Holland Inescapable in Sheahan’s Travels

Former Taft High basketball player Casey Sheahan knows he is merely a victim of circumstance.

But sometimes he can’t help but wonder if the stagnation of his college basketball career has been calculated. Sheahan, a sophomore at the University of San Diego, sits on the bench. In 21 games, he’s played only eight minutes.

The 6-foot-3 sophomore seems to have done everything he could to get his career moving. But it also seems like Coach Brad Holland will forever stand in his way.

After averaging 22 points, five assists and four steals in his 1990-91 senior season at Taft, Sheahan accepted a scholarship to Cal State Fullerton. He was excited about playing for Coach John Sneed.

“I loved him and they promised me a lot of things,” Sheahan said. “But I was naive and he got fired before my freshman year.”

To replace Sneed, Fullerton hired Holland, a former Crescenta Valley High and UCLA standout who was working as an assistant coach with the Bruins. Sheahan and Holland didn’t click.

“I said, ‘What is my future here, coach?’ ” Sheahan said. “He said, ‘It’s not looking good. We’re going to recruit JC guys.’ ”

Sheahan transferred to San Diego, welcomed there by Coach Hank Egan, and was a redshirt during the 1992-93 season. But as fate would have it, Egan was hired as an assistant by the San Antonio Spurs. Whom did the Toreros hire to replace Egan?

Holland.

“My first response was, ‘Awe, shoot. I’d rather have anyone but Holland,’ ” Sheahan said. “‘My friends say I’m unlucky. ‘Out of 300 Division I schools, he had to pick yours.’ But I’m pretty positive. I wake up happy every day.”

Sheahan says Holland is a “good guy” and harbors no personal ill will toward his coach. But Sheahan wonders if Holland has a problem with him.

Sheahan has appeared in only three of 21 games. And yet, he has made three of five shots, including a three-pointer, and recorded two steals. He has scored seven points in his eight minutes. But Sheahan said Holland appears unfazed.

“We talked before the year, like any new coach talks to a new player,” Sheahan said. “ ‘Let’s just wipe the slate clean.’ He said I’d be evaluated like all the rest of the players. But it just isn’t working. The past is there.

“I get mad when I sit on the bench during games. I think I should be out there. I’ve gone off in a few practices this year. ‘I’m showing you I can play. Let me play.’ All I get is garbage time.”

Holland could not be reached for comment.

But Sheahan said his basketball frustrations are not spoiling his experience at San Diego. On the contrary. He is thinking about running for student body president.

But if the job requires too much time or it means giving up basketball, Sheahan said he will scrap his campaign plans. For all his frustrations, he still loves playing the game--even if only in practice.

“I don’t think I’m being blackballed, but I do think I should be playing this year,” he said. “I know I can score in this league.”

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Shoulder pains: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo outfielders Rob Neal (Westlake) and Jim Chergey (Thousand Oaks) are both out because they had shoulder surgery on their throwing arms. Neal was deemed the top prospect in Division II by Baseball America magazine before last season but has played little defense since because of his shoulder.

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Around the country: Senior forward Rasaan Hall (Crespi/College of the Canyons) of Quincy University had 24 points on six three-point shots in a 106-83 victory over Grand Valley. Reserve forward Matt Steffe (Hart) had a career-high 25 points in the same game. . . . Steve Amar (Santa Clara) is averaging 6.8 points and Tim Sebek (Nordhoff) 11.4 for Azusa Pacific. Laura Dahl (Buena) averages 4.7 points for Azusa’s women’s team.

Senior center Suzanne Carey (Santa Paula) averages 12 points and 7.7 rebounds for Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. . . . Sophomore guard Adam Jacobsen (Crescenta Valley) averages 16.7 points and 4.4 assists for Pacific.

Oklahoma senior guard Calvin Curry (Ventura College) averages 9.2 points while shooting 40.2%. . . .Freshman guard Archie Williams (Reseda) is a redshirt at Texas El Paso.

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Keeping track: Sophomore Marion Jones of North Carolina and senior Deena Drossin of Arkansas head a list of seven former local high school standouts who have been tabbed by Track & Field News magazine to finish among the top 10 finishers in their respective events in this year’s NCAA championships.

Jones, who won an unprecedented nine State titles for Rio Mesa and Thousand Oaks highs, is picked to win the long jump, finish second in the 100 meters and third in the 200 in the meet May 31-June 3 at Knoxville, Tenn.

Drossin, who won a combined five State titles in cross-country and track for Agoura High, is tabbed to win the 10,000 meters.

Texas’ Marcus Stokes (Thacher, 110-meter high hurdles), USC’s Crissy Mills (Campbell Hall, high jump) and Chad Danowsky (Simi Valley, hammer throw), Tennessee’s Stewart Ellington (Channel Islands, 10,000) and Wisconsin’s Jeremy Fischer (Camarillo, high jump) are also tabbed to finish among the top 10 in their events.

* Staff writer John Ortega contributed to this column.