BOYS’ BASKETBALL ‘93-’94: SUNSET LEAGUE : Seaton Is Strong but Silent Type

It would be easy for Servite’s Mark Seaton to get caught up in the hoopla.

After a solid sophomore season, Seaton has already drawn the attention of recruiters from UCLA, USC and Long Beach State among others.

He possesses a soft shooting touch, which allowed him to shoot 55% from the field and average 10 points and seven rebounds during Sunset League games last season.

At 6 feet 9, 210 pounds, he can run the floor and finish fast breaks with rim-rattling dunks or three-pointers.

But that’s as loud as the junior will get. Seaton, a consummate team player, is unassuming, except on the basketball court. Even then, it takes some extra prodding for Seaton to assert himself.

With Seaton and teammate David Downs, a 6-5 forward, in the spotlight of opposing defenses, the down-to-earth junior knows it will take a team effort for the Friars to succeed.

“If we really need a basket, I think I can make something happen,” Seaton said. “But in most cases if the defenses are collapsing down on us, I’ll just kick it back outside. I have confidence in my teammates.”

Said Servite Coach Scott Hamilton: “I don’t want this to sound like Mark Seaton is the show. I don’t think stopping Seaton is the way to beat us.”

In the Friars’ first-round game in the Sunbird tournament Monday, with Seaton and Downs in foul trouble, Brian Severin came off the bench to score 10 points in a 58-49 victory over Cypress. Downs and Kristian Vallas each had 14 points and Seaton had 12.

That balance will be the key for Servite, and with Seaton and Downs leading the way, Hamilton is optimistic.

“Mark is very talented, but he’s also driven and very intelligent,” Hamilton said. “That’s why I’m so high on this group of kids because both Mark and David set good examples of working hard to reach their potential.”

The Friars began showing signs of their potential at the end of last season, winning six of their final seven league games, including a one-point victory over Fountain Valley, in a fourth-place playoff which sent Servite to the Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs.

“That was a highlight, beating Fountain Valley at the buzzer,” Seaton said. “I don’t think we got much respect last season, so that was a start.”

League coaches peg Servite as the top contender to defending champion Huntington Beach. The Oilers are led by all-county forward Tony Gonzalez.

“I don’t think we can get too excited about the expectations,” Hamilton said. “We have to go in and work hard to improve, day in and day out.”

Seaton’s father, Bruce, was a 6-7 forward who also worked hard at basketball, and earned a scholarship offer from USC during the mid-1960s.

“But he passed it up because he wanted to study engineering at Long Beach State,” Seaton said.

If Seaton can lead the Friars back to prominence, he should be able to study anywhere.