BOY’S BASKETBALL 1993-1994: SOUTH COAST LEAGUE : Mater Dei

1992-93 RECORDS

OVERALL: 33-2

LEAGUE: 10-0

COACH: Gary McKnight

RECORD AT SCHOOL: 319-28

RETURNING STARTER YR. HGT. P Miles Simon Sr. 6-4 G

TOP RETURNERS YR. HGT. P Shaun Jackson Jr. 6-7 C Clay McKnight Jr. 6-2 G

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Chris Burgess Fr. 6-8 C Darren Hite Sr. 6-6 F

OUTLOOK

Another “head-and-shoulders-above-the-rest” season is expected from the Monarchs, according to just about everyone, even with the loss of four starters. “Like the old saying goes, Mater Dei doesn’t rebuild, they just reload,” one coach said. The Monarchs can rotate two or three deep and still compete. Led by Simon, last season’s Southern Section and Times’ Orange County Player of the Year, Mater Dei has the star and the supporting cast to equal or better the accomplishments of last season, when the Monarchs won the Southern Section Division I-A title before they lost to eventual State champion Los Angeles Crenshaw in the Southern California final. Simon, who has committed to Arizona, shot 60% from the field and 41% from three-point range last season. In a league chock-full of three-point threats, Clay McKnight, is among the top. He was second in the county last season. McKnight said Jackson, along with Simon and Clay McKnight, have all-county player potential. The Monarchs may be young, but they have talent, and McKnight has proven adept at developing young talent. “It’s one thing to have talent, but what are you going to do with it once you get it?” Mission Viejo Coach Joe Reid said. “All-stars can be hard to handle. Gary knows what to do with them.”