Hansen Keeping Busy in the ‘Off-Season’

It’s no surprise that colleges lined up to recruit Kevin Hansen, Corona del Mar’s 6-foot-4 senior setter.

That was expected, right? His coach does call him one of the best players to ever play at the school.

But that’s his basketball coach.

“I’ve been here for 30 years,” Corona del Mar boys’ basketball Coach Paul Orris said. “And if you took the five best basketball players I’ve seen here, I’d put Kevin right there with them.”

Not bad for your second sport.

Hansen is the leading scorer for the Sea Kings, who continue their postseason run next week when the state tournament begins. But his No. 1 sport is volleyball, although he has dabbled in plenty of other sports.

Hansen’s mother, Ann, said she remembers watching Kevin dribble a soccer ball at age 2 while his older sisters, Kristin and Erika, played their soccer games. He also grew up around volleyball, playing on the beach with his sisters, who both went on to play at Princeton.

Combine that history with his talent and Hansen has developed into arguably the top boys’ volleyball player in the Orange County Class of 2000, which is loaded with top recruits.

“It’s one of the deepest classes in years,” said UC Irvine men’s volleyball Coach Charlie Brande. “There are six to eight guys that you will see step in and contribute right away next season.

“And there’s a good-sized group of guys who are right behind them.”

Hansen, a 6-foot-4 setter, has already signed to play at Stanford. He turned down offers to play at UCLA, home to volleyball legend Karch Kiraly, and Long Beach State, which reached the NCAA final last season.

Orris said Hansen might have had his pick of basketball schools too if he had concentrated more on that sport. But he said Hansen made the right choice.

“You can’t fault his decision,” Orris said. “Word got around that he was going to play volleyball so I don’t think he got as much attention as a player his caliber might usually receive.”

Orris rates Hansen among the elite basketball players he’s seen at the school, including former Loyola Marymount guard Jeff Fryer, who played alongside Hank Gathers and Bo Kimble and helped the Lions on their magical NCAA tournament run in 1990.

Or how about Jeff Pries or former UC Irvine standout Mike Hess?

And Hansen’s numbers back it up. He averaged 21 points in the regular season and his 31-point performance against Sherman Oaks Norte Dame in the Southern Section Division III-AA quarterfinals last week had Corona del Mar boys’ volleyball Coach Steve Conti shaking his head.

“He just took over that game,” Conti said.

Said Orris: “He’s improved 100-200% this season and he’s just stepped it up.”

That leadership role isn’t foreign to Hansen in volleyball.

Last season, he helped the Sea Kings reach the Southern Section Division I volleyball final, which they lost to Newport Harbor. Corona del Mar has the talent to return, but Conti knows his basketball players will play a big role during volleyball season too.

“Kevin knows how to run the show,” Conti said. “He knows who to set and when and he’s very consistent. He sets balls that normally other setters can’t reach because he’s 6-4, and his defense is good because he can also put up such a big block.

“And his leadership is great for this team. He’s a good role model for the younger guys and he’s a good all-around person.”

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Some other players to watch:

Billy Clayton, Newport Harbor--All-Southern Section football player could be even better in volleyball and Stanford thinks so too. Clayton will join the Cardinal with Hansen next season. Clayton has moved to outside hitter from middle blocker this season.

Greg Stampley, Corona del Mar--Hansen’s high school teammate isn’t as flashy as some of the county’s top recruits, but he is one of the county’s best outside hitters. USC is among the schools recruiting him.

Jeff Wootton, Marina--This explosive outside hitter had already established himself as one of the county’s top players when he was a sophomore. He and teammate Rob Kijewski will both play at Long Beach State. This is their final shot at a high school championship so expect the Vikings to play even hungrier this season.

Gray Garrett, San Clemente--This outside hitter has the ability to step in andcontribute immediately at UCLA next season.

Paul Johnson, Capistrano Valley--This middle blocker is the centerpiece for first-year Coach Rich Polk and the Cougars, and he’ll join Garrett at UCLA next season.

Kyle Martin, El Toro--College coaches were drooling over Martin’s ability last season. UC Irvine coaches were tickled that he chose to stay close to home and become an Anteater next season along with Irvine High’s B.J. Fell.

Jimmy Pelzel, El Toro--At 6 feet 5, Pelzel is one of five starters back for the Chargers and college coaches are taking note. USC and UC Santa Barbara are among his suitors.

Tim Layton, Whittier Christian--Brigham Young successfully recruited this 6-6 outside hitter for next season, but Layton hopes to lead the Heralds to the top of the Olympic League this year.

AT A GLANCE: Boys’ Volleyball

* The Proven: Long Beach State-bound seniors Jeff Wootton and Rob Kijewski give Marina perhaps the best combination of outside hitters in the county and make the Vikings an early target. . . . Corona del Mar has one of the nation’s best setters, Kevin Hansen (Stanford), and one of the county’s top outside hitters, Greg Stampley, leading a group of returners that reached the Southern Section Division I final last season.

* The Promising: San Clemente has four starters back, including outside hitters Gray Garrett (UCLA) and Spencer Bemus, giving first-year Coach Ken Goldstone plenty of reason for optimism. . . . Capistrano Valley has a marquee player in Paul Johnson (UCLA) and an experienced setter in Scott Campbell, so the Cougars should push San Clemente and El Toro for league supremacy. . . . Irvine took its lumps last season in the Sea View League, but former league rivals Corona del Mar, El Toro and Santa Margarita are gone and the Vaqueros have B.J. Fell to lead a team that will challenge defending league and Division I champion Newport Harbor.

* Preseason top 10: 1. Marina--Sunset favorite should make a championship run; 2. San Clemente--Size, experience and ball control make this the best Triton team in years; 3. Corona del Mar--Sea Kings have experience and potential to return to Division I title match; 4. El Toro--First-year coaches Michelle and Coley Kyman re-energized girls’ program and they should do same with a talented boys’ team led by Kyle Martin; 5. Irvine--Primed for breakthrough season. 6. Santa Margarita--With a healthy Blake Robinson, Eagles will challenge county’s elite. 7. Newport Harbor--Billy Clayton leads defending Division I champion; 8. Capistrano Valley--Strong Cougars make South Coast perhaps the county’s toughest league; 9. Mater Dei--Mike Gazzano and Brian Costanzo will help Monarchs press Santa Margarita in league; 10. Huntington Beach--San Diego State-bound Matt Wendt leads always scrappy Oilers.

* Key Dates: March 17-18--Orange County Championships tournament, Marina HS. April 1--California Tournament of Champions, CS Northridge. April 28-29--Redondo Union tournament, Santa Barbara tournament. May 12, 16, 19, 24--Southern Section playoffs. May 27--Southern Section finals.

* League Favorites: Century--Foothill; Empire--El Dorado; Garden Grove--Bolsa Grande; Golden West--Santa Ana; Olympic--Whittier Christian; Orange--Brea Olinda; Pacific Coast--Corona del Mar; Sea View--Newport Harbor; Serra--Santa Margarita; South Coast--San Clemente; Sunset--Marina.

* Fast Fact: El Dorado is gunning for its fifth consecutive Empire League title but will get tested by Cypress and its five returning starters including Garrett Massey.