BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : Hoop Dreams : With Crenshaw Losing Center Travis Reed, the Door is Open for Manual Arts, Dorsey and Washington to Move in as the Top Team

The divorce came suddenly-- Crenshaw center Travis Reed packed his bags and left.

The Cougars, winners of two consecutive State Division I titles, already had lost Tremaine Fowlkes, Kristaan Johnson, Reggie McFerren, Leon Watson and Tommie Davis to graduation.

Now Reed.

Despite his former team’s success, Reed wanted to play basketball with his neighborhood friends and felt like an intruder at Crenshaw. He became the second Division I prospect to transfer f1919905056 “I didn’t get along with the players,” Reed said. “I don’t want to say any more.”

Crenshaw Coach Willie West wasn’t pleased to lose a 6-foot, 7-inch junior center with growing potential.

“He never said anything to me,” West said. “He wasn’t mistreated. I have not received an explanation from him or his dad.”

One only needs to follow Reed’s size-16 footsteps to Manual Arts to know where the balance of power has shifted. The Cougars may have dominated California teams--losing only one game to them in two season--but now the door is open for Manual Arts, two-time 4-A runner-up Dorsey and perennial power Washington to move in as the City Section’s top team.

“It was a pleasant surprise to see Travis knocking on my classroom door during the summer,” Manual Arts Coach Randolph Simpson said. “His dad wanted him to go to A.B. Miller, but he burned up his car traveling to get there.”

Manual Arts already had an outstanding starting lineup, including guards Darwin Carter and Charlie Parker, son of interim USC Coach Charlie Parker. The Toilers, however, were a perimeter shooting team, especially with the departure of 6-5 power forward David Rickenbacker to San Diego State. But with Reed stepping into the starting lineup, the Toilers have both inside and outside shooting threats.

“Travis is such an outstanding talent because he can make the 15- to 18-footer,” Simpson said. “He also has excellent post moves.”

Opposing coaches often criticize West and his basketball program for the number of transfers who join his Crenshaw team. But West said he loses just as many players as he gains.

Jacque Vaughn, a point guard at Kansas, lived two blocks from Crenshaw High but attended high school at Muir in Pasadena. Vaughn, who is considered the top collegiate point guard in the nation, did not think he could make the Cougar starting lineup.

Paul Pierce, who was in West’s sixth-period class as a sophomore, transferred back to Inglewood two years ago and is considered the top senior prospect in California.

“I didn’t feel comfortable at Crenshaw after being with my friends at Inglewood,” Pierce said. “The only player I knew was Tremaine (Fowlkes). I felt Inglewood was my home and I had to go back.”

In 1988, Marcell Capers left Crenshaw after his sophomore season because he did not think he could be a varsity starter. Vincent Langston started ahead of Capers on the Cougars’ junior varsity team.

Capers, who transferred to Manual Arts, scored 26 points as the Toilers defeated Crenshaw, 84-72, to win the 1990 City 4-A division title, their first since 1981. Capers is now the starting point guard for Arizona State and one of the assist leaders in the Pacific 10 conference.

The Cougars appear to be inexperienced, but they still remain one of the City’s top teams. The starting lineup features 6-6 guard Ronnie Arch, 6-5 transfer forward Corey Williams and 6-6 forward Raymond Palmer.

Said Simpson: “Crenshaw doesn’t rebuild. They reload.”

Dorsey has grown tired of the label “second best” and would love to upstage the Cougars in the Southern Pacific Conference. The Dons, two-time City 4-A runner-ups, are led by 6-6 forward Charles Johnson, 6-5 swingman Willie O’Neal and 6-3 guard Jason Howzell.

Washington turns away more talent than it keeps. The Generals, the last team to beat Crenshaw, feature 6-6 Robert Gordon-Lamar and 6-5 Daniel Moore.

The Southeastern Conference gave up its two league format and will play an extra round of intra-conference games. Fremont and Jordan appear to be the favorites.

In the Southern Section, defending Division 4-A champion Verbum Dei hopes to make another champagne toast with Andre--forwards Andre Larry and Andre Smith are two of the area’s best shooters. But the Eagles’ best player maybe 6-1 guard Deon Williams.

With the departure of Toby Bailey to UCLA, Loyola will have to depend on Bailey’s younger brother, Ryan (Moose) Bailey, to carry the team. Moose Bailey recently signed with Portland.

Although some talented players may change schools, the schools with the best talent still remain in the Central City.

Handicapping the Top 10 Teams

TEAM LEAGUE 93-94 RECORD Comment 1. Manual Arts Coastal 20-5 Frontrunner 2. Verbum Dei Camino Real 26-3 Always a threat 3. Crenshaw Southern Pacific 28-2 Never a dull moment 4. Dorsey Southern Pacific 17-9 Pick to finish 2nd 5. Fremont Southeastern 21-7 Assistants will be missed 6. Washington Southern Pacific 15-13 Plenty of talent 7. Loyola Mission 22-6 Should go far in playoffs 8. Roosevelt Southeastern 14-12 3-A finalist 9. Jordan Southeastern 18-6 Small but talented 10. Franklin Northern 22-4 Starring Sanders, Deno