PREP BASKETBALL ‘92-’93: EMPIRE LEAGUE

EL DORADO

1991-92 RECORDS OVERALL: 14-13 LEAGUE: 4-6

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL

Wayne Carlson: 70-57

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Andy Hinkle Sr. 6-5 G/F Chris Remala Sr. 6-2 G/F John Simonsen Sr. 5-11 G

TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Buckley Clossen Sr. 6-7 C Keith Holland Sr. 5-10 G Mike Pavia Sr. 5-11 G Dan Watson Sr. 6-5 F

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Jeff Moore Jr. 6-3 F Dante Spencer Jr. 6-3 F Tracy Williams Jr. 6-5 F

OUTLOOK

El Dorado is one of the teams that makes the Empire League race so difficult to predict. The Golden Hawks should be right in the thick of things by the end of the regular season, mainly because seven players who saw considerable playing time are back from last season’s fourth-place team. So the depth is there. So is the size. Clossen, Hinkle, Watson and Williams figure to wear down opponents in the paint. Carlson will count on the four to improve on the team’s biggest weakness--rebounding. He wants the Hawks to be a bit tougher inside than they were last season. If they do improve in that category, the Hawks will probably move from the middle of the pack to a contender’s role. Most of the other winning ingredients seem to be present. Simonsen was one of the league’s top guards last season, averaging 12.5 points and 4.7 assists. Hinkle averaged 6.5 points and Remala added 5.1 points in a part-time starting role. There does not appear to be a dominant newcomer who will lead the Hawks, however. Carlson’s picks: Esperanza, Los Alamitos, Katella, El Dorado, Cypress and Loara.