Summer Pro League Showcases Players : Basketball: Games, which will be played at the Bren Center, give athletes opportunity to play--and be seen by NBA teams.

Richard Dumas, who had a history of substance abuse problems, found an opportunity in the NBA after he impressed the Phoenix Suns. He made last year’s NBA all-rookie team.

John Starks, playing in the Continental Basketball Assn., found his way to the New York Knicks. He made a name for himself when he made life miserable for Michael Jordan and the Bulls in the first two games of the Eastern Conference finals.

These are two of the Horatio Alger stories that have arisen from the ASICS Southern California Summer Pro League. A player impresses someone and signs a contract. All he needed was a chance.

Geno Kwok, a Los Angeles attorney, loves these stories--now more than ever. He is the first-year CEO and president of the league, which has relocated at the Bren Center and begins its 24th season Sunday. There is no telling who will be the story of this year’s summer camp, but there will be plenty of talented athletes for fans who like their players a little more established: Dumas, Ron Harper, Mark Jackson and Byron Scott.

Other players expected to participate include Chuck Person, Harold Miner, Lester Conner, John Williams, Sedale Threatt, Pooh Richardson and Dee Brown. A team of former Nevada Las Vegas Rebels will be on hand, including Moses Scurry, Anderson Hunt and Greg Anthony, perhaps Stacy Augmon.

Even Grandmama himself, Larry Johnson, might play before the summer’s over.

All are on teams that will play four games daily beginning July 13 for a 29-day run at the 5,000-seat arena. Sunday and Monday will feature only three games, the first starting at 2:45 p.m. Starting time on four-game days is 12:45 p.m. with the first of two featured games beginning at 5:15.

Kwok is excited about the change of scenery.

“I consider this a new era for the league,” he said. “We’re trying to take the league to essentially a grander environment, a grander plane, that is commensurate with the quality of play involved and the quality and number of fans that enjoy watching the game in that type of environment.”

Kwok hopes the air-conditioning at the Bren, the theater seating and concessions will be an improvement on last year’s locations, at Redondo Beach Redondo and Inglewood high schools. In eight of the nine years before that, the games were held at Loyola Marymount’s Gersten Pavilion. In 1984, they were played at San Diego State because of the Olympics.

“It’s just more of a heightened experience,” Kwok said. “The league was growing and for the league to grow with the time and with its participants, both on and off the court, it had to evolve with respect to the venue and the type of accommodations that are there for the fans.

“But at the same time I wanted to keep the intimate aspect of it, the limited amount of seating. I didn’t want the league in a cavernous facility. When you look at those factors, I think we made, hopefully, a wise decision moving it to the Bren Center.”

Larry Creger, CEO/president of the league since 1980, sold it to Kwok and has been retained as an executive consultant.

“If we have success down here in crowd attendance and artistic success--and that’s up to us to make it look good--I think (this summer) will be a strong rebirth of the league,” Creger said. “Two years ago, 1990 and ‘91, were our most powerful years. With a good summer this summer, this league will blossom into what it was back then and exceed that.”

Last year was tough. Forced out of LMU because of scheduling conflicts, games were played in high school gyms. No air conditioning, difficult access to schools, limited seating in bleachers. By comparison, the Bren Center is the Taj Mahal.

“The NBA culture was very interested in improving the venue, not just for the participants, but the fans,” Kwok said. “From all indications, they’re very pleased with the league’s new venue.”

The “artistic success” Creger alludes to includes efficiency of the operation, games starting on time, uniforms, accurate statistics, ball boys and girls, programs and a fan-friendly attitude.

It’s about comfort in a relaxed, intimate setting that allows fans to get up close and personal with the players.

“On the court, the players--we know--will deliver,” Creger said. “We’re not concerned about that part. Player personnel is not difficult because the NBA players love this league.”

Kwok, perhaps in a Horatio Alger role himself, is betting Orange County does, too.

Facts and Figures

What: The 24th ASICS Southern California Summer Pro Basketball League.

When: July 11 through Aug. 8.

Where: Bren Center, UC Irvine.

Who: The Lakers, Clippers, Portland and Phoenix are submitting rosters. Players, including current and former NBA, CBA, European and recent college players, are assigned to other teams. Among those expected to participate are Richard Dumas (Suns), Oliver Miller (Suns), Reggie Smith (Trail Blazers), Tracy Murray (Trail Blazers) and Duane Cooper (Lakers) and recently drafted Nick Van Exel (Lakers).

Tickets: There are four games daily, except for July 11-12, when there are three; ticket prices are $6 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and children under 12. They are available through TicketMaster and the Bren Center at (714) 856-5000.

Miscellaneous: Five-hundred NBA wannabes will compete in the ASICS World Slam Dunk Championship, “Great Stuff ‘93,” for $5,000 in prizes, including $3,000 first-place prize. Four people will compete at halftime of each game during the season. . . . Prime Network will televise four games on delayed broadcasts, including Sunday’s opening-night matchup between the Lakers and Trail Blazers, which will be televised Monday. Other broadcasts are the July 17 game between the Trail Blazers and NBA Pros (July 19), the July 24 game between the Suns and Trail Blazers (July 26), and the July 24 game between the Clippers and Rebels (Aug. 2), a collection of former UNLV players. All broadcasts begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be called by 76er radio voice Jim Kozimer and former NBA player Reggie Theus. . . . Sunday’s schedule: Orange County vs. L.A. Cellular (2:45 p.m.), Lakers vs. Trail Blazers (5:15), NBA Breakers vs. Rebels (7:30). Monday’s schedule: ASICS vs. L.A. Times (2:45 p.m.), Lakers vs. Irvine Pros (5:15), Orange County high school all-stars-L.A. County all-stars Summer Jam game (7:30).