Basketball Preview : Practice proves its worth in the performance of the area’s top high school teams--and for five players who have netted college scholarships.

If you don’t practice, somewhere, someone is practicing. And when you meet him in head-to-head competition, he’ll beat you. --Bill Bradley, U.S. senator and former pro basketball player

Jefferson High School guard Anthony Martin is too young to have seen “Dollar Bill” Bradley practice his famous baseline jump shot. He would have to buy a video to see Bradley when he starred for Princeton and the New York Knicks in the 1960s and ‘70s.

But Martin pays homage to Bradley’s motto, a version of which is embossed on his black T-shirt in white letters across a green basketball. Weeknights between 7 and 9, Martin practices his shot at the Drew Junior High gymnasium in South-Central Los Angeles.

“I’m always working to improve my game,” said Martin, who also plays quarterback on the Democrats football team. “You can never stop practicing.”

Developing the desire to practice is easy for most high school basketball players in the central city. Finding a place to play after dark is not.

In City Section schools, team practice began last Tuesday for a season that begins Nov. 30 and ends with the state finals in March. Southern Section practice officially begins Monday.

But the sounds of basketballs being dribbled and of the swish of the nets have no beginning or end.

Instead of taking in a movie or a concert, the Toby Baileys of the world spend nights of their teen-age years at such places as Lafayette Park, Ernest Killum and Rancho Cienega. Or on the blacktop at home.

“I usually practice outside my house,” said Bailey of Loyola, a three-time selection to The Times’ Central City Team. “A gang of guys come around and we play all night.”

The gang--Ronnie Joseph of South Bay Lutheran, Loyola teammates Correy Woods and Kenan Adams, and Marcus McCoy of Santa Monica College--meet at the Bailey house to shoot hoops with Toby and his brother Ryan (Moose) Bailey, a junior point guard at Loyola. They arrive about 6 p.m., practice dunking and shooting for an hour, and then play pickup games until 11.

It is not surprising that the hardest-working players belong to the best teams.

Crenshaw returns four players--Tremaine Fowlkes, Kristaan Johnson, Leon Watson and Reggie McFerren--from its CIF State Division I and City Section 4-A championship team. The Cougars, who also added Tommie Davis to their lineup, are ranked second in the nation by two national publications. Davis transferred from Fremont, where he was a starting point guard.

The Cougars also feature 6-2 junior guard Robert Parker, 6-3 guard Ronnie Arch and highly touted 6-5 freshman Travis Reed. Said Cougar Coach Willie West: “Our starting lineup isn’t settled yet.”

Manual Arts appears to be the area’s leading challenger to the Cougars for the 4-A crown. In addition to David Rickenbacker, the Toilers have three outstanding guards in Soeki Thompson, Andrew Dawson and Darwin Carter. Charles Phillips Jr., a transfer student, is the son of USC assistant coach Charles Phillips.

Loyola, Verbum Dei and Pilgrim have the talent to win Southern Section championships.

Last season, Loyola reached the Division I quarterfinals before getting knocked out. The Cubs have a lot of depth in addition to the Baileys.

Verbum Dei, which played in the Division IV-A finals, has two outstanding guards in Andre Miller and Jamal Cobbs.

Pilgrim returns five starters, including two-time Heritage League MVP Victor Dean, and should contend for the Division V-A title.

In addition to championship teams, the central city has produced some outstanding individual athletes who were awarded scholarships last Wednesday, the first day of the early signing period.

Toby Bailey signed a letter of intent with UCLA. Johnson, a Crenshaw forward and the City Player of the Year, also signed with UCLA. Crenshaw’s Davis signed with Houston. Fowlkes, a Crenshaw forward, signed with California. And Rickenbacker, a Manual Arts forward, signed with San Diego State.

Crenshaw point guard Tommie Davis splits his weekday practice time between his back-yard court and the Rancho Cienega gym; on weekends he plays with Kristaan Johnson of Crenshaw in Manhattan Beach. Cougar teammates Parker and Arch frequently work out with Davis.

As with most back-yard courts, there are a few home rules.

“You don’t want to shoot too high,” Davis said about his home court. “There is a cable that runs above the backboard. If you the hit the cable, the ball bounces back in your face.”

Fowlkes and Dayron Harris of Washington practice at local gyms. Fowlkes, a 6-6 senior forward, practices with 6-6 swingman Paul Pierce and 6-2 point guard Sam Turks of Inglewood and 6-2 guard James Gray of Santa Monica College at Rogers Park in Inglewood.

“I feel my spot is at Rogers Park because I always get competition there,” Fowlkes said. “The majority of the other places have questionable talent. You wonder if they are for real or joking around.” The Dynamic Dozen

Toby Bailey

Loyola

Height: 6-5.

Position: Guard.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 25 points and 12 rebounds. Three-time selection to

Central City team.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Bailey, who signed early with UCLA, is the best open-court player in the state. An outstanding leaper, Bailey has an impressive assortment of dunks. Has improved his range.

*

Jamal Cobbs

Verbum Dei

Height: 5-8.

Position: Point guard.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 13 points and six assists a game. Named to all-Santa Fe League first team.

Buzz for ‘93-94: One of the top three point guards, Cobbs is strong and fast with the ball. He can beat you with the pass or stick the three.

*

Tommie Davis

Crenshaw

Height: 5-8.

Position: Point guard.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 18 points and nine assists at Fremont.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Tank is the toughest and best point guard. Outstanding ball-handling and passing skills. He can hit the three and drive in deep and out-muscle taller players. Signed with Houston.

*

Tremaine Fowlkes

Crenshaw

Height: 6-6.

Position: Forward.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 20.3 points and 16.8 rebounds. Selected to

City 4-A all-star team.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Fowlkes, who signed early with Cal, runs well and is an outstanding leaper. He has a deadly jump shot from 18 feet and has improved his ball-handling skills.

*

Dayron Harris

Washington

Height: 6-4.

Position: Forward.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 18.7 points and 10.1 rebounds a game. Named to the City 4-A team.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Harris has a tremendous inside power game. He also improved his long-distance shot and now can hit the three consistently. Expects to sign with Illinois State in spring.

*

Kristaan Johnson

Crenshaw

Height: 6-5.

Position: Forward.

‘92-93 Performance: Voted State Junior Player of Year and City Section Player of Year.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Johnson, who signed with UCLA, has outstanding inside moves and improved his jump shot during the summer. Few defenders can stop his post-up moves or prevent him from driving to the basket.

*

Anthony Martin

Jefferson

Height: 5-9.

Position: Guard.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 18.4 points a game.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Strong first step to basket. Also can hit from long range. Expects to sign with a school in Texas. Great athlete. Plays QB on football team.

*

Reggie McFerren

Crenshaw

Height: 6-6.

Position: Guard.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 14 points a game.

Buzz for ‘93-94: When he gets his rhythm, McFerren is the best outside shooter on the Cougars team. Deadly from 12 to 14 feet. Dribbles well enough to play shooting guard. Will sign with Washington or Kansas State.

*

Terrell McKnight

Dorsey

Height: 5-9.

Position: Point guard.

‘92-93 Performance: Understudy to Kenya Wilkins and Davy Fortson.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Moves into starting role where he should excel as a point guard. Handles ball well and uses speed to penetrate. Gives defenders fits because he is left-handed and can drive in either direction.

*

Andre Miller

Verbum Dei

Height: 6-2.

Position: Guard.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 18 points, seven rebounds, four assists a game. Selected to Southern Section Division IV all-star team.

Buzz for ‘93-94:

Great individual moves and defensive instincts. Can score in the 30s, but is unselfish player. Also a QB on the football team.

*

Calvin Patterson

Fremont

Height: 6-2.

Position: Guard.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds a game.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Will play bigger role with the departure of Tommie Davis and Rickey Brown. Patterson is the area’s best pure shooter. Will sign with Loyola Marymount when he passes SAT.

*

David Rickenbacker

Manual Arts

Height: 6-5.

Position: Forward.

‘92-93 Performance: Averaged 18.4 points and 10.9 rebounds. Named to Central City second team.

Buzz for ‘93-94: Rickenbacker, who signed with San Diego State, handles the ball well and plays good defense for a small forward. Very quick for his size. Expected to lead Toilers in scoring.