Lakey Came Through in Clutch

Coaches scratched their heads. Opponents shook their heads. Fans hit their heads.

No one could figure out how to stop point guard Russell Lakey of Harvard-Westlake High. Play him close and he’d draw a foul. Give him room and he’d hit an open shot.

“It was beyond anything we expected,” Coach Greg Hilliard said. “In the second half of the year, his play was bordering on phenomenal at times. He was just impressing everybody. If anybody had any doubts about his size or ability to play the position, they disappeared.”

Lakey, a 6-foot senior, averaged 23.1 points, a school record, to go along with 5.8 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 3.1 steals. He found a way to dominate despite being among the smallest players on the court.

Lakey has been selected The Times’ Valley player of the year.

He led Harvard-Westlake (22-6, 11-1) to the Mission League championship. In his three-year varsity career, he finished as the Wolverines’ career leader in assists (376), steals (262) and three-point baskets (195). He has accepted a scholarship to Vanderbilt.

“He was able to take over the show almost completely sometimes,” Hilliard said. “He seemed like he was everywhere you looked and there were three or four of him.”

The fourth quarter became Lakey Time. Many of Harvard-Westlake’s games were not decided until the final minutes, when he would take over and leave coaches exasperated.

“In the fourth quarter, I always had confidence our team could do whatever it takes to win,” Lakey said. “I always want the ball at the end of the game because I know I can create things not only for myself but [for] my teammates that can lead to success.”

Lakey’s rise completed a three-year transformation. As a sophomore, he was a shooting guard who averaged 22.4 points. As a junior, he switched to point guard and struggled at times, his scoring average dropping to 16.6.

Last summer, he regained his confidence and set the stage for an MVP senior season.

“I knew all I had to do was keep working on my game and everything else would take care of itself,” he said.

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Mark Drucker / Taft

Coach of the Year

20-3

Assistant: Derrick Taylor

With only one returning starter, a key transfer and a freshman phenom, Drucker guided the Toreadors to a co-West Valley League title and a City Championship quarterfinal appearance.

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Player of the Year: Russell Lakey

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Midwin Francis / Granada Hills

6-4, Forward

Senior

The most mobile and productive rebounder in the region averaged 16 rebounds and 16.1 points and led the Highlanders to a City Invitational semifinal.

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Russell Lakey / Harvard-Westlake

6-1, Guard

Senior

Player of the year.

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Cody Pearson / Notre Dame

6-4, Forward

Junior

Showing maturity and leadership, Pearson’s all-around play lifted Notre Dame (22-7) to its best record since 1993. He averaged 22.8 points and 12.3 rebounds.

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Scott Borchart / Chaminade

6-9, Center

Junior

A three-time All-Valley selection, Borchart averaged 20 points, 10.3 rebounds and made a school-record 73% of his field-goal attempts.

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Anthony Davis / Cleveland

6-4, Forward

Junior

A transfer from Locke who promises to be among the region’s top recruits next season, Davis averaged 15.1 points and led the Cavaliers to a co-West Valley League title.

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Josiah Johnson / Montclair Prep

6-8, Center

Senior

Scoring from inside and from three-point range, Johnson averaged 24.2 points and 12.5 rebounds. He had five games of 30 or more points. He has committed to UCLA.

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Gregg Guenther / Taft

6-8, Center

Senior

Headed to USC on a football scholarship, Guenther proved similarily talented around a basket averaging 15.7 points and 11.4 rebounds for co-West Valley League champions.

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Keith Jarbo / Burroughs

6-3, Guard

Junior

The Foothill League most valuable player averaged 16 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the league champions. Jarbo made 21 of 23 shots (91.3%) in a two-game stretch against Valencia and Saugus.

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Gene Myvett / Littlerock

6-4, Guard

Senior

The Lobos’ all-time leading scorer led Littlerock to its first playoff victory in any sport. Myvett, the Golden League most valuable player, averaged 25.6 points and 8.7 rebounds for the league co-champions.

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James Jenkins / Crescenta Valley

6-6, Center

Junior

Whether rebounding, scoring or playing defense, Jenkins did it all. He made 62% of his shots while averaging 20.7 points. He averaged 12.1 rebounds, getting 22 in one game.

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Second-team chart, final standing and statistical leaders on Page 15.