It’s Show-Me Time

Jason Collins, Harvard-Westlake High’s 6-foot-10 senior center, is 115 rebounds shy of tying the Southern Section career record entering the Wolverines’ Division III-A playoff opener Friday night against visiting Northview.

But breaking the mark will require playing a few more minutes and pulling down a few more rebounds in games that are routinely lopsided affairs.

Collins--who, along with twin Jarron, has signed with Stanford--ranks third behind leader Wendell Kallenberger of Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos, who had 1,496 rebounds from 1963-66.

Collins, who last season helped the Wolverines win the Division III state championship, is averaging 10.9 rebounds. He would have to avenge 12.8 rebounds over a nine-game stretch--the most remaining games possible should the Wolverines (28-1) advance to the state final--in order to catch Kallenberger.

Of course, Collins will have to average even more if the Wolverines are eliminated before the state final. All of which has not escaped Collins or Harvard-Westlake Coach Greg Hilliard, who has increased Collins court time the past few games. Collins averages 18 minutes a game and typically spends the last half of the fourth quarter of blowouts on the bench.

“It’s gonna be a real tough haul for him to get it,” Hilliard said. “But he could get himself up to second, I’ve kept him in a minute or two longer than I normally would. I say, “You’ve got a few more minutes. Go get some rebounds.”

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Southern Section Career Rebounding Leaders

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1. Wendell Kallenberger, Garden Grove Rancho Alamitos, 1963-66 1,496 2. Mitchell Butler, Oakwood, 1986-89 1,445 3. Jason Collins, Harvard-Westlake, 1993-97 1,381 4. Wayne Englestad, Rosemead Bosco Tech, 1981-84 1,371 5. John Greer, Elsinore, 1974-76 1,333

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