Another Level

There is a reason for the insanity of rising at 5:30 a.m. to run alone along the quiet streets of Simi Valley.

Branduinn Fullove doesn’t care if drivers give him strange looks as they wonder what motivates a teenager to be up at such an ungodly hour on a school day.

“Anything to get a little bit better,” he said of his fall workouts. “I figure if I’m not out there, someone else is.”

Those who doubt the virtues of hard work should come watch Fullove play basketball.

He has been at Simi Valley High seemingly forever. He started for the varsity two years ago as a freshman. He’s a junior and turning himself into the complete player he always envisioned being.

He’s 6 feet 5, 205 pounds, with the muscles, agility and athleticism of a college free safety. Except basketball, not football, is his love, and there is nothing he can’t do on the court.

He’ll drill a three-pointer. He’ll drive the baseline and make a reverse layup. He’ll guard his man so closely that Coach Dean Bradshaw could borrow an idea from “Hoosiers” and expect Fullove to tell him the flavor of gum the opponent is chewing. He’ll race up and down the court sweating but not feeling tired. He’ll float through the air like a gymnast, maintaining complete control of his body as he battles for a rebound.

Sylmar saw a glimpse of what Fullove is capable of doing Saturday at Cal State Dominguez Hills. He scored 27 points, making 11 of 14 shots, and the Pioneers (16-2), ranked No. 1 in The Times’ regional poll, cruised to an 81-66 victory over the No. 3-ranked Spartans (14-5).

This was the best Southern Section team in the region facing the best City Section team in the region, and the game was no contest.

Sylmar fell behind, 24-9, early in the second quarter, and turned up its defensive pressure to make a brief comeback, closing to within 30-27. Then the Pioneers went for the knockout, relying on senior Rafael Berumen, who scored 32 points, Fullove, Brett Michel, Shaun Michel and Dustin Villepigue to rout the Spartans.

This is a a different Simi Valley team from the past two seasons. Maybe the Pioneers learned that talent alone doesn’t win championships, because the players are so much more unselfish. They set a team record with 34 assists in a Marmonte League game earlier this season.

Villepigue, a 6-8 sophomore who’s destined to become a big-time player, remembers watching the players last season from the stands and noticing a disturbing trend.

“It was me, me, me,” he said. “This year, everyone contributes.”

The players are not afraid to pass up a shot for an extra pass. They have learned that winning is more important than individual points.

But also give credit to what a year or two of varsity experience really means. Shaun Michel, who had 10 assists against Sylmar, was inserted at point guard last season as a freshman. He was overwhelmed at times. Not anymore. He makes decisions and judgments decisively.

“I felt I had to be perfect and felt I couldn’t make any mistakes,” he said. “It helps me a lot knowing one mistake isn’t going to kill me.”

Big brother Brett appears more comfortable with his role as a rebounder and three-point shooter. He’s more selective on his shots and more aggressive going after the ball.

The 6-9 Berumen has returned to his form as a sophomore, when he was the top player in Ventura County. He uses his size and shooting touch to devastate opponents.

Villepigue one day could be just as dominating as Berumen. He’s only 15, has grown five inches in a year and could be 6-10 by next season. He’s not needed for his offense this season, but the potential is there to become an elite player.

Then there’s Fullove. The most impressive part of Fullove’s game is how hard he plays at both ends of the court.

“He’s the glue,” Bradshaw said. “He’s the one who in all areas of the game excels. He’s a tremendous competitor. His work ethic every day is outstanding. He has a desire to win and compete in every drill he does. Everything he needed to get better as a basketball player, he’s done.”

Watch Fullove’s intense concentration and focus on defense. His commitment is genuine.

“Someone has to step up and do it,” he said. “It’s something that has to be done. If you can’t stop them, you’re not going to win. It comes from the heart to go a full 32 minutes. There’s two ends of the floor. Hopefully, if I keep playing both ends of the floor, maybe I can get somewhere.”

Simi Valley no longer has to worry about Artesia standing in the way for a Southern Section championship. The Pioneers have dropped to Division I-A, meaning Mater Dei and Glendora will be their new playoff obstacles.

What a game it would be seeing Fullove try to guard Stanford-bound Casey Jacobsen of Glendora.

This season the Pioneers have lost only to teams from Louisiana and New Jersey. They face a tough test Monday from Fairfax in a 12:50 p.m. game at Pauley Pavilion.

There’s still a month to go in the regular season, but the Pioneers are a unanimous No. 1 in the region. They aspire for a higher goal of winning a section championship.

In Fullove, they have a player ready to do whatever it takes to succeed.

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