A Big Event for the Big Men

Some are known for their long-range shooting while others are above-the-rim artists. Others are skilled ballhandlers while some are post-up specialists.

Regardless of their basketball prowess, one of the finest collections of high school frontcourt prospects -- better known as big men -- will be on hand today for the 10th Nike Extravaganza at the Anaheim Convention Center.

There should be enough talented big men on hand to provide college recruiters, and maybe even a few NBA scouts, incentive to arrive early and stay late.

“Of all the [showcase events], this one features the best big men in the country ... and locally,” said Coach Gary McKnight of Santa Ana Mater Dei, whose nationally ranked Monarchs are scheduled to play Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy at 6:30 p.m.

Highlighting the eight-game schedule is the rematch between Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, ranked No. 8 in the nation by USA Today, and No. 10 Los Angeles Westchester at 8 p.m. Oak Hill won last year’s game, 77-62.

The Comets, ranked No. 1 in the Southland by The Times, are playing their best basketball of the season thanks to the return of Amir Johnson, a 6-foot-11 senior center who missed most of December because of a foot injury.

Johnson, who has signed with Louisville, finally had the opportunity to display his game before a packed gymnasium two weeks ago in a 68-60 Western League victory over third-ranked Los Angeles Fairfax. He had 26 points, 14 rebounds and six blocked shots.

Johnson missed all but four games last season while appealing a City Section ruling that declared him ineligible after his transfer from Los Angeles Verbum Dei. He won his appeal in April, but by then, the season was over.

While the foot injury delayed his comeback, his offensive skills, in transition and the half-court game, remain strong.

“I wish we would have had him all year,” Coach Ed Azzam said. “He’s really hard to guard.”

Johnson will have his work cut out for him against Oak Hill, which will counter with Bamba Fall, a 7-1 senior from Senegal who has signed with Southern Methodist.

Fall, primarily a shot-blocker, averages five points, leaving offensive responsibilities to 6-4 senior guards Jamont Gordon and Eric Devendorf and 6-9 junior Kevin Durant.

Durant is considered one of the top five small forwards in the nation for his class and will probably be the next Oak Hill player to go directly from there to the NBA. Josh Smith, 6-9, made the jump in 2004, when he was the No. 17 pick of the draft by the Atlanta Hawks.

Durant averages 18.5 points and possesses unique skills for a big man, Oak Hill Coach Steve Smith said. Rarely playing with his back to the basket, he shares ball-handling duties and is the team’s best three-point shooter.

“He works out with the guards,” Smith said.

Mater Dei, ranked No. 7 in the Southland and No. 25 in the nation, will face another top inside prospect in junior Brandan Wright, an agile 6-9 power forward for Brentwood Academy.

Wright, ranked as the nation’s second-best player in his class, is said to have an eight-foot wingspan and the ability to rebound and block shots at will.

“He plays more than just the post,” McKnight said. “He likes to shoot the 10- to 15-footer.”

The Monarchs will showcase their own prospect, 7-1 sophomore center Alex Jacobson. With forward Travis King and point guard Mike Gerrity carrying the offensive load, Mater Dei can rely on Jacobson to control the paint on the defensive end. He’s averaging 7.1 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.5 blocks.

“Alex has been our most consistent player for the last 10 or 12 games,” McKnight said. “His growth as a player is just getting better and better. Before he’s done, he will be one of the most dominating centers to come out of Orange County.”

Other top frontcourt players competing in today’s Nike Extravaganza include:

* Davon Jefferson of fifth-ranked Lynwood, a 6-8 small forward who has signed with Nevada Las Vegas. He projects higher than any Southland player in the current senior class, which is why he is rumored to be piquing the interest of NBA scouts.

* Jamal Boykin of third-ranked Fairfax, a 6-8 small forward and the first player from Los Angeles to sign with Duke. He averages 23.1 points and 10.4 rebounds for the reigning Division I state champions. While Boykin isn’t asked to handle the ball as much as Jefferson, he has similar command of the inside-outside game.

* James Keefe of Santa Margarita, a 6-8 junior power forward who has committed to UCLA. He averages 17 points, 12.5 rebounds and 3.6 blocks for the No. 13 Eagles. Keefe is slick in transition and accurate from the perimeter, particularly along the baseline.

* Brett Hoerner of Fullerton, a 7-foot center who has signed with San Diego State. He averages a team-high 17.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 5.7 blocks and has reached double figures in those categories in three games this season.

* James Cawthorne of Villa Park, a 6-9 junior center who averages 11.5 points and 6.3 rebounds for the No. 14 Spartans.

* Clint Amberry of Huntington Beach Ocean View, a 6-10 sophomore forward who averages 15.7 points and 8.6 rebounds.

* Auri Allen, a 6-11, 290-pound freshman for Verbum Dei who averages 13 points, seven rebounds and three blocks. Allen shoots 75% from the free-throw line and 64% from the field and, last week, had three dunks in one game for the first time this season.

*

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Nike Extravaganza

* Where: Anaheim Convention Center.

* When: Today.

* Schedule: Fountain Valley vs. Crespi, 9:30 a.m.; Lynwood vs. Long Beach Poly, 11 a.m.; Santa Margarita vs. Las Vegas Durango, 12:30 p.m.; Villa Park vs. Ocean View, 2 p.m.; Verbum Dei vs. Fullerton, 3:30 p.m.; Fairfax vs. Orange Lutheran, 5 p.m.; Mater Dei vs. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy, 6:30 p.m.; Westchester vs. Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy, 8 p.m.;

* Admission: $22 reserved; $12 general admission (good for any and all games, parking included when notifying Convention Center attendants).