PREP BASKETBALL ‘92-’93: FREEWAY LEAGUE

Sunny Hills

1991-92 RECORDS OVERALL: 21-5 LEAGUE: 8-2

COACH: RECORD AT SCHOOL

Steve White: 244-174

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Mario Bertuol Sr. 6-3 G/F Brian Willmer Sr. 6-3 F

TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Kevin Garand Jr. 6-2 G Brandon Haynes Sr. 6-2 F

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Jacob Cuccia Sr. 5-11 G Aaron McGuire Sr. 6-1 F Bobby Sunderland Sr. 6-2 G Gary Trende Sr. 6-7 C Randy Wilson Jr. 6-4 F

OUTLOOK

Sunny Hills is seeking its sixth consecutive league championship, but it won’t be easy. Terry Mann, the league’s most valuable player the past two seasons, is now attending Harvard. He averaged 22.9 points and 10.2 rebounds. Point guard Kevin Christian, who averaged 4.8 assists and was the catalyst of the team, transferred to St. John Bosco. Bertuol, a first-team all-league selection last year, will be the team’s top offensive threat. He averaged 14 points last season. Willmer, an all-county linebacker, is the best defensive player and usually draws the assignment of guarding an opponent’s best player. “We’re not a proven team, but we have good players,” White said. Cuccia, a transfer from Whittier Christian, is expected to fill the void at point guard. Five football players--Willmer, Cuccia, Sunderland, Wilson and McGuire--likely won’t join the team until the conclusion of the football playoffs. Haynes will miss the opening four weeks because of a dislocated left shoulder. Bertuol is recovering from a broken nose and will play with a mask in the opening week. “We’re pointing for January,” White said. Sunderland will play for the first time since his freshman year.