Azusa Pacific Is School of Choice for Guard Dean : Preps: The Torrance player, who led the state in scoring, says he will attend the NAIA school. Tartar basketball coach Tachibana also resigns.

Torrance High basketball guard Michael Dean, the state’s leading scorer last season, has given an unwritten commitment to Azusa Pacific University, a National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics school.

Besides losing its top player, Torrance also is looking for a new coach. George Tachibana resigned after guiding the Tartars to a 13-14 record in his only season as coach.

Dean, a 6-foot senior, averaged 33.6 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists last season, splitting time between point guard and shooting guard. He is expected to play point guard at Azusa Pacific.

Dean scored a career-high 54 points Dec. 16 to lead Torrance to a 107-106 upset over Morningside, the eventual Southern Section Division III-AA champion and State Division III runner-up.

Dean, who was also recruited by Cal State Fullerton, Cal State Sacramento and Seattle Pacific, said he chose Azusa Pacific because he believes he can play as a freshman for the Cougars.

“They have a real good program and they gave me a full ride,” Dean said of Azusa Pacific. “They are a very good NAIA school and I thought I’d rather play at a top-notch school at a lower level than play for a mediocre Division I school.”

Azusa Pacific was 30-4 last season and made the NAIA national tournament for the first time in 19 years before being eliminated in the second round. Coach Bill Odell was voted the NAIA District 3 coach of the year.

Odell, a former coach at Long Beach Millikan High, said Dean will compete for a starting job next season because of the graduation of point guard Earic Peters.

“We aren’t bringing (Dean) in here to sit,” Odell said. “We are elated. We feel Michael is very important to our continued success. We like his actions on the court. He will be a good point guard for us.”

Odell said that Dean’s charisma on the court will be an attraction for Azusa Pacific as well.

“He’s going to be a hit with our fans,” Odell said. “We have standing-room-only crowds at our games. People are very excited about basketball here.”

Dean plans to major in broadcast communications.

Tachibana said Azusa Pacific was the only school to have been interested in Dean from the start of the season.

“They’ve become like a family to him,” Tachibana said. “Their style of play suits Mike, running up and down the court. I think he’ll step in there and make an impact.”

Tachibana said he is stepping down at Torrance because of the strain that coaching placed on his personal life. He was a walk-on coach.

“I have three kids who play sports themselves, and this year I missed a lot of their activities,” Tachibana said. “I’m still helping out until they find a new coach, and I may be an assistant with the varsity next year.”