Lalazarian Steps Up : Tustin’s 6-7 Senior Helps Fill Gap Left by Gottlieb’s Graduation

David Lalazarian spent the better part of last summer at his second home, the gymnasium at Tustin High, working on becoming something he was not.

Last season, Lalazarian was an outstanding center, selected first team by The Times Orange County and the Southern Section. He averaged 18 points and nine rebounds in helping the Tillers (28-3) reach the Southern Section Division II-A championship game.

But last season, Tustin also had point guard Doug Gottlieb, the county’s player of the year. Gottlieb is now a freshman at Notre Dame, and the Tillers’ attack was forced to change.

Up stepped Lalazarian. Not only would the 6-foot-7 senior have to show everyone this was his team now, but he would also need to showcase his outside game if he wanted to continue playing basketball in college.

So he worked in the gym every day last summer, refining his shooting, dribbling and defending skills. He worked to make the transition from center to guard--or at least to swing man.

“He’s really not a big man,” said Coach Andy Ground, whose Tillers (15-3) are ranked second in the county. “He’s more of a 6-7 guard. He can play a little small forward and a little off-guard.”

Lalazarian is third in the county in scoring this season, averaging nearly 24 points and connecting on better than 50% of his field-goal attempts. But then, scoring has never been a problem for him.

“Everyone knows he can score 30 or 40 points a game,” Ground said. “I honestly believe if we let him shoot the ball every time he gets it, he would score that many. But you don’t win games by doing that.”

Lalazarian has always been tough around the basket. If a shot goes up and misses, he’s usually there to battle for the rebound. If he has to put the ball on the floor, he can do that too. But a guard has to perform on the perimeter--a long way from the basket--and that’s where Lalazarian saw room for improvement.

“I was decent before, but my ball control was on and off, and I needed to get more consistent with it,” he said.

In youth leagues, coaches naturally put Lalazarian where he could do the most good--at center.

“I was usually the tallest guy, so they put me inside,” he said, adding with a sense of relief: “I won’t have to do that in college.

“I’d rather play guard anyway,” Lalazarian said. “It’s just the way I move. I’m not a big, slow guy. It would be easier for me to make that transition than for a really big guy.”

Lalazarian’s transition and work ethic has not been lost on his teammates.

“He is the best player I have ever played with,” said Matt Kraus, a 6-5 senior forward who has taken over at the post position. “He’s a nice guy and a leader. He pumps the team up whenever we’re doing bad.”

Most nights, Lalazarian draws a crowd. In a 53-41 victory at Servite last week, Lalazarian was double- and triple-teamed. He finished with 11 rebounds and 17 points on six-of-15 shooting.

After the game, Lalazarian said he had a bad night. Servite Coach Scott Hamilton saw it otherwise.

“Just his presence on the court influences the way the game is played,” Hamilton said. “His intensity and focus and his ability to make the big play just prove he has the whole package.

“Our goal was to cover him every time he had the ball. Obviously, he is a great team player. Those intangibles he presents are his greatest assets.”

On nights when there are no games, Lalazarian returns to Tustin’s empty gym, where he shoots some more. He continues to work on the skills he’ll need for the college game.

It has made a difference.

“He was a very good player last year,” Ground said. “He relied a lot on Doug Gottlieb to get him the ball. This year, he just gets the ball on his own and goes and does it.”