HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL ‘94-’95 : Valley Pac-8 Conference : Mid-Valley League

Canoga Park

1993-94 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 2-14 1-11 4th

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Ralph Turner 1st

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Aaron Lesley F/C 6-4 Jr. Mike Criss G 6-1 Sr. Ryan Sylva C 6-5 Sr. Kevin Fishman G 6-1 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Carlos Harper F/G 6-3 So. Joey Troung G 5-9 Sr. Cesar Lopez G 5-8 Sr.

OUTLOOK

Former Cleveland assistant Turner, 33, hopes to get the Hunters out of the basement while selling the idea that proper attitude wins games. “We lost a lot of close games last year, but we’ve got a lot of seniors and returning guys,” he said. “We expect to win those close games this year. We’re going to forget about last year. We’ve got a new attitude.” Sylva averaged 9.5 points and 6.7 rebounds last season. The Hunters will press on defense and and run the break.

Poly

1994 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 12-9 7-2 2nd

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Jay Werner 7th

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Polo Gonzalez G 5-11 Sr. Cory Garrett F 6-1 Sr. Jaime Cerna F/C 6-3 Sr. Cameron Hilton G 6-0 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Jose Sandoval F/C 6-2 Sr. Victor Martinez G 5-10 Jr. Santos Bocanegra F 6-1 Sr. Marc Fernando G 5-6 Sr.

OUTLOOK

The Parrots are small, but Werner has never had a more-talented group. “I see us fighting for a league title,” he said. “The concern is how well we play together. If we play as a team, we should have a successful season.” Cerna, one of two returning starters, averaged 9.4 points and six rebounds last season. Gonzalez, the other returning starter, averaged nearly four assists a game.

Sylmar

1993 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 13-10 8-4 1st

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Bort Escoto 1st

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Joe Guerra G 6-1 Sr. Ed Terry F 6-3 Sr. Hector Ibarra G 6-1 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Robert Valentine F 6-3 So. Javier Mata F 6-1 Sr. Antonio Linares F 6-3 So. Sal Gonzalez G 6-1 Jr. Luis Salgado C 6-3 Sr.

OUTLOOK

The Spartans could have the biggest lineup in the league and they shouldn’t be at a disadvantage with a new coach. Three of the four Mid-Valley teams have new coaches. “It feels like I’m building from scratch; we don’t even have uniforms or warmups,” said Escoto, 28, a former Cleveland assistant. “But we’re coming together.” Sylmar will take advantage of its depth at the guard position by pressing and running.

Van Nuys

1994 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 2-14 0-11 4th

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Kevin Kanemura 1st

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Ben Birken F/C 6-3 Sr. Kenneth Nakata G 6-0 Sr. Ricardo Hernandez G 6-0 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Onaje Longmire F/C 6-4 Jr. Kris Hurdle G/F 6-2 Jr. Jon Okui G 5-10 Jr.

OUTLOOK

After last season, nobody is afraid of the Wolves. But Van Nuys could improve if Birken, Hurdle and Longmire, a transfer from Cleveland, come together as a front line. Nakata, quick, tough and able to play both guard positions, is the most-impressive returner. He and Birken, both second-team all-league, will be counted on to score. Okui, a transfer from Monroe, and Hernandez will get lots of minutes. Kanemura, 27, was a seven-year volunteer assistant under Yutaka Shimizu at Kennedy.

East Valley League

Grant

1993-94 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 18-6 9-2 2nd

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Howard Levine 9th

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Ronald Patterson G 6-0 Sr. Donald Patterson F 6-2 Jr. Taj Rollins F/G 6-2 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Jason Hughes C 6-6 Sr. Freddy Ramirez G 5-9 Jr. Larry Stewart F 6-1 Jr. Robert Lozano G 6-0 So. Damiyan Williams F 6-1 1/2 Sr. Khalid Dawson F 5-10 Sr.

OUTLOOK

The Lancers lost four players who averaged nine points or more a game. But leading scorer Ronald Patterson (13.7 ppg.) is back. Levine says Patterson could be the best scorer at Grant since Keith Weinstein, who was All-City 3-A in 1990. Donald Patterson, Ronald’s brother who averaged 5.4 rebounds last year, has improved. But the Lancers have concerns in outside shooting, rebounding and depth. They will fast-break and play pressure defense. “We’re going to have to get every single loose ball we can,” Levine said.

Monroe

1993-94 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 10-13 7-5 tied 2nd

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Paul Graber 4th

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Shaka Stiner G 5-9 Sr. Tim Johnson F 6-5 Sr. Quincy Brooks G 5-10 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Marrean Robottem C/F 6-6 Sr. Terrance Cain G/F 6-3 Jr. Bobby Reid F 6-2 Sr. Rolando Cardenas C/F 6-4 Jr. Johnny Guevara G 5-5 Jr. Lorenzo Macon G 5-11 So. Jason Bolding F/C 6-4 Jr. Carlos Torres G 5-11 Sr.

OUTLOOK

Height, quickness and team chemistry are pluses. One more ingredient is needed: toughness. The Vikings will have to be road warriors to be successful, because their gym won’t be repaired from earthquake damage until February or March. Gone are Kenyatta Niles and Dante Holly, who combined for 31 points a game last year. Stiner averaged 17.7 points last season. Johnson and Robottem, a transfer from Faith Baptist, could blossom.

North Hollywood

1993-94 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 17-6 11-0 1st

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Steve Miller 10th

TOP RETURNEES POS HT YR Arthur Lee G 6-0 Sr. Mike Delano F 6-6 Sr. Terry Smith-Harris F 6-4 Sr.

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Jeff Carpenter G 5-8 Sr. Shannon Johnson C 6-7 So. Lonzo Cotton F 6-4 Sr. Melvin Goodman G 5-10 Jr. Damon Francis G 5-8 Jr.

OUTLOOK

Will the beat go on for North Hollywood, which is 154-56 through nine seasons under Miller? The Huskies took a big hit in scoring with the graduation of Damon Ollie (20 ppg.) and Fantasia Johnson (14.7), but Lee (17.7) is back and has already signed a letter of intent to Stanford. Miller is concerned that too many players will want their hands on the ball, however. “Getting along off and on the court is the biggest question mark about this team,” he said.

Reseda

1993-94 OVERALL LEAGUE PLACE 18-2 5-1 1st

COACH YR. AT SCHOOL Dave Enowitz 1st

TOP RETURNEES: None

TOP NEWCOMERS POS HT YR Akua Floyd F/C 6-6 Sr. Abdul Hameed F/C 6-4 Sr. Fardis Davarpanah G 5-9 Sr. Ronnie Cooke F 6-1 Sr. Ali Powell G 5-9 Sr. Anthony Khotsikian F 6-2 Sr. Levon Zakarian G 5-10 Sr. Bernard Martinez F 6-1 Sr.

OUTLOOK

The Regents move into a new league with a new coach. The cupboard is bare for former Grant assistant Enowitz, 26, after the 1993-94 championship season. But he is high on Floyd, who can run the floor. Cook and Davarpanah, both good outside shooters, should help. Two starting positions are up for grabs. Hameed, a transfer from Palisades, could step up.

Kennedy Cosgrove, Jeff Fletcher, Dana Haddad, Vince Kowalick and Michael Lazarus contributed to these capsules.