Stotts Keeps Surprising Hart From Taking a Fall

A smorgasbord of notes, quotes and opinions from across the San Fernando Valley and its surrounding communities:

J.T. Stotts of Hart High, the best basketball player in the Foothill League for two consecutive seasons, is a passionate fan of Wrestlemania.

Under his Hart jersey he wears a black T-shirt that reads: “Austin 3:16.”

It’s not a religious verse--unless you consider Stone Cold Steve Austin of the World Wrestling Federation a god.

“I started watching it and got hooked,” said Stotts, a 5-foot-10 senior point guard who is averaging 22.5 points.

Stotts is learning all the nicknames of wacky WWF wrestlers: Chainsaw Charlie, the Undertaker, Legion of Doom and Nation of Domination. He has marked down March 13 on his calendar to attend Wrestlemania at the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim.

“A lot of it is fake,” Stotts said.

Oh, really?

“It’s something to get me going,” he said.

Stotts, also a top shortstop for the baseball team, is trying to lead the surprising Indians (15-9, 6-2 in league play) to the Foothill title. He was league most valuable player last season and should earn it again.

“He refuses to lose,” Hart Coach David Montgomery said.

Hart was picked to finish third by some coaches in the Foothill race. Stotts didn’t appreciate the lack of respect.

“I take it as a personal, individual goal to go out there every night and prove everyone wrong,” he said.

He already sounds like a WWF performer, so just call him Too Hot J.T. Stotts. . . .

With apologies to Gilbert Arenas of Grant and Rafael Berumen of Simi Valley, the player of the year in boys’ basketball this season is 6-6 Daniel Bobik of Newbury Park.

Bobik turned in a performance for the ages Friday against Simi Valley. It wasn’t just his 28 points, 12 rebounds and eight steals. He did everything but fill up the water bottles.

He deflected passes, grabbed rebounds, made three-point baskets, scored on driving layups, stole passes and blocked shots.

“I think he washes the uniforms, folds the towels and carries the bags,” Newbury Park Coach Steve Johnson said.

Bobik plays with uncommon intensity and fire.

“This is so much fun,” he said after the Panthers’ 51-44 victory clinched at least a share of the Marmonte League championship. “This is what you practice your butt off for.” . . .

There’s another Bobik to pay attention to. Aaron Bobik is a freshman guard on the Newbury Park junior varsity team. Once he begins his growth spurt in the next two years, beware. . . .

Two of the region’s best unsigned football players are kickers Derek Brown of Highland and David Rosenberg of Calabasas. Brown, an All-Valley selection, might walk on at UCLA. . . .

Junior pitcher Travis Allen of Quartz Hill is recovered and throwing well after breaking his right hand when he punched a wall at midseason last year.

“I said, ‘Hit it with your left hand next time if you’re going to punch a wall,’ ” Rebel Coach Dave Stradling said. . . .

The No. 1 pitcher in the East Valley League is junior Ivan Hernandez of Sylmar. He was 5-2 last season until he became academically ineligible. North Hollywood and Poly will have to beat Hernandez to win a league title. . . .

Palmdale has an improving sophomore pitcher in Matt Harrington, who is 6 feet 2 and throwing with more velocity. The Falcons, under first-year Coach Lance Pierson, are favored to win the Golden League championship. The top returning hitter is first baseman J.J. Rosati (.506). . . .

There never has been as many talented local golfers. From J.T. Kohut of Westlake to Russell Surber of Flintridge Prep to Charlie Smith of Hart, the talent is outstanding. There’s also the Ohye brothers, Justin and Jonathan, of Calabasas, Ryan Wyman of Hart, Brian Wolf and Krystal Shearer of Alemany, and Kevin Coghlan and Anne Lee of Notre Dame.

Hart’s Smith is sidelined until the end of this month after breaking his tailbone in a snow-boarding accident. . . .

All-City Section pitcher Sandra Durazo has graduated, but Kennedy’s softball team has discovered a top freshman pitcher in Sara Castillo. “She looks and throws like Sandra Durazo,” Cougar Coach Eric Moorman said. . . .

Dallas Enoch, a 6-3 junior from Calabasas, is emerging as a three-sport standout. He was an all-league quarterback, is a key player for the basketball team and also plays baseball. . . .

Robert Herrick is a promising freshman football/basketball/baseball player at Alemany. He’s the son of College of the Canyons women’s basketball Coach Greg Herrick. . . .

Valley College assistant basketball coach Mike May has discovered a way to avoid traffic when commuting from his home in Valencia to Van Nuys for practice. He always brings one of his sons so he can drive in the diamond lane. He has nicknamed his sons, “Car Pool 1, Car Pool 2 and Car Pool 3.” . . .

Harvard-Westlake water polo goalie Brendan Connolly is expected to sign with California. He’ll replace Peter Keifer, a Harvard-Westlake graduate. . . .

After Grant defeated North Hollywood in a East Valley League basketball game Wednesday, Grant’s Mike Yildiz planted a kiss on the cheek of North Hollywood’s Jon Hicks as they shook hands. They’ve known each other since third grade.

“He’s like family,” Yildiz said.

Eric Sondheimer’s local column appears Wednesday and Sunday. He can be reached at (818) 772-3422.

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STATS ON STOTTS

Points: 22.3

Rebounds: 4.5

Steals: 2.6

Averages per game