CENTURY LEAGUE
Canyon
Coach: Dave Taylor
1998-99 record: 18-8
League record: 10-0
Guard Roger Hogan has transferred to Servite, leaving Dave Taylor, a first-year coach who was formerly an assistant for Air Force,without a go-to guy. “We are very young and very small,” Taylor said. Forward Tom Burke and guards Travis Klein and Jamal Taylor, all seniors, return from a team that won the league title last season.
El Modena
Coach: Roger MacLachlan
1998-99 record: 7-19
League record: 2-8
Coach Roger MacLachlan believes he has one of the top freshman classes in the county, but this season, even with four starters back, he doesn’t see a lot of change. The starters returning are off-guard Casey Clark, a 6-0 senior; point guard Joe Cortez, a 6-0 senior; forward Brock Kyler, a 6-7 senior, and center Jason Toper, a 6-3 senior. “After that, it’s up in the air,” MacLachlan said.
Foothill
Coach: Bob Thate
1998-99 record: 20-8
League record: 6-4
Three starters return from a team that surprised a lot of people last season. Alex Rasmussen, a first-team all-league choice, averaged 18.5 points and made 72 three-pointers. Also back are Chad Bigler, a 6-4 wing who averaged 15 points and made 69 three-point shots, and Zach Smith, a 6-4 wing who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds. Three senior post players--6-6 John Weir, 6-5 Ryan Evans and 6-3 Joe Henderson--offer tough inside play.
Orange
Coach: Randy Castillo
1998-99 record: 10-15
League record: 2-8
With the transfer of the county’s leading scorer, Stephen Miller, to Anaheim, the Panthers return no starters. Seniors Blake Dodge, a 5-11 guard; C.J. Joiner, a 6-1 forward, and Faustino Luna, a 5-9 guard, were part of a team that finished fifth in league last season. Damon Cook, a transfer from Mater Dei; Toby Law; Anthony Neal, and 6-5 Bayron Ortega figure to see a lot of playing time.
Santa Ana Valley
Coach: Kevin Stipp
1998-99 record: 9-17
League record: 2-8
Eliu Fatu, a 6-4 senior forward (16 points, 12 rebounds), anchors a young team that Coach Kevin Stipp believes “will make mistakes but play hard.” Seniors Alex Cervantes, a 5-11 guard (six points, six rebounds), and Haian Trinh, a 6-2 forward (seven rebounds), are returning starters. Alex Landa, a 5-10 guard who averaged four points, is expected to earn a starting role. Guards Enrique Flores, Isaias Gonzalez, Alex Oregel and David Werdel are battling for playing time.
Villa Park
Coach: Kevin Reynolds
1998-99 record: 19-8
League record: 8-2
Coach Kevin Reynolds (91-25, three league titles) might have his best team. Juniors Matt MacGinnis (6-2 wing) and Kyle Egkan (6-8 center) return. The 5-10 point guard, Bryan Arguello; 6-1 wing Tom Stankan; 6-5 post Eric Tadeja, and 6-3 junior guard Tony Bryant, a transfer from Marina, are competing for starting jobs. Others are 6-5 post Austin Beardsley, 6-4 wing Andrew Grant, 6-0 point guard Corey Miller, 6-8 wing Sean Phaler and 6-8 post Brice Prather.
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.