1995-96 BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW : ORANGE LEAGUE

ANAHEIM: 1-23, 0-10 in 1994-95. Coach: Marcos Castellanos (second year, 1-23). Prospects: After struggling through a difficult debut, Castellanos is guaranteeing that his team will quintuple last season’s victory total this season. How much better have things become? “Let’s put it this way,” Castellanos said. “My 12th guy this year could have started last year.” If the Colonists are to make strides, Castellanos will need 6-4 senior center Isaac Camarillo (4.2 points), 6-2 senior guard Andre Hughes (8.2), and 6-4 senior forward Larry Reyes (6.1) to lead eight juniors and sophomores on the roster. And Castellanos has to make sure Anaheim, which has been down so long, hasn’t forgotten how to get up.

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BREA OLINDA: 19-9, 8-2 in 1994-95. Coach: Gene Lloyd (15th year, 259-122). Prospects: All five starters return from last year’s league championship squad, making the Wildcats favorites to repeat. 6-7 senior Eric Repp (10 points) is the man in the middle; senior guards (and first-team all-leaguers) 6-2 Matt Bodiford (12) and 6-0 John Heredia (six) make sure he gets his shots. Two sophomore guards to watch are 6-2 Reid Carlson and 5-9 Chris McMillian, co-MVPs of last season’s JV squad. But league is not the challenge; going far in the playoffs is another matter.

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MAGNOLIA: 12-14, 4-6 in 1994-95. Coach: Al Walin (22nd year, 202-271). Prospects: Give Walin a wide body to control the boards and Magnolia would be a serious threat to Brea Olinda for the league championship. Though there is little bulk among the Sentinels, there is plenty of speed and good skills. Vathana Singbandith (six points), handles the point-guard chores. It’s up to him to keep 6-1 senior forward Donald Benjamin (six), 6-2 senior forward Mister McKinney (8.5) and 6-4 senior center Ahmad Shrudim (seven) in the game’s flow. Also watch for 6-2 sophomore guard Zamario Benneui, who has demonstrated accurate three-point shooting ability. “He’s going to be something special,” Walin said.

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SAVANNA: 14-10, 5-5 in 1994-95. Coach: Jim Perez (first year). Prospects: Perez must wonder what he walked into. Most of the talent either graduated or transferred, leaving him with only two experienced players: 6-4 senior forward Brandon Warden (eight points), and 6-2 junior guard Monroe Moore (four). To improve or even duplicate last season’s victory total would be an accomplishment. To make the playoffs would be a miracle.

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VALENCIA: 9-18, 6-4 in 1994-95. Coach: Dean Yoshimura (third year, 23-27). Prospects: A crossroads year for the Tigers. Yoshimura has seven returning players from a team that came on in the second half of league play. He has some height in 6-6 senior forward Kevin Jackley (3.4 points), a potential scorer in 6-1 senior forward James Rivera (10.4) and an up-and-coming center in 6-4 junior Robert Smith (4.6). A league title is not out of the question if the Tigers play with their minds on the game instead of somewhere else.

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WESTERN: 12-14, 7-3 in 1994-95. Coach: Conrad Byars (second year, 12-14). Prospects: It would have been interesting to see what Byars could have done with last season’s team, could he have it another year. The Pioneers threw a scare into Brea as they battled for the league title. However, he must start over with only one returning starter. At least 6-4 senior forward Vince Branstetter (5.9) earned all-league honors. The supporting cast Byars puts around Branstetter will determine how much surprising Western does this time around.