NOTEBOOK / SEAN WATERS : Benefit Basketball Game for Brentwood School Expected to Bring Out a Lineup of Stars

This may be the best celebrity basketball game ever held, but most people won’t get to see it.

Former Lakers stars Jerry West and Michael Cooper and comedian Billy Crystal have invited their friends to participate in a Feb. 27 charity basketball game to raise money for Brentwood School.

The game will not be on television, and only Brentwood faculty, students and parents are invited.

“It is closed to the public,” organizer Nancy Freedman said. “We decided to have it in the school gym and invite only school families.”

Lakers expected to compete are A. C. Green, Byron Scott, Sedale Threatt, Sam Perkins and James Worthy. Other celebrities expected to play include television star Woody Harrelson, Raider Willie Gault, actor Danny Stern, former Ram Rosey Grier, former NBA and UCLA star Sidney Wicks and Clippers General Manager Elgin Baylor.

Lakers announcer Chick Hearn will be master of ceremonies.

Brentwood faculty members, students and parents will be selected through a lottery system to play with the celebrities on the teams, Freedman said.

Wake-up call: Jennifer Nakanishi of Culver City has impressive credentials for a high school basketball player.

The 5-foot-8 senior guard is a four-year starter, averaging 24 points a game. She has twice been named to The Times’ Westside All-Star team and to the Southern Section Division III first team in 1992.

In addition, Nakanishi is a straight-A student and was homecoming queen.

NCAA Division I recruiters, however, are not impressed.

Nakanishi has not received a firm scholarship offer to play college basketball, according to Marty Siegal, Culver City athletic director and boys’ basketball coach. USC and Pepperdine are among local schools that have contacted her.

“It’s hard for me to believe at this time with all her credentials and all, that she has proven that she doesn’t have a scholarship,” Siegal said. “She has everything--I would think--a college program would want in a basketball player.”

Transfers of power: It was a big blow to the Culver City boys’ basketball program when Tremaine Folkes transferred to Crenshaw.

The Centaurs, however, got a transfer from Crenshaw who is turning into a productive offensive player.

Sanford Richmond, a 6-3, 230-pound forward, has been averaging 24 points during the nine games he has played with the Centaurs.

“He has the build of an offensive tackle,” Siegal said. “He doesn’t jump high, but he uses his body to a great advantage. He is an amazing guy to be this big and still be so agile.”

Turnaround: Luke Buffum’s name sounds like he should be an actor on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” But Buffum will have to settle for being a basketball player for one of the most famous high schools in America.

Buffum, a 6-7 forward, has become the best player on the Beverly Hills basketball team. He improved his scoring average from eight to 25 points and his rebounds from five to 12. He made the all-tournament teams in the Loyola, Beverly Hills and Hart tournaments.

Norman Coach Jason Newman said Buffum spent last summer working out in the Norman weight room and worked on refining his shooting and footwork techniques.

“The best part of Luke is that he has not allowed his success go to his head,” Newman said. “He’s one of the hardest-working players during games and practice.”