1995 PREP BASKETBALL ALL-STARS : Dominguez, Artesia Players Again Garner Spotlight

It was a benchmark season for the Dominguez High boys’ basketball team and a return to the top for Artesia.

Dominguez (32-3) won the Southern Section Division II-AA title after losing in the title game the previous two seasons. The Dons advanced to the State Division II title game for the first time in school history.

Artesia (29-4) advanced to a state final for the fourth time in six years, but this season’s trip to Oakland marked the first time a Pioneer team without Ed or Charles O’Bannon had advanced to the championship. Artesia also won the Southern Section Division III-A title and its ninth consecutive Suburban League title.

Dominguez and Artesia are each represented by two players on The Times’ 1995 Southeast/Long Beach all-star team. Dominguez is represented by Kenny Brunner and Thomas Prince. Kevin Daley and Jonathan Nelson have been chosen from Artesia.

Prince, Michael Batiste of Long Beach Wilson, Troy Collins of Pius X and Damion Dawson of Long Beach Poly are repeat selections.

Selections were based on ballots cast by area coaches and a poll of Times sportswriters.

Players named to the first team, along with their parents and coaches, will be guests of The Times at an awards breakfast Sunday at 9 at the Sheraton in Norwalk. The winners of the Southeast/Long Beach player and coach of the year awards will be announced at the breakfast.

Here is a look at The Times’ 1995 All-Southeast/Long Beach team:

Michael Batiste, Long Beach Wilson--A 6-foot-8 senior forward, Batiste was chosen to the Moore League and Division I first teams. He averaged 21.5 points, 12.2 rebounds and 1.9 assists.

Kenny Brunner, Dominguez--The only sophomore on The Times’ team, the smooth 5-9 point guard averaged 11.5 points and seven assists. Brunner had nine assists in the state final in a 73-65 defeat against Mountain View St. Francis--the fifth highest total in a state championship. He was also named to the Division II first team and the State Division II and sophomore teams by Student Sports magazine.

D’Cean Bryant, Lynwood--The 6-7 senior forward averaged 14.8 points and 9.1 rebounds. A Division I second-team selection who will attend Long Beach State, Bryant led Lynwood (18-9) to a 64-60 upset of Dominguez and a share of its fifth San Gabriel Valley League title in six seasons.

Troy Collins, Pius X--The Division IV player of the year and Camino Real League most valuable player, Collins guided the Warriors (18-8) to the Division IV-A semifinals.

The 6-7 senior forward was also named to Student Sports magazine’s State Division IV team. He averaged 17.2 points, 10 rebounds, four blocks and three assists.

In a 39-38 victory over Santa Clara in the quarterfinals, Collins, a four-year starter, scored all 11 of his team’s points in the fourth quarter, including a three-point basket at the buzzer.

Kevin Daley, Artesia--Daley shared Division III player of the year honors with Jason Collins of Harvard-Westlake. Daley also was named to the State Division III team by Student Sports magazine.

A 6-6 senior forward, Daley averaged 16 points, 12 rebounds and four assists. He made eight of 10 shots for 17 points in the Division III-AA final against Centennial.

Damion Dawson, Long Beach Poly--A Division I first-team pick, the USC-bound 6-foot-2 guard helped the Jackrabbits (20-11) repeat as Moore League champion and advance to the Division-I-AA final. He averaged 15.1 points, 7.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists.

Brian Johnson, St. John Bosco--The Del Rey League’s most valuable player and a Division I first-team choice, the 6-6 junior forward averaged 18.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 3.2 assists to help guide the Braves (20-9) to the league title and a berth in the Division I-AA semifinals.

A member of Student Sports’ magazine’s all-state junior team, Johnson has transferred to Dominguez to play his senior season.

Jonathan Nelson, Artesia--The 6-9 senior center helped provide inside strength for the Pioneers. He averaged 18 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks to earn Division III first-team honors.

He made seven of 10 shots in the Southern Section Division III-AA final against Centennial to lead the Pioneers to their first title since 1991.

Thomas Prince, Dominguez--Prince, who will attend UCLA, was selected to the Southern Section and Student Sports all-state teams composed of players from all five divisions. The 6-5 swingman averaged 19.7 points and seven rebounds.

Kenzie Weir, Centennial--Weir was named to Student Sports magazine’s State Division III team and to the Southern Section Division III first team.

The 6-3 senior guard guided the Apaches (18-14) to their first appearance in a Southern Section title game since 1958. He averaged 17.4 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.3 assists.

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BOYS’ ALL-STAR TEAM

Name: Michael Batiste School: Wilson Year: Senior Points: 21.5

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Name: Kenny Brunner School: Dominguez Year: Sophomore Points: 11.5

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Name: D’Cean Bryant School: Lynwood Year: Senior Points: 15.0

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Name: Troy Collins School: Pius Year: Senior Points: 17.2

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Name: Kevin Daley School: Artesia Year: Senior Points: 16.0

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Name: Damion Dawson School: Poly Year: Senior Points: 15.0

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Name: Brian Johnson School: St. John Bosco Year: Junior Points: 17.7

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Name: Jonathan Nelson School: Artesia Year: Senior Points: 15.0

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Name: Thomas Prince School: Dominguez Year: Senior Points: 19.7

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Name: Kenzie Weir School: Centennial Year: Senior Points: 16.0

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Southeast/Long Beach Boys’ Second Team

Player School Yr. Ht. Avg. James Brown Dominguez Sr. 6-6 14.7 Larry McCan Long Beach Poly Sr. 5-7 9.1 Allen Fletcher Pius X Sr. 5-9 10.0 Kelvin Gibbs Bellflower Jr. 6-5 15.0 Ortege Jenkins Long Beach Jordan Jr. 6-3 18.0 Marcus Lemons Gahr Sr. 6-4 22.0 DeAndre Moore Artesia Fr. 5-10 11.0 Victor Padilla Pioneer Sr. 6-4 24.2 Ishmael Sykes Centennial Sr. 6-3 17.0 DeJuan Wilson Artesia Jr. 6-3 14.0