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SoCalHoops High School Previews

San Diego Previews:  Eastern League Preview--(Dec. 5, 2003)

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What:  

CIF San Diego Section HS
Basketball Previews

When:  

2003-2004 Season

     

This year, as in years past, our San Diego Previews are brought to you courtesy of the San Diego Basketball Coaches' Association.   Much of the material which follows in this and other related articles will have already found its way to various newspapers in San Diego, including the SD Union Tribune.   We haven't checked the papers, and even if they do publish some of this stuff, the info will likely be formatted differently....but that's beside the point.  We want to pass the info along, in a semi-timely fashion, so we're not going to procrastinate any longer. And before you ask, we can't exactly explain who the SDBCA really is, or who had input into putting this stuff together.  Just know this:  We didn't do it, so if you disagree or think this stuff is just too wacky, well, blame them, not us.  And if it happens to be an accurate prediction of how the season turns out, then of course, we're going to take all the credit.

Here's the San Diego Eastern League Preview, team by team, in the order of predicted finish:.

 Eastern League

1)      San Diego  (Division 1, San Diego)

Head Coach:        Curtis McGlown (1st Year)
Last year’s record:         24 – 5  (11 – 1, 1st)
Last year’s playoffs:         Lost in CIF D-1 Championship.
Key players:        Tito Littleton (Sr, 5’09”), Anthony Palmer (Sr, 5’11”), Chauncey Wiseman (Sr, 6’04”), Anton Hollingsworth (Jr, 6’03”)
Losses to overcome:        Brandon Glenn (graduation), Stan Limuel (graduation)

Summary:        Strong nucleus returns for the defending 4-time Eastern League champs as they look to finally win the big one and come away with a CIF title.  Unfortunately for the Cavers, El Camino is still in Division 1.

2)      Morse  (Division 1, San Diego)

Head Coach:        Jeff Harper (1st Year)
Last year’s record:         16 – 11  (9 – 3, tied for 2nd)
Last year’s playoffs:         Lost in 1st Round.
Key players:        Garren Cunningham (Sr, 6’02”), Ed Soto (Jr, 5’10”), William Williams (Sr, 5’11”), Andre Johnson (Sr, 6’04”)
Losses to overcome:        Rey Guerrero (graduation), Kenny Murray (graduation)
Summary:        Cunningham and Johnson will provide a good inside tandem for the Tigers, but the graduation of Guerrero and his outside touch will be difficult to replace.

3)      Mira Mesa  (Division 1, Mira Mesa)

Head Coach:        Dan Regas  (5th Year)
Last year’s record:         10 – 15  (7 – 5, 4th)
Last year’s playoffs:         None
Key players:        Marquis Moore (Jr, 6’06”), Danny Nguyen (Jr, 5’09”), Yohan Penny (Sr, 6’05”), Tyler Stewart (Jr, 6’03”), Sven Claessen (Jr, 6’03”), Jason Yost (Sr, 6’03”)
Losses to overcome:        Terrell Blake (graduation), Kevin Morgan (graduation), J.J. Schmidt (graduation), Reggie Ross (graduation)
Summary:        Marauders will lack experience but talent from a quality JV squad should quicken the rebuilding.  Moore is an athletic post player who will make a difference inside, while Claessen is a talented transfer who will make an  impact on the perimeter. 

 4)      Pt. Loma  (Division 2, Pt. Loma)

Head Coach:        Joe Zamora  (5th Year)
Last year’s record:         4 – 19  (2 – 10, 6th)
Last year’s playoffs:         None
Key players:        Chike Ekweozor  (Sr, 6’07”), James Hathaway (Sr, 6’03”), Antoine McNeill (Sr, 6’03”)
Losses to overcome:        Neil Delira (graduation), Brandon Tinlin (graduation), Nick Proctor (graduation)
Summary:        Ekweozor should be the best post player in the Eastern League, while McNeill and Hathaway are both quality athletes with size.  If the Pointers can find quality guard play, they will be a factor in the league title race.

5)      Serra  (Division 2, Tierrasanta)

Head Coach:        Jim Gleboff (1st Year)
Last year’s record:         18 – 9  (9 – 3, tied for 2nd)
Last year’s playoffs:         Lost in Semi-finals.
Key players:        Jamal Landrum (So, 6’04”), Chris Snyder (Sr, 5’11”), Ray Wilson (Sr, 6’02”), Desi Burt (Sr, 6’03”)
Losses to overcome:        Ronnie Simpson (graduation), Avery McKinney (Cal State Los Angeles)
Summary:        Loss of Simpson and McKinney will be hard to replace, but Landrum provides quality inside play for the Conquistadors.

6)      Patrick Henry  (Division 2, Allied Gardens)

Head Coach:        Ted Tibbs  (7th Year)
Last year’s record:         6 – 19  (1 – 11, 7th)
Last year’s playoffs:         Lost in 1st Round.
Key players:        Whitney Sheppard (Jr, 6’00”), Mario Brunker (Sr, 6’02”), Jon Shafer (Sr, 6’00”)
Losses to overcome:        Brian Stauffer (graduation), Craig Eagle (graduation)
Summary:        Shafer and Sheppard form a solid backcourt, but lack of size should keep the Patriots near the bottom of the league.

7)      Kearny  (Division 3, Kearny Mesa)

Head Coach:        Carl Bronson  (2nd Year)
Last year’s record:         8 – 17  (3 – 9, 5th)
Last year’s playoffs:         None
Key players:        Mario Berson (Sr, 6’01”), Dominique Gilbert (Sr, 6’01”), Wilfredo Vasquez (Sr, 6’01”)

Losses to overcome:        Kevin Hopkins (graduation), Terrance Tucker (graduation)
Summary:        The Komets have some athleticism in the backcourt but lack experience and size upfront.  Could be a long year for Kearny in the always competitive Eastern League.

Player of the Year:

Chauncey Wiseman        (San Diego)

All-Eastern League:

Garren Cunningham        (Morse)
Chike Ekweozor              (Pt. Loma)
Marquis Moore               (Mira Mesa)
Anthony Palmer              (San Diego)
Chauncey Wiseman        (San Diego)


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