Servite Basketball Team Gets a Tall Transfer

The newest big man on campus in boys’ basketball is Martin Iti, a 6-foot-11 sophomore who transferred to Servite 10 days ago from Cardinal Gibbons High School in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

He’s the second major addition for the Friars, who picked up Canyon High transfer Roger Hogan, a guard, last spring. Hogan averaged 17.2 points and 8.5 assists in leading the Comanches to the Century League title last season.

The newcomers played together for the first time two weeks ago in a fall league game at Ocean View and impressed several observers. The Friars step up into the new Serra League this season against the likes of traditional basketball powers Mater Dei and Santa Margarita.

Of course, Hogan is a proven commodity in the county, Servite Coach Brian Kenney said. But Iti “is pretty raw,” according to the first-year coach.

“He needs to get in the weight room,” Kenney said. “But he’s got some talent. If he’s willing to work on it, we’ll see if we can develop that talent.”

DEDICATION MADE

Aliso Niguel dedicated a tree to the memory of alumnus Lee Brennan, a football player, diver and wrestler who died in a traffic accident in August 1998.

The tree was planted a week ago at the entrance to Aliso Niguel’s football stadium. The dedication took place Friday before the team’s game against Orange.

SEMINAR SET

UC Irvine is hosting a seminar Nov. 3 for prospective college athletes and players who want to learn more about the recruiting process.

Information will be available on standardized tests, core courses, grade point averages and the NCAA Clearinghouse, according to UCI Director of Compliance Keith Shackleford. The event will run from 7-9 p.m. and cost $15 per family. Deadline to register is Oct. 20. Call (949) 824-4690.

GOOD FIRST EFFORT

Mater Dei football Coach Bruce Rollinson got a chance last week to prepare to face a Los Angeles City Section team for the first time in his 11 years at the school.

With their placement in the four-team Serra League over the summer, Rollinson had to fill an open date in the Monarchs’ schedule and found an able opponent in Wilmington Banning, which reached the 4-A title game last year.

“It came down to either take a bye or take Banning,” Rollinson said. “Based on the Catholic school’s scheduling, knowing that I already had [Fresno] Clovis West and [Concord] De La Salle, I spent a lot of time trying to find someone in the county, but it didn’t work out, so these guys stepped up.”

And the Monarchs stepped on them, 37-0.

TRUE WORDS

Before Santa Ana Valley’s football game against Estancia Thursday night, Falcon Coach Eddie Steward said wide receiver Aaron Barragan was “explosive” and a “big playmaker.”

Steward’s words turned out to be prophetic in his team’s 21-20 victory, during which Barragan broke four tackles on his way to a 48-yard touchdown run and dazzled the crowd with a 95-yard kickoff return.

Barragan has returned two kickoffs and two punts for scores this season, leading the Falcons to a 4-1 record.

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Gerry Miriello contributed to this story