1995-96 BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : GARDEN GROVE LEAGUE

BOLSA GRANdE 8-16, 4-8 in 1994-95. Coach: Dick Bradarich (first year). Prospects: Forward Crispin Chavez (10 points, 10 rebounds) is the lone returning starter on a team that lacks size and perimeter shooting. Mike Severino, a 5-9 junior, starts at point guard and Duc Nguyen (5-9), the Matadors’ best outside shooter and defender, starts at off guard. Vinh Tran (5-11) might have some matchup problems but will play forward. Billy Fair (6-3) is the most improved player.

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GARDEN GROVE 15-11, 9-3 in 1994-95. Coach: Dewey Van Cleave (seventh year, 69-72). Prospects: The Argonauts have the talent and the size to repeat as league champion. Senior center Frank Alvarez (six points, five rebounds), junior guard David Williams (10 points) and junior point guard Jose Gonzalez are returning starters. Van Cleave said Alvarez might be his most improved player and Williams his most talented. Mitch LeVasseur, a reserve last season, starts at forward. Eric Kenneth, a 6-5 junior, and Ryan Clarkson are returning lettermen.

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LA QUINTA 15-11, 8-4 in 1994-95. Coach: Cork Snider (first year). Prospects: Snider takes over for Jim Perry, who won 162 games during his tenure. Snider inherits a team with two returning starters, swingman Fang Li (6.5 points) and center Scott Ogilvie (4.8 points, 10.9 rebounds), one of the county’s top rebounders. Todd Butt, a 6-3 senior who came off the bench last season, gives La Quinta some solid outside shooting. Dan Cotto and Jao Vo start at guard, but they are inexperienced.

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LOS AMIGOS 11-13, 5-7 in 1994-95. Coach: Don Grable (third year, 22-28). Prospects: Only two starters return, but many coaches are picking the Lobos to win the league title. Why? The Lobos have more size and offensive firepower than they’ve had in a long time. John Elsaesser (10 points, five rebounds), a 6-6 junior, is one of the league’s top post players and seniors Chris Francis, Mike Higgins and Mitch Udell are all experienced players who can shoot and play defense. Ed Rojas, a 6-2 senior guard, was the MVP of last season’s undefeated junior varsity and is the Lobos’ best three-point shooter. Gary Burns and Thuan Tran provide outside shooting and J.J. Carrillo, a 6-4 sophomore, will help Elsaesser on the boards.

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PACIFICA 16-12, 8-4 in 1994-95. Coach: Bob Becker (third year, 46-14). Prospects: Pacifica’s two-year run as a power might be over. Only one starter--guard Ryan Caraveo--returns and the Mariners are not very big. Junior Verdell LeVeax is only 6-feet tall but he might be asked to play some center. Brian Barre, a 5-5 sophomore, might start at point guard.

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RANCHO ALAMITOS 11-15, 6-6 in 1994-95. Coach: Eric Hamamoto (seventh year, 75-70). Prospects: The Vaqueros return only one starter--John Frank--and three lettermen but they are loaded with talent and size. Center Zeke Silverman (6-8) and forwards Josh Lee (6-5) and Lonnie Maples (6-7) will create matchup problems for most Garden Grove League teams. Paul Lira, a 5-9 guard, has three-point range and Corey Brown, a 6-3 sophomore guard who sat out last year with grade problems, has the talent to be the league’s most exciting player. Hasheem Hicks starts at point guard in place of Alex Blanco, who has an injured knee and will miss half the season.

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SANTIAGO 7-17, 3-11 in 1994-95. Coach: Paul Anderson (ninth year, 59-118). Prospects: Senior Louie Boc is the only starter back on an inexperienced team that lacks size. At 6-4, Tony Dixon is the Cavaliers’ tallest player.