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With summer in full swing, many high...

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With summer in full swing, many high school students are kicking back

and enjoying a few months off.

However, for athletes who strive to improve their skills and gain

experience, summer is not a time for leisure, but a time for work.

Whether its playing in summer league competition, attending camps

and clinics, or hitting the road with travel teams, scores of

dedicated athletes are working out with a goal to make an impact in

the future.

Some of those talented boys and girls will be poised and ready to

go once the 2003-04 school year begins in September. There is a

number of individuals from the local high schools who could be in

line for breakout or impact seasons.

Here is a look at some of the athletes who could be some of the

best in the area.

Because it’s unfair to include incoming freshmen because they are

untested and have not played any contests at the high school level,

the focus will be on incoming seniors, juniors and sophomores.

* Tulyah Gaines (Burroughs, girls’ basketball, track and field):

The question for the talented senior point guard isn’t if she will be

an impact player next season. Instead, many are wondering if she is

going to return to the school after a busy summer.

Because of family financial problems, Gaines might be moving out

of the area. There have even been rumors the All-CIF Southern Section

standout could be transferring to Sylmar.

If she stays at Burroughs, Gaines has the potential to not only to

be the most successful player in Indians’ history, but she also could

eventually be the best female basketball athlete the area has ever

produced.

In the wake of a fine junior season, Gaines has received interest

from a number of top colleges, including Duke, Notre Dame, Kansas

State and Vanderbilt.

The 5-foot-8 Gaines was one of the best players last season in the

Foothill League, averaging 18.9 points -- 21.6 in league -- 5.2

rebounds, 5.0 assists and 4.1 steals a game. She also set a school

record for assists in a season with 122.

This summer, in addition to playing travel ball and attending high

level camps, Gaines was just one of 48 players nationally invited to

take part in the second annual USA Basketball Women’s Youth

Development Festival in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Gaines is also an outstanding field event athlete in track and

field. Last season, she set a new school record and holds the

all-time mark in the triple jump at 37 feet 6.

* Brendon Doyle (Bell-Jeff, football, boys’ volleyball and

basketball): Last season as a junior, the 6-3 standout split time a

quarterback and defensive back. The All-CIF Southern Section

selection also did the team’s punting.

However, with some decent depth, the Guards might be deep enough

for Doyle to just concentrate on offense and still do the punting.

With more time to work on his quarterbacking skills, look for

Doyle to put up some good numbers -- if he can get the protection.

Last season, Doyle completed 103 of 203 passes for 1,553 yards,

13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. The Guards might just miss him on

defense, as he had seven interceptions -- three in one game -- in

2002.

He was also an all-league player in basketball and volleyball.

* Joey Paysinger (Burroughs boys’ basketball): In the 2002-03

season, the Indian junior had to share the offensive spotlight with

teammate Peter St. Hubert, who averaged 19.3 points, 6.9 rebounds and

1.8 blocks a game.

St. Hubert has graduated, and Paysinger looks to be the Indians’

go-to guy as a senior.

A potent outside shooter with a fine feel for the game, Paysinger

has the potential to be the best male basketball player in the area.

He should better his statistics from last season, which were

pretty good. Along with averaging 16.6 points and three rebounds a

game, Paysinger also shot 34% from the three-point line, converting

86 shots from beyond the arc.

The Indians should also have a productive supporting cast from a

team that went to the CIF Southern Section Division IIA

quarterfinals.

* Carolyn Chrzan (Burbank girls’ soccer, track and field and

volleyball): With a productive freshman season behind her, the

accomplished all-around athlete could make a lot of noise for her

sophomore campaign.

In fact, Chrzan is so well rounded, she could be the next big

multi-sport athlete to emerge from the area.

Last season, playing for a Bulldog girls’ soccer team that

struggled in the Foothill League, Chrzan’s talent stood out, as she

earned all-league honors as a forward.

In track and field, she advanced to the Southern Section

preliminaries, where she came up with a remarkable accomplishment.

Taking part in the long jump, she entered the competition seeded

27th. However, she uncorked a 16-11 1/4 effort and placed 10th, just

missing going to the final by one place.

Last month, she also showed her all-around skills in a heptathlon

event, finishing second among freshmen.

Another athlete to look out for is Burroughs sophomore boys’

golfer Jeff Looby, who was a postseason qualifier last season.

* JEFF TULLY is the sports editor of the Burbank Leader. He can be

reached at 843-8700, or by e-mail at jeff.tully@latimes.com.

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