From what we've heard from other coaches in the league, Montebello is actually not considered the favorite this year for the league title.  Instead that distinction goes to Alhambra, which is widely considered to have one of the deepest teams in the league. Again, we don't know much about Montebello, but do know that they'll be in three tournaments in the early season: El Rancho, Alhambra and the LaSalle Tournament.

Update 11/27/01:  The Whittier Daily News  and their  "Prep Sports" website featured a preview of the Del Rio League today written by Roger Murray, (the original article can be found at this link).  What follows is the portion pertaining to Montebello:

Last season: 17-15, 8-2, first; Div.I-AA playoffs: defeated Aliso Niguel, 62-47, first round; lost to Glendora, 76-62, second round.

Returning starters:
Ian Parks 6'-5" Jr. C
David Montiel 5'-11" Sr. F
Christian Saenz 5'-10" Sr. F

Other key returnees:
Jose Campos 5'-10" Sr. G
Keith Ortega 5'-11" Sr. F
Armando Jimenez 6'-2' Sr. C

Key newcomers:
Jose Alvarado 5'-8" Jr. PG
Rene Gomez 5'-9" Jr. G

"Parks represents the defending league champion Oilers' lone height and first-year coach Marino Angulo said it is imperative they feed him and Jimenez in the low post to be successful. 'Right now, our front court is a concern because our guards are new,' Angulo said. 'They're strong in some phases of the game, but it will be learn-as-we-go early in the season.' "

The roster for 2001-02 includes:

Milo Alarcon 5'8 Sr. G
Patrick Cartwright 5'11 Jr. F
Eli Espitia 5'11 Sr. F
Steve Hoang 5'7 Jr. G
Maninn Khem 5'9 Sr. F
Steven Lagunas 5'8 Jr. G
Phillip Lai,  5'11 Sr. F
Ming Tu 5'7 Sr. G
Johnny Tran 5'7 Sr. G
Peter Xie  5'8 Jr. G

Coach Al Parga

Update 12/01/01:  The San Gabriel Tribune and Pasadena Star News published its "Almont League Preview" prepared by staff writer Keven Chavez.   Here's the capsule report on San Gabriel HS:

San Gabriel Matadors
Head coach: Al Parga
Tenure: First year

Top returnees:
Milo Alarcon (Sr., 5-8, G)
Phillip Lai (Sr., 5-11, G/F)
Johnny Tran (Sr., 5-7, F)
Steven Lagunas (Sr., 5-8, G)

Top newcomers:
Maninn Khen (Sr., 5-10, F)
Patrick Cartwright (Jr., 5-11, F)

Strengths: Six seniors help make the Matadors one of the most experienced teams in league. Tran is a returning all-league player and could carry some of the scoring load. 

Concerns: Not much size, even for Almont League standards. Have to replace three other all-league players, including three top scorers.

Bottom line: San Gabriel has hovered at or around the top of the league standings for several years and should stay there a while longer. The Matadors will likely have to shoot outside jumpers from all over the court, but it's something at which they're already pretty good. They are likely in for some tough battles and may have a few matchup problems underneath, but San Gabriel should remain in the hunt for the league crown.

Returning players include:

Erich Chung    5'-8" Sr. G
Duong Nguyen   5'-7" Sr. G
Marcus Harris  6'-3" Sr. G/F
Dominic Brezeale  6'-5" Jr. C

No other roster information available.
Official CIF Schedule is at the right.

Update 12/01/01: The San Gabriel Tribune and Pasadena Star News published its "Almont League Preview" prepared by staff writer Keven Chavez. Here's the capsule report on Alhambra:

Head coach: Joe Petralia
Tenure: Seventh year

Top returnees:
Erich Chung (Sr., 5-10, G)
Duong Nguyen (Sr., 5-8, G)
Dominic Breazeale (Jr., 6-6, C)

Top newcomers:
Art Chavez (Sr., 6-3, F)
James Carmichael (Sr., 5-10, G)
Kevin Ly (Sr., 5-9, G)
Rudy De La Fuente (Jr., 6-2, F)

Strengths: The Moors are a disciplined, well-balanced group with good defensive skills. They will rely on quickness, like most other teams in the league. Breazeale, though relatively inexperienced, does give the team one inside presence.

Concerns: A somewhat inexperienced group lost two all-league players from last year. Petralia thinks his team does not shoot 3-pointers consistently well.

Bottom line: Alhambra almost always has a say in the league championship race and this year figures to be no different. The youthful Moors will look to Chung for veteran leadership and should be carried quite nicely by their all-league point guard. Alhambra finished in a three-way tie for second place last year, but if the team can find a second scoring threat and remains consistent on defense, there's little reason to think they can't end up back on top.

Returning players include:

Shawn Oshita 5'-9" Sr. G
Sal; Robles 5'-8" Sr. G
Sean Odou 6'-3" Sr. F
Derek Lowrey 6'-2" Sr. C
Nathan Negrete 6'-1" Sr. F
Jacob Guzman 5'-10" Sr. F
(graduated 7 seniors in June)

Update 11/27/01:  The Whittier Daily News  and their  "Prep Sports" website featured a preview of the Del Rio League today written by Roger Murray, (the original article can be found at this link).  What follows is the portion pertaining to Schurr:

Last season: 10-15, 6-4, tied for second.
Returning starters:
Guard-Sean Oshita (Sr., 5-9, 160)
Center-Derek Lawrey (Sr., 6-2, 175).

Other key returnees:
Forward--Dean Odou (Sr., 6-3, 170)
Point Guard--Sal Robles (Sr., 5-7, 145)

Key newcomers:
Forward/guard--Nathan Negrete (Sr., 6-2, 165)
Forward Chris Torres (Sr., 5-11, 160)

"Fine-tuning the defense in preparation for a run at the league title will be the priority in nonleague, according to coach Paul Chavez, who listed overall team quickness as a strength and the usual lack of height as an area of concern. 'The difference between this team and last year's is that the kids seem to jell; they're a more cohesive team, very unselfish,' Chavez said. Oshita and Lowrey are the cornerstones, with the addition of Torres, who was the junior varsity MVP last season."

Ismael Varela  6'-2" Sr. F
Enrique Vargas 6'-2" Sr. C
Arcenio Ramirez  5'-10" Sr. G
Tobia Sala 5'-10" Sr. G
Gary Klarer 6'-2" Jr. G/F
Adam Robles 5'-9" Sr. G
Ray Ochoa  5'-10" Sr. G
Miguel Rosales  6'-6" Sr. F
Ruben Catani 6'-0" Sr. G
Gus Estrada 6'-2" Sr. F
Robert Argumedo 5'-9" Jr. G
Andy Saiz 6'1" So. G
Mark Soto 6'-1" Fr. G
Cesar Rivas 6'-0" Fr. G
Alex Lizarraga  5'-7" Sr. G

The roster information above was provided by Bell Gardens Assistant coach Al Cuevas, so it's assumed to be accurate for this season.  Bell Gardens also has a website devoted their basketball teams, so you can follow them throughout the season by checking in there as well.

Roster not available.

We'll be the first to admit, we have no idea who will be on the Mark Keppel team this season.  They didn't turn in a CIF Playoff media sheet, for obvious reasons.  It can only get better this season. . . .

Schedule information for Keppel is at the right........----------->

Updated 12/01/01:  The San Gabriel Tribune and Pasadena Star News published its "Almont League Preview" prepared by staff writer Keven Chavez.   Here's the capsule report on Keppel:

Keppel Aztecs
Head coach: Hong Duong
Tenure: First year

Top returnees:
Michael Lai (Sr., 6-4 ,C)
Jeff Yamauchi (Jr., 5-7, G)
Jason Yano (Jr., 5-10, F)

Top newcomer:
Andrew Gomez (Jr., 5-7, PG)

Strengths: Keppel will run up and down the court and play a full-court pressing defense. Duong, who has coached freshman basketball at Keppel for the past two years, is relatively familiar with the players and system.

Concerns: Just one senior starter returns, leaving a fairly inexperienced group behind Lai. Not much depth in the frontcourt.

Bottom line: Keppel may have the shortest turnaround time for the teams with new coaches. Duong led some of these players to a freshman league title and should blend in quickly. The Aztecs were a non-factor last season (0-10, 4-19) but figure to be a little improved. A second consecutive winless league mark seems unlikely and with so many other programs going through wholesale changes, Keppel may have a chance to sneak into the league's upper half.