Crenshaw, Mater Dei Gaining Most Attention in Early Season

Three weeks into the boys’ basketball season, here is a look at the players and teams to watch the rest of the way.

The top 20 teams from the City and Southern sections:

1. Crenshaw, City Section, Division 4-A--The defending State Division I champions had several prominent players transfer in last season on its way to a 28-2 record. It is more of the same this season with starting guard Tommie Davis transferring from Fremont.

2. Santa Ana Mater Dei, Southern Section, Division II-AA--The Monarchs, who have won seven section titles during the last 11 years, feature a young and talented team that will be helped by the addition of freshman Schea Cotton, a transfer from Bellflower St. John Bosco.

3. Compton Dominguez, SS, II-A--The Dons, who lost to Riverside North in the II-AA championship last season, have three returning starters, including senior guard Jamie Gillin. Gillin’s 23 points Tuesday helped Dominguez beat Oak Hill Academy of Mouth of Wilson, Va., 65-48, in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. Oak Hill, ranked No. 1 in the nation by USA Today, had won 54 consecutive games.

4. Long Beach Poly, SS, I-AA--The Jackrabbits finished a disappointing 16-11 last season, but they should return to the role of a perennial contender with four starters back. The team has size and depth, headed by all-state candidate Zerrick Campbell, a 6-5 forward.

5. Lynwood, SS, I-AA--The Knights have one of the area’s top backcourts with Joe Austin and Chris Funderburk. They also have plenty of size up front, including 6-7 forward Jonathan Nelson.

6. Inglewood, SS, II-AA--Five of the Sentinels’ top seven players return, including three starters, from a team that advanced to the quarterfinals last season. Guard Sam Turks averaged 14 points as a junior and was the Bay League MVP.

7. North Hollywood, City, 4-A--Forwards Damon Ollie and Fantasia Johnson are key returnees for the Huskies, who have won seven consecutive league titles. Coach Steve Miller and his team will be tested at this week’s Las Vegas Holiday tournament.

8. Los Alamitos, SS, I-AA--The Griffins’ starting forwards, 6-8 Brady Doyle and 6-7 Ryan Staniec, provide strength inside. The key will be developing senior Tim Lin, who is being moved from point to shooting guard. Los Alamitos went 20-7 last season.

9. Bellflower St. John Bosco, SS, II-A--Guard Jelani Gardner, a 6-6 senior, will have to carry the load for the Braves, who are still reeling from losing freshman starter Schea Cotton. Gardner averaged 20 points and 11 assists last season.

10. Dorsey, City, 4-A--The Dons were a surprise contender last season, advancing to the championship before losing to Crenshaw. Despite a lack of size this season, Dorsey does have a quick backcourt led by senior point guard Terrell McKnight.

11. Manual Arts, City, 4-A--The Toilers have been a title contender since Randolph Simpson took over as coach six seasons ago. Forward David Rickenbacker, who averaged 19 points last season, should help Manual Arts finish near the top again.

12. Riverside North, SS, II-AA--The Huskies were 31-0 last season before losing to Lakewood Artesia in the regional semifinals of the state tournament. It will not be easy to repeat that record with a young team, but North’s program is one of the area’s most improved.

13. Downey Warren, SS, I-A--The Bears are another contender from the San Gabriel Valley League. Their lineup was bolstered by transfer forwards Erik Kennady from Pico Rivera El Rancho and Eddie Ellis from Whittier La Serna.

14. Glendora, SS, II-AA--Mike LeDuc, one of the top coaches in the Southland, returns after sitting out last season. Other than senior guard Cameron Murray, however, the Tartans do not have many experienced starters.

15. Thousand Oaks, SS, I-A--The Lancers, coming off a 26-2 season, build their team around 6-6 forward Jason Hartman and guard Peter Lauer. Hartman, a senior, was the co-MVP of Ventura County last season after averaging 14 points.

16. Santa Ana Valley, SS, I-AA--The Falcons are another team helped by transfers. Sophomore guard Olujimi Mann is from Mater Dei and junior forward Dion Smith from Tustin. The team should have little trouble improving on last season’s 14-12 record.

17. Westchester, City, 4-A--The Comets are a young team, led by sophomore guard Danny Walker, who averaged 18 points last season. Junior guard/forward Ben Sanders and senior guard Cullen Countee give Westchester plenty of depth.

18. San Dimas, SS, III-A--The Saints are coming off a 26-5 season after being eliminated in the regional semifinals. Once again, they will be led by 6-3 guard Jeremy Veal, who averaged 22 points and four assists last season.

19. Long Beach Jordan, SS, I-AA--The Panthers, who have won two section championships in the last three seasons, are rebuilding. Sophomore O.J. Jenkins is the only returning player with experience.

20. Huntington Beach, SS, II-AA--Expect a slow start from the Oilers, who lost four starters from last season’s team that was 29-5. Several players joined the team late because of football commitments.

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The Southland’s all-star lineup:

Center--Leif Nelson, 6-10, Riverside Arlington--The Oregon signee is coming off a junior season in which he averaged 15 points, 12 rebounds and four blocked shots.

Power forward--Tony Gonzalez, 6-6, Huntington Beach--The top basketball/football player in the area will try to play both sports at Cal next season. He averaged 17 points and nine rebounds last season.

Small forward--Toby Bailey, 6-5, Loyola--The senior, who signed with UCLA last month, has been a star player on a mediocre team. He wants to improve on last season’s averages of 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Shooting guard--Jelani Gardner, 6-6, St. John Bosco--Recruiting pressure will be on the senior all season because he has elected to sign in the spring. Although he averaged 20 points last season, it should be closer to 30 this season.

Point guard--Cameron Murray, 6-0, Glendora--The younger brother of Tracy Murray, Cameron recently signed with USC. A good three-point shooter, Murray averaged 23 points and five assists last season.

Others to watch--Rick Price, 6-6, guard, Gardena Serra; Miles Simon, 6-4, guard, Santa Ana Mater Dei; Kristaan Johnson, 6-4, forward, Crenshaw; Jeremy Veal, 6-3, guard, San Dimas; Travon Carmichael, 6-4, guard, Fontana; Alex Lopez, 6-10, center, North Hollywood Campbell Hall.

Basketball Notes

Center Leon Watson of Crenshaw will be sidelined at least two weeks after injuring his shoulder last week in the Thousand Oaks tournament. While making a dunk against Faith Baptist of Canoga Park, Watson shattered the glass backboard, and the rim fell on his right shoulder. He underwent surgery.

The Lincoln boys’ basketball team has been barred from the City playoffs this season for holding an illegal practice. This is the team’s second violation for an illegal practice since October. . . . Top-ranked Crenshaw tuned up for two holiday tournaments on the East Coast by beating Thousand Oaks during the final of its own tournament, 121-66, last Friday. . . . No. 2 Mater Dei improved to 9-0 with a 67-56 victory over Long Beach Poly in the final of the Tournament of Champions at Huntington Beach Ocean View on Saturday.