-A champ Fremont and veteran-heavy South Gate join the race to dethrone Westchester.

In the Southern Section, Loyola should improve after finishing last in the defunct Angelus League, and perennial powers Verbum Dei, Bell Gardens, Cathedral and Salesian hope to make it farther into their respective divisional playoffs.

The City Section basketball season officially started Nov. 18, but the first full schedule of games was played Tuesday. The Southern Section season started Saturday with preseason holiday tournaments. The eight-team Loyola Tournament starts Wednesday.

Here’s a look at the returning starters and top newcomers from the area’s schools:

1. DORSEY (19-6)--After winning the Watts Summer Games basketball tournament in June, Dorsey is the team to beat in the City Section. Dorsey has one of the state’s best point guards in Wilkins. Returning for the Dons is leading scorer Davey Fortson, who came off the bench last year to average 17.7 points a game. Fortson, a 6-2 guard, has great speed and hands and is capable of making seven or eight steals in a game. Also returning is center Taryll Franklin (6-5), a good rebounder and strong inside player who doesn’t need to score much to have an impact. Sophomore Willie O’Neal will see considerable playing time. Talented football player Antonio Carrion (5-10) will play after missing last season with an ankle injury.

2. MANUAL ARTS (19-6)--The Toilers are one of two teams that will benefit from transfers. Swingman John Thompson (6-4) transferred from Los Angeles High, center Pinckney (6-8) arrived from San Fernando High and junior Lamar Thompson (6-6) came from Poly in Sun Valley. They will join senior guard Matthews (6-3), who averaged 19.6 points a game, guard Michael Stewart (6-3), and forward David Rickenbacker (6-5), who return from the 1991-92 team that advanced to the City Section semifinals but lost to eventual 4-A champion Westchester. Also joining the squad is junior guard Andrew Dawson (6-3), who scored 17 points a game for the junior varsity last season.

3. CRENSHAW (19-5)--The Cougars, the City Section 4-A Division runners-up, have the most newcomers of any of the area teams. Johnson, a junior, averaged 21.4 points a game for Montclair Prep last season and was selected to the Southern Section Division V first team as a sophomore. Junior forward Tremaine Folkes (6-5) was a starter last season at Culver City, junior forward Reggie McFerren was one of the top players at Serra and senior guard Maurice Robinson (6-1) played at Westchester. The only returning player is junior Leon Watson (6-7), who came off the bench. Senior guard Stacy Gentle (5-10) played for the junior varsity last season. “We’ve got to learn what we do best,” Crenshaw Coach Willie West said. “There is a lot of talent. We have to focus on one goal and get there as a team. I have to learn about the players and the players have to learn about me. That’s the weakness of the team. We have to learn about each other.”

4. FREMONT (31-4)--The Pathfinders step up in class after winning consecutive 3-A Division championships. The star of the team is Rickey Brown, a 6-2 guard who averaged 17 points a game. Junior point guard Tommie Davis (5-8) was voted one of the top 15 players at the Superstars Basketball Camp at UC Santa Barbara during the summer. Fremont was strengthened by two transfers from Los Angeles High--Calvin Patterson and Radford. Patterson, a 6-2 swingman, jumps well and is a strong inside player. Radford, a 6-6 1/2 center, is a backup quarterback and starting receiver on the football team. Senior guard Leslie Bean (5-10) is a zone-breaker and has a good outside shot.

5. SOUTH GATE (22-8)--The Rams return five starters from a team that lost to Fremont in the 3-A Division finals. Senior Miguel Villegas, a 6-2 guard who averaged 14 points and 12 assists a game, was selected to the 3-A Division first team, along with senior forward Saipele Tuialii (6-6). Senior forward Eric Wright (6-3) was an all-City player in 1991 but missed most of last season with an ankle injury. South Gate has all the elements to be a championship team but will play against tougher competition in the 4-A Division. “I’m fortunate to have my players back en masse,” South Gate Coach Tak Aoki said. “I’m also fortunate to have players with good grades that will remain eligible throughout the season. It will still take an element of luck to win at this level. I hope we can play up to our expectations.”

6. WASHINGTON (21-5)--The Generals, demonstrating how tough the Southern Pacific Conference can be, won the league title but lost to Carson in the second round of the playoffs. Andy Davis and Dave Johnson, who will share coaching duties this season, will battle Crenshaw, Dorsey and Carson for the Southern League crown. Washington received some reinforcement when senior point guard Craige Slaughter (5-11), who averaged 22 points a game last season, transferred from Waco, Texas. The Generals should be a strong rebounding team with junior forward Dayron Harris Jr. (6-4 1/2), senior center Stacy Thomas (6-4) and junior center De Andre Brandon (6-6) coming off the bench. Junior guard Gregory Gales (5-11) provides speed in the back court.

7. VERBUM DEI (18-7)--The Eagles were the top-seeded team in the Southern Section IV-A playoffs last season but were upset in the quarterfinals by L.A. Baptist. Four starters return from last year’s team. Senior forward Dion Jackson (6-5) averaged 17 points a game. In the back court, senior point guard Tony Brown (6-0) averaged 10 points and eight assists while running mate Jamal Cobbs (5-8) averaged nearly 10 points. Senior forward Myk’l Williams (6-2) averaged eight rebounds a game. Top newcomers include Terence Robinson, Ivory Burris and Andre Miller.

8. LOYOLA (9-16)--Don’t let the record fool you. The Cubs play against the toughest competition in the Southern Section and things will not get any easier when they move to the Mission League. Bailey (6-4), a junior, is probably one of the most exciting players in the area. He dunks, makes the great pass, the big block or the steal to win games--but he can’t do it by himself. The Cubs are looking for more shooters, and junior forward Kenan Adams (6-2) hopes to become the designated scorer, after averaging only eight points a game last season. Junior point guard Corey Woods (5-9) is quick and handles the ball well. Bailey, Adams and Woods all started as sophomores last season. The Cubs hope newcomers Edwin Canady (6-4) and Ryan Callahan (6-4) will supply the rebounding to make Loyola a challenger in the Mission League. Ryan Bailey, Toby’s younger brother; Bobby Thomason, son of Coach Bill Thomason, and Marcus Kaufman are the top reserves.

9. LOCKE (20-9)--The Saints have won 20 or more games during the last three years, but have come up short in size and points in key games. They lost to eventual 4-A champion Westchester by one point and twice lost to 3-A champion Fremont by four. Senior guard Demetrius Nettles (6-2) is one of the top 10 players in the city, averaging nearly 16 points and eight rebounds a game. Senior forwards Carl Conston (6-4) and Antuan Roberts (6-5) also can score in double-figures. The Saints have two new exciting varsity members in Glenn Lyles, a transfer from Hanford High, and Derrick Higgins, the most valuable player on last year’s Saints junior varsity team. Both are capable of scoring 20 or more points a game.

10. LINCOLN (26-3)--Two of the stars of the Tiger football team are also two of the top players on the basketball team. Senior guard Marcelo Ortega, the area’s leading wide receiver, averaged 12 points a game last season. Ruben Castellanos, a running back in football, moves from the backfield to the back court, where he averaged nearly 20 points a game. The Tigers have some new faces with center R.C. Cantrel (6-5 1/2) transferring from Venice High and forward Keith Whitner (6-3) returning from Sherman Oaks Center for Enriched Studies. The fifth starter is senior off-guard Hong Lam (6-2). The Tigers, like most teams, do not have a true center and that will hurt them during playoffs.

Other Area Teams

City Section

* Bell (2-10)--The duo of junior Jerry Espinoza (6-2) and senior Mario Ceja (6-1) will split time at center to help give the Eagles versatile post play. Junior Ricardo Lopez (5-10) will run the show at point guard for coach Randy Kiehm.

* Belmont (4-16)--The Sentinels are coming off of a disappointing season in which they were 1-9 in league. Seniors Oliver Collado, a 5-11 forward who averaged 18 points a game, and center Lamonte Amos (6-2), who scored 10 points and snared 12 rebounds a game last year, are among coach Jack Hansen’s top returnees.

* Garfield (6-6)--Senior Alex Gomez, a three-year varsity member who averaged 14 points and eight rebounds a game last season, is the Bulldogs’ most experienced player. Six-foot guard Julio Serrano, who averaged 10 points and four assists a game, returns as Garfield’s top playmaker.

* Jefferson (2-13)--The Democrats have outstanding players in senior forward Jason Weaver (6-4), who averaged 15 points a game, and junior point guard Anthony Martin (5-9), who averaged 21 points. Senior center Robert Smith, a 6-6 transfer from Moreno Valley, and senior forward Dontai Harris, a 6-foot transfer from Manual Arts, will play key roles.

* Jordan (6-18)--James Curry, a 6-4 transfer from Inglewood High, should give the Bulldogs strong play at the post. George Barrett, a 5-9 point guard, will be responsible for finding shooters such as 6-2 forward Emanuel McMeans.

* Huntington Park (8-6)--Second Team All-Eastern League guard Joe Covarrubias brings a 16-point, 10-assist average back into the Spartans’ lineup. Center Caesar Plascencia (6-4) will be counted on to keep Huntington Park active on the boards.

* Los Angeles (2-14)--The Romans were the hardest hit by transfers, losing three players. The team’s most valuable player Terryl Woolery, a 6-3 junior guard who averaged 12.5 points a game, is the top returning player for first-year Coach Craig Murray. Senior forward Carlton Codd (6-3) and junior guard Brandon Thomas (6-1) are the other top players to watch.

* Roosevelt (11-12)--Second Team All-Eastern League point guard Juan Pimentel will resume his role as the Roughriders’ floor general. Coach David Perea hopes the play of 6-2 forward Gerardo Arangure, who started eight games for Roosevelt last season, will make Arangure a fixture in this year’s lineup.

* Wilson (13-12)--Coach Mario Cantu will look to the sharp shooting of 6-5 swingman Paul Hunt and 6-3 off-guard Octavio Brito, both juniors, to lift the Mules back into the playoffs. Wilson suffered a first-round playoff loss to Chatsworth last season.

Southern Section

* Bell Gardens (17-7)--The Lancers, co-champs in the Whitmont League last season, move to the newly formed Almont League. Junior forward Eddie Santana (6-2) is the only returning starter, and last season’s reserve guards Robert Lizarraga (5-4) and Pedro Loza (6-1) will play a pivotal role as the team’s scorers.

* Cathedral (11-12)--Senior forward Mario Rosas (6-2) and senior center Ricky Quintero (6-3) are the returning starters for the Phantoms, who finished as co-champs in the Santa Fe League. Junior forward Mike De La Cruz (6-2), senior guard Joel Ornelas (5-8) and senior guard Tony Henton (5-8) are returning lettermen.

* Pilgrim (14-9)--Dean (6-0), a junior guard, (6-0) averaged 24.3 points and 11.2 rebounds and was selected to The Times’ Central team in 1992. Dean, who also was the Heritage League MVP, has the potential to play college basketball but needs to compete against better players outside the league. Sophomore guard Fred Burnam (5-7) had 21 assists against First Lutheran to rank ninth in the Southern Section for most assists in a game.

* Salesian (4-19)--Senior Jimmy Gonzalez (6-2) was selected to the Santa Fe League first team and is the only returning starter. Gonzalez averaged 19 points and 15 rebounds a game. Senior guard Danny Navarro (5-7) will run the floor.

Next week: A look at girls’ basketball.