1993-94 PREP BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Change of Seasons Has Inglewood, Serra Battling for No. 1 : Boys: Sentinels return three starters and five of their top seven players. Cavaliers have added two standout transfers in their attempt to defend State Division IV title.

The consensus among South Bay prep basketball coaches is that Inglewood and Serra are the area’s dominant teams entering the 1993-94 season.

But there is a distinct difference to how the programs have reached the top. One has done it through transfers, the other through returning players.

Inglewood returns three starters and five of the top seven players from a Southern Section Division II quarterfinalist team.

Serra, the defending State Division IV champion, graduated its starting lineup, including three players who earned scholarships to Division I colleges--center Akeli Jackson (Cal State Long Beach) and forwards Michael Boyd and Arthur Tate (both Cal State Sacramento).

Despite those losses, Serra could be as strong as the 1992-93 team because of the addition of transfers Ricky Price and Leonard Butler. Butler, a 6-foot-7 junior forward, comes from Leuzinger, where he was academically ineligible. Price, a 6-6 senior guard, comes from Long Beach St. Anthony, where he averaged 25 points, 10 rebounds and five assists.

Price, who will attend Duke, was recently named the top high school player in the western United States in a poll of scouts and college coaches.

“His ability is unlimited,” Serra Coach Dwan Hurt said.

Inglewood, though, figures to be the area’s superior team, at least early in the season.

“Inglewood is the best team until Serra puts everybody together,” Mira Costa Coach Glen Marx said. “Serra is a very talented team, but they have to get acclimated to everybody. A team like Inglewood that has a lot of players returning will be stronger out of the gate.”

Among Inglewood’s returning players is last season’s Bay League most valuable player, guard Sam Turks (13.7 points). Also back is 6-6 forward Paul Pierce, considered by coaches to be one of the finest juniors in the state.

After Serra and Inglewood, the competition remains tough, with Redondo, Leuzinger, Peninsula and defending Division III-AA champion Morningside all capable of having successful seasons. Several area teams begin play next week in the Pacific Shores Tournament at Redondo and Mira Costa.

Here is a rundown of the Times’ South Bay top 10.

1. INGLEWOOD

*1992-93 RECORD: 20-10

*LEAGUE: 1st (Bay)

*RET. STARTERS: 3

*

Strengths: In addition to Turks and Pierce, Coach Pat Roy has center Ralph Shelton (nine rebounds a game) and guards Jason Crow and Abdul Benjamin back. “Pierce and Turks work so well together,” Roy said. “Sam is able to make Paul go, and Paul is able to make Sam go. They make everybody go.”

Weaknesses: Pierce and Shelton are expected to provide Inglewood with most of its rebounding, and that worries Roy. “If we can rectify that somehow, then we’ll be really tough,” Roy said.

Newcomers: The rich got richer with the addition of senior guard Ray Outler, a transfer who was Hawthorne’s leading scorer last season with a 13.2 average. He will be worked into the lineup slowly, Roy said.

Fast fact: Because of a lack of big men and an excess of guards, Roy said he will use three guards almost exclusively, with Turks, Crow, Benjamin and Outler getting most of the minutes.

2. SERRA

*1992-93 RECORD: 26-7

*LEAGUE: 1st (Camino Real)

*RET. STARTERS: 0

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Strengths: Price will be the best thing Serra has going for it this season because he will do more than score, according to Hurt. “He concerns me in that he is so unselfish,” Hurt said. “But, he will help the players around him to play that much better.” Varsity returners Tremaine Lasiter, a 6-4 swingman, 6-6 forward Damian Sweet and 6-4 forward Paul Foster--all good transition players--will complement Price.

Weaknesses: Hurt’s main concerns are the players’ lack of familiarity with each other and complacency. Serra beat league opponents by an average of 40.3 points last season.

Newcomers: Along with Price and Bulter, junior guard Milton Palacio, who played on the junior varsity team last season, will be counted on to contribute.

Fast fact: Many coaches complain about a lack of height, but Hurt is satisfied with the make-up of his squad. “When looking at us on paper, our shortest guy could be 6-4, and our tallest 6-8,” he said. “When you combine that with our athleticism and ability, we should be in good shape.”

3. REDONDO

*1992-93 RECORD: 16-14

*LEAGUE: 2nd (Ocean)

*RET. STARTERS: 3

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Strengths: Despite graduating center Bryan Kelly (13.3 points and 8.8 rebounds) and forward Dan Hyde (18.7 points and 8.5 rebounds), the Sea Hawks have an experienced squad. Back are all-league guards Morgan Ensberg (12.1 points) and Cecil Fletcher (seven points, 5.5 assists), in addition to promising sophomores Tremaine Mayeaux and Doug Francis. Mayeaux, a 6-3 guard, was selected one of the top 10 sophomores in the state by Cal-Hi Sports.

Weaknesses: Other than Francis, a 6-4 forward, Redondo has only one other big man in 6-6 senior Brian Hattingh. “Brian is a quality (center) and he’ll be the key to our team,” Coach Jim Nielsen said. “Without a doubt our rebounding is a weakness, and that is why Hattingh will be such a key.”

Newcomers: Hattingh, who played on the junior varsity team as a junior, and Damani Washington, a 6-3 swingman who transferred from Inglewood, will contribute. Washington is one of the team’s best defensive players.

Fast Fact: Nielsen believes Fletcher will emerge as one of the area’s best point guards, if not the best. “He gets the ball to the right player at the right time,” Nielsen said.

4. PENINSULA

*1992-93 RECORD: 20-8

*LEAGUE: 2nd (Bay)

*RET. STARTERS: 1

*

Strengths: Cliff Warren, returning to coaching after a one-year layoff, has a big and physical team, something many area teams are lacking. Returning 6-4 senior forward Brian Bowles will combine with newcomers Andrew Kleine, a 6-6 sophomore, and Marcus Boyd, a 6-5 junior, to give Peninsula an imposing front court. Brian Hogentogler, a four-year varsity player, returns at guard.

Weaknesses: Area coaches have said that with the graduation of forward Matt Acres (16.8 points), Peninsula lacks outside scoring. Hogentogler is the lone returning backcourt starter, and will team with junior point guard Andy Jensen.

Newcomers: Kleine, Boyd and Jensen all need to make the jump from lower-level competition.

Fast fact: Warren says he wants to quicken Peninsula’s pace from last season. “We are going to play an up-tempo style this year. We’ll be free-wheeling and very aggressive.”

5. LEUZINGER

*1992-93 RECORD: 13-12

*LEAGUE: 3rd (Bay)

*RET. STARTERS: 2

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Strengths: New Coach Eric Wilson inherits six returning players, including senior shooting guard Jemel Floyd, who led the team with a 13.8 scoring average. Wendell Robinson, a 6-8 center who averaged 10.9 points and 9.5 rebounds as a junior, will be a key to Leuzinger’s success with the loss of Butler to Serra and guard Tyrone Cockrell (12.4 points) to graduation.

Weaknesses: With Robinson being counted on to improve his game, Wilson said there’s some question in his mind if the center can maintain the right attitude and intensity. “Anything Wendell does on offense or defense will be determined in his mind and by his attitude,” Wilson said.

Fast Fact: After finishing third or fourth in league play the past three seasons, Wilson is trying to instill a new attitude. “This is the year this school will step up and out of third or fourth,” he said. “We expect that to happen. We are going to play real aggressive. We’re going to pressure and move the ball.”

6. MIRA COSTA

*1992-93 RECORD: 21-8

*LEAGUE: 2nd (Ocean)

*RET. STARTERS: 3

*

Strengths: Marx welcomes back three starters, led by All-Division II guard Shane Willis, who has signed with the University of Hawaii. With fewer scoring threats around him, Willis should increase his 17.1 scoring average considerably. In addition, juniors Phil Fonua, a 6-foot-2, 270-pound forward, and 6-3 guard Max Gulezin are back. “They are young varsity players,” Marx said of the juniors. “They should be able to come on and mature throughout the season.”

Weaknesses: With Willis being the team’s only proven scorer, he figures to receive a lot of defensive attention from opponents. The Mustangs need Fonua, Gulezin, 6-3 swingman Brett Richman and several newcomers to take the load off of Willis.

Newcomers: Forward Michael Pegus and guard Ryan O’Hearn, former junior varsity players, should contribute immediately.

Fast Fact: The Mustangs have the second-best record in the Ocean League over the past four seasons behind Morningside.

7. CARSON

*1992-93 RECORD: 13-12

*LEAGUE: 3rd (Pacific)

*RET. STARTERS: 3

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Strengths: After taking a year off, Richard Masson is back as Colt coach with a team led by returning seniors Anthony Browder (16.7 points, 3.5 assists) and Charles Perry (6.5 rebounds). Masson said Browder and Perry could develop into “big-time players.”

Weaknesses: Carson lacks height, with Browder being its tallest player at 6-4. However, once football season ends, Masson hopes to get 6-5 forward Tony Harvey back. Harvey has had grade problems in the past, which has Masson concerned. “(Harvey) changes the whole make-up of our team,” Masson said. “We’ll have decent size and we’ll be very athletic with him. Without him, we are all right.”

Newcomers: Up from the junior varsity team is Jamar Reid, a 6-1 junior point guard. He’ll contend for playing time with Dorsey transfer Arkelee Allen.

8. BANNING

*1992-93 RECORD: 17-12

*LEAGUE: 1st (Pacific)

*RET. STARTERS: 2

*

Strengths: Senior guards Jason Pickett and Eric Jett provide Coach Marc Paez with a strong backcourt. Pickett helped the Pilots win the City Section 3-A Division title last season, averaging 20.3 points and 4.3 assists. Forwards Chris Sheleay (6-5) and Kito Patterson (6-4) give Banning much-needed size in the front court.

Weaknesses: The Pilots will have a tough time replacing 6-7 Bryan Hill, the 3-A Division player of the year who is now at Pepperdine. The team lacks height and depth in the front court.

Newcomers: Paez said sophomore guard Brian Jones could be an impact player. “He is the most talented 10th grader I’ve seen since I’ve been at Banning,” Paez said.

Fast fact: Look for Banning to compensate for its lack of size with an up-tempo style and defensive pressure. “We’ll play with four guards a lot of the time,” Paez said. “We’ll press and try to get the tempo at a high pace. A slow game will kill us.”

9. BISHOP MONTGOMERY

*1992-93 RECORD: 25-3

*LEAGUE: 1st (Mission)

*RET. STARTERS: 2

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Strengths: Coach Doug Mitchell has one of the best backcourts in the area with point guard Kareem Mutrie (11.4 points, 9.1 assists) and All-Division III shooting guard Jayson Sanders (16.1 points). They will combine with junior forwards Geno Malauulu, Eric Bingham and Brandon McLemore. Mutrie signed with the University of San Diego.

Weaknesses: The forwards are small, ranging from 6-2 to 6-4. “We may not be that tall, but we are a very good defensive team,” Mitchell said.

Newcomers: Sophomores Brandon Price and Alvin Dunn are up from the junior varsity and could develop into key contributors.

10. MORNINGSIDE

*1992-93 RECORD: 29-6

*LEAGUE: 1st (Ocean)

*RET. STARTERS: 0

*

Strengths: Tradition may be the best thing the Monarchs have going for them after graduating 12 players from last season’s team that reached the State Division III final. Junior swingman Anthony McNeir and seniors Davion Carter and Undra McKenzie are the only returning varsity players. McNeir is expected to carry the offensive load.

Weaknesses: Because of inexperience, it may take several games before Morningside plays to its potential. Nonetheless, opposing coaches fear the Monarchs.

Newcomers: Nearly the entire team will be newcomers, and Coach Carl Franklin is unsure who will emerge as his best players. “Our program will be tested this year,” Franklin said. “It’s a matter of finding players from the lower levels who can step up and contribute as soon as possible.”

Fast fact: With the graduation of the starting five of Stais Boseman, Dwight Curry, Donminic Ellison, Corey Saffold and Sean Harris, Morningside lost 72 points a game.

BEST OF THE REST

South Torrance (28-4, 10-0 in Pioneer League) lost all five starters from its Division III-AA finalist team, and returns only two varsity players in 6-4 senior forward John Calas and junior guard Derek Brown. Freshman Roger Alcala, a 6-5 forward, will be an impact player, Coach Lamont Henry said.

Torrance (13-14, 5-5 in Pioneer League) needs varsity returners Kelvin Jaminson (6-4 forward), Bob Agan (6-5 center) and Trinele Pollard (5-10 guard) to pick up their scoring after the graduation of the state’s leading scorer, guard Michael Dean (33.6 points). First-year Coach Abe Rivera will also count on several newcomers.