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SoCalHoops High School Previews

San Diego Previews:  Avocado 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 Avocado League Preview, team by team, in the order of predicted finish:.

Avocado League

1) El Camino (Division 1, Oceanside)
Head Coach: Ray Johnson (24th Year)
Last year’s record: 31 – 3 (10 – 0, 1st)
Last year’s playoffs: Won CIF D-1 Championship; Lost in State 2nd Round.
Key players: Justin Armstrong (Sr, 6’05"), Gyno Pomare (Sr, 6’08"), James Daniels (Sr, 6’01"), Brad Alkazin (Sr, 6’00"), Craig Austin (Sr, 6’09")
Losses to overcome: Mikel Watson (Univ. of Wyoming), Erics Clark (football @ Nevada), Greg Sprink (Naval Academy), Gerald Prevost (graduation)
Summary: Hard to imagine, the Wildcats better than their team of a year ago, but with four potential Division 1 recruits  (Armstrong, Daniels, Pomare, and Austin), El Camino may just be able to make that statement.

2) La Costa Canyon (Division 1, La Costa Canyon)

Head Coach: Dave Cassaw (5th Year)
Last year’s record: 18 – 11 (5 – 5, 3rd)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals.
Key players: Chase Budinger (So, 6’06"), Peter Wofford (Sr, 6’01"), Kris Jensen (Sr, 6’06")
Losses to overcome: Owen Olson (Regis University), Kevin O’Connell (football @ SDSU), Rory Morgan (Palomar College)
Summary: Budinger is a budding star that is capable of carrying the Mavericks offensively. Lack of experience and graduation losses will be hard to overcome.

3) Carlsbad (Division 1, Carlsbad)

Head Coach: Scott Ogden (4th year)
Last year’s record: 17 – 12 (3 – 7, 5th)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals.
Key players: Matt Alsina (Sr, 6’06"), Ricky Martinez (Sr, 5’08"), Mark Sammons (Sr, 6’02")
Losses to overcome: Brad Alkazin (transferred to El Camino), Craig Austin (transferred to El Camino)
Summary: Transfers of starters Alkazin and Austin were damaging, but Lancers still have solid senior nucleus in Alsina, Martinez, and Sammons.

4) Mt. Carmel (Division 1, Rancho Penasquitos)

Head Coach: Chris Vitous (5th Year)
Last year’s record: 18 – 11 (6 – 4, 2nd)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals.
Key players: Eric Sweeney (Sr, 6’03"), Allan DeGuzman (Sr, 5’07")
Losses to overcome: John Knights (graduation), Nick Hartegan (graduation)
Summary: Surprise squad of a year ago will rely heavily on Sweeney’s outside stroke. If an inside presence can develop, the Sun Devils could sneak up on teams again.

5) Fallbrook (Division 1, Fallbrook)

Head Coach: Mike West (5th Year)
Last year’s record: 16 – 14 (4 – 6, 4th)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals.
Key players: Jake Jorde (Sr, 6’02"),
Losses to overcome: Malik Legree (graduation), Tim Manning (graduation), Marlon Howe (transfer to New Hampshire)
Summary: It looked like a big enough challenge to replace Legree and Manning, but Howe’s sudden transfer to an east coast prep school was a major blow that will be difficult to overcome.

6) Oceanside (Division 2, Oceanside)

Head Coach: Brad Hollingsworth (4th Year)
Last year’s record: 13 – 15 (2 – 8, 6th)
Last year’s playoffs: Lost in Quarterfinals.
Key players: Toki Lewis (Sr, 6’00"), Alex Lee (Jr, 5’09")
Losses to overcome: Tyrone Rollins (graduation), E.J. Wilson (graduation), Bobby Byrd (graduation), Zach Bruce (graduation)
Summary: Graduation decimated the Pirates who will struggle in a very competitive league.

Player of the Year:

Gyno Pomare (El Camino)

All-Avocado League:

Justin Armstrong (El Camino)
Craig Austin (El Camino)
Chase Budinger (La Costa Canyon)
Matt Alsina (Carlsbad)
Gyno Pomare (El Camino)

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