Season Bounces Back With ‘Midnight Madness’ Drills

A look at the region’s college basketball teams heading into the start of official practices:

Cal State Fullerton begins workouts with more experienced players than in any of Bob Hawking’s three previous seasons as head coach.

The Titans have five players back who were either regulars or part-time starters on last season’s team that was 13-14. That group includes guards Chris Dade and Chris St. Clair, who combined to average 26.7 points last season. Dade, a three-year regular, averaged 16.4 points. Other top returning players are center DeVaughn Wright and forwards Craig Whitehead and Mark Richardson. Sophomore point guard Kenroy Jarrett also will be back after sitting out last season because of a knee injury.

Fullerton’s big problem a year ago was that its inside game fell apart when senior forward John Williams (16.9 points) missed the final 11 games of the regular season because of a hand injury.

The key this season is expected to be highly regarded newcomer Ike Harmon, a 6-5 forward who sat out his freshman year as a Proposition 48 non-qualifier. The Titans also have added two freshmen inside players, Matt Caldwell (6-8), a redshirt in 1996, and Corey Sanders (6-11).

“The most exciting thing for us is having as many veteran players as we do,” Hawking said. “And this season we should have some quality depth. It’s going to make it very competitive in practice.”