PRIVATE SCHOOLS

Brethren Christian

Coach: Jon Bahnsen

1998-99 record: 6-20

League record: 1-11

The Warriors return three starters and could be the most improved team in the Olympic League this season. Senior guard Lee Mamaradlo (12.4 points, 6.1 assists), senior guard Ivan Samuels (3.1 assists) and senior forward Mike Oparah (6.7 points, 5.5 rebounds) return, as do senior guard Chris Le and junior forward Eric MacDonald.

Calvary Chapel

Coach: Bernie Francis

1998-99 record: 18-10

League record: 10-2

Guard Torin Beeler, one of the county leaders in field-goal shooting (53.2%) at Ocean View last year, makes the Eagles a strong threat to repeat as Olympic League champions. Also back is 6-0 starting guard Tyler Ohanian, a senior who averaged 3.5 assists, and 6-4 center Joshua Sherman, a senior who averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds. Last year’s sixth man, 5-11 forward Tony Olivas, who averaged 12 points and 7.2 rebounds, figures to start.

Capistrano Valley Christian

Coach: Frank Dews

1998-99 record: 15-11

League record: 9-3

David Roth, a 6-4 center, is the only returning starter, which leads Coach Frank Dews to predict the Eagles will be chasing Academy League favorite Downey Calvary Chapel. Tyler Graves, a 6-1 junior guard, Peter Miller, a 6-1 junior forward, and Ian Smetona, a 6-5 junior center, figure to start, with newcomers James Pierce, a 6-0 junior swingman, and Jordan Sukut, a 6-0 freshman guard, seeing plenty of playing time.

Fairmont

Coach: J.T. Cameron

1998-99 record: 2-18

League record: 1-11

The Huskies are chasing their first playoff berth and Coach J.T. Cameron believes he has the tools to get it by finishing in the top half of the Academy League. Starting forwards Michael Mount, a 6-2 senior, and Michael Pastrano, a 6-3 junior, and starting guard Ashrit Multani return.

Heritage Christian

Coach: Mark Berokoff

1998-99 record: 16-10

League record: 7-1

“This is one of the top three small schools in Southern California. I expect huge things from them,” said Mark Berokoff, a second-year coach who is looking beyond the team’s Express League schedule. Matt Winter, a 6-3 senior guard who averaged 21.7 points last season, returns, as does 6-3 senior forward Todd Warner (14 points) and 6-7 senior center Matt Williams (10 points, 13.5 rebounds).

Liberty Christian

Coach: Aaron Edwards

1998-99 record: 2-14

League record: 0-8

There is a new coach and four returning starters on this Express League team. Guards Aaron Mendoza (14 points), Caleb Stephens (nine points) and Mike Spagnola (seven points) and forward Cory Neal (two points) return. Guards Pat Doney and Nick Harbert and forward Brandon Burch also look for playing time.

Mater Dei

Coach: Gary McKnight

1998-99 record: 34-4

League record: 10-0

The Monarchs begin yet another season on top of the county rankings with four starters returning and a bench that could start anywhere else. Injury-riddled guard Cedric Bozeman (3.6 assists), a junior who has committed to UCLA, appears to be healthy, while 6-9 1/2 junior center Erik Soderberg and 6-11 junior center Jamal Sampson provide ample height on the front row. And don’t forget senior guard Steve Scoggin (14.3 points, 42% three-point shooting), the 1998-99 Times’ Orange County player of the year. Sophomore Mike Strawberry, a 6-5 swingman, and senior Christian McGuigan, a 6-3 guard, were key players in the playoffs. “We have good size, quickness and experience,” Coach Gary McKnight said. Mater Dei joins the Serra League.

Orange Lutheran

Coach: Shawn Cassidy

1998-99 record: 15-11

League record: 8-4

With three starters returning, the Lancers “can create matchup problems” and should challenge for the Olympic League title, said Coach Shawn Cassidy. Jason Whieldon, a 6-1 senior guard (23.9 points, eight rebounds, 4.8 assists) will take some time to get his legs back after the football season ends. He’ll be joined by 6-7 senior center Patrick Salyer (11.8 points, seven rebounds). Senior guard Taylor Gavin returns, while swingman Mike Bristol, point guard Miles Nault and guard Ryan Nath, all seniors, started a few times last season.

Orangewood Academy

Coach: Carey Bell

1998-99 record: 17-9

League record: 7-5

Four players and some good height return: Lemonds Galbreath, a 5-9 senior point guard, Mike Mitchell, a 6-6 junior center, Warren Tamanaha, a 5-6 sophomore guard, and Marcus Warren, a 6-5 sophomore forward. “I see a lot of parity across the board,” Coach Carey Bell said of the Academy League.

Saddleback Valley Christian

Coach: Rod Markum

1998-99 record: 0-0

Former Capistrano Valley Christian Coach Rod Markum says the Warriors will play a freelance schedule that will include both varsity and junior varsity opponents in their first year of existence. They are led by guards Preston Corbell, a 6-1 junior, and Dereck Warwick, a 6-0 sophomore.

St. Michael’s Prep

Coach: Rev. Stephen Boyle

1998-99 record: 7-10

League record: 3-9

The Pioneers were hurt by the transfer of 6-4 sophomore forward Jon Miller, now at Long Beach Poly, according to Coach Stephen Boyle. Senior Victor Alcantara, a 5-10 point guard, will be the team captain. Matthias Chaney, a 5-11 sophomore wing, also returns, while John Lawlor, a 5-7 sophomore guard, has been called up from the junior varsity. The Pioneers will once again play in the seven-team Academy League.

Santa Margarita

Coach: Jerry DeBusk

1998-99 record: 26-3

League record: 10-0

No starters return and Coach Jerry DeBusk is going it without his trusted long-time assistant Bob Serven, a defensive whiz now at Costa Mesa. But DeBusk was in a somewhat similar situation last season with no returning starters. He is high on Adam Tancredi, a 6-8 junior center who transferred from Mater Dei. Sophomores Brandon Ruhe, Travis Smith and Kevin Stacey, junior R.J. Socci and senior Ryan Stacey return, though none are taller than 6-3. Others include seniors Anthony Ansevin, Tom Kusteld and Chris Pearce and sophomore Lenny Collins. The Eagles have been moved out of the Sea View League to join the new Serra League along with Mater Dei, Servite and Bellflower St. John Bosco.

Servite

Coach: Brian Kenney

1998-99 record: 14-13

League record: 6-4

Brian Kenney replaces Scott Hamilton, who led the Friars to a third-place finish in the Golden West League and was fired at the end of the season. At his disposal Kenney has several imports who could make an impact in the Serra League. They are 6-9 sophomore Martin Iti, a potential phenom who played in Florida last season, and 6-1 senior guard Roger Hogan, a transfer from Canyon who scored in double figures while helping the Comanches win the Century League title. John Morris, a 6-3 junior swingman, also returns.

Southern California Christian

Coach: Eric Stenlake

1998-99 record: 3-18

League record: 2-10

The Flames return five seniors: Bill Allen, a 6-foot guard; Brian Cochrane, a 5-9 guard; Michael Dursteler, a 5-9 guard; Noah Larson, a 6-2 forward, and Ryan Seeds, a 5-8 guard. Three juniors, 5-8 guard Adrian Murillo, 5-10 forward Nathan Peterson and 5-9 guard Jon Smith are also expected to see playing time. Sophomore Michael Snavely, a 6-1 forward, and freshman Josiah Peterson, a 5-9 guard, round out the team.

Tarbut V’Torah

Coach: Patrick Roberts

1998-99 record: 13-8

Five junior starters return for veteran Coach Patrick Roberts, who has coached at Mater Dei and Mission Viejo. His son, former Mission Viejo standout Mike Roberts, who gradated in 1979, is an assistant. Center Matan Abel, forwards Tanner Bral and Noam Dashti and guards David Eghbali and Nick Light return.

Whittier Christian

Coach: Jeff Rutter

1998-99 record: 14-13

League record: 5-7

The lone person back is Preston Van Houten, a 6-foot sophomore guard. Seniors Tim Layton, a 6-6 center, and Steve Zieman, a 6-5 forward, also return. Senior Mike Lufti, a 5-11 guard, is vying for a starting role under Jeff Rutter, who was appointed coach less than a month ago. The Heralds return to compete in the Olympic League, where they finished fifth last season.