CIF-SS Small Enrollment Division
Preview:
Alpha League 2001-02--(Nov. 3, 2001)
| ALPHA LEAGUE Kilpatrick Los Angeles Baptist Marshall Paraclete Village Christian |
The Alpha League is sometimes good, sometimes very good, and then other years, it just falls off the face of the planet. We're not quite sure what this year will bring, and part of the continuing mystery about this league is the fact that Kilpatrick is in it. Kilpatrick last year made it to the CIF Division V-AA finals, ultimately losing to Calvary Chapel Downey. Last year they had several high quality athletes at Kilpatrick, including former Compton Dominguez point guard Kielon Fortune, but who will be there this year is always an unknown because the school is run by the LA Superior Court system as a school for juvenile offenders. Thus it is, by law, shrouded in secrecy and even the names of the students currently enrolled is supposed to be kept from the public domain. School officials and coaches are prohibited by law from even talking about their kids, so we have no idea who will be there this year (students are limited to one year at Kilpatrick and then they must move on and out). Kilpatrick also suffered from the death of its first year coach immediately after the season as Alvin Brown, 29, died in March of an apparent but previously undislcosed heart problem. According to sources, Brown will be replaced by Shon Tarver, the former UCLA standout.
Marshall Fundamental (aka Pasadena Marshall) is also a mystery. They rarely, if ever, submit schedules to the CIF, and rarely do we know who will be there, and that goes for this year too. We know a little about Paraclete (which is usually known for its football, not basketball), LA Baptist and Village Christian. It is rumored that next season there will be a major re-leaguing among the teams in this league as well as the Delphic and several other leagues, and that Campbell Hall and Montclair Prep will move back to the Alpha and perhaps other schools will move into the Delphic. For now though here's what we know about the Alpha league as presently constituted, including schedules where they've been submitted to the CIF-SS:
| Alpha League | Alpha League Schedules |
| Kilpatrick--8-0,
22-1 (1st) CIF-SS Finalist V-AA No roster available (school run by LA County Superior Court. Different players each year) |
Kilpatrick Coach: TBA N 29 @ Nordhoff Tourn |
| Marshall
Fundamental--5-2, 13-8 (2nd) No roster available.
|
No schedule submitted to the CIF |
| Paraclete--3-6, 7-14 (3rd
tie) "Spirits" Returning players should include:
Curtis Brown 6'-0" Sr. F According to our sources, Paraclete may be a preseason favorite for the Alpha League title. They are led by guards Drew Gill and Matt Marquez, along with center Josh Hiley. Rumor also has it that they picked up a center by transfer.
|
Paraclete Coach: JR Chapman N-29/D-1 @ Rosamond TournD 3-5 @ Milken Comm Tourn 11 Rosamond 14 Tehachapi 18 Antelope VAlley 27-29 @ LA Baptist Tourn J 04 Desert Christian 11 *Marshall 12 *Village Christian 18 *LA Baptist 26 @ *Village Christian 29 *Kilpatrick F 02 @ *Marshall 05 @ *LA Baptist 07 *Kilpatrick |
| LA Baptist--2-6, 13-7 (4th)
"Knights" Here's the roster for the 2001-02 season: Brian Rice 6'0'' Sr. G/F Head Coach: Maury Neville Last year the nights finished with a record of 18-7. They were 2-1 in the IV-A playoffs last year with wins over Loma Linda Acadamy and second seeded Calvary Chapel Santa Ana, losing to St. Monica in the semi-finals. Last year the Knights won the Fillmore Tourney with noteable wins over Nordoff and Santa Paula. They came in third in the LA Baptist Christmas Tournament and the Carpenteria Tournament. The Knights will be led this year on the offensive end this by Steve Graham, Austin Nicholson, and Billy Snodgrass, and they have lots of young talent. Whether they can make up for the loss of all 5 starters from last year's team is something only time will tell.
|
Los Angeles Baptist Coach: Maury Neville N 30 @ Oak Park |
| Village Christian--2-7,
14-8 (5th) "Crusaders" The
2001-2002 roster is as follows: Our source also had some info on the rest of the league as
well: Kilpatrick will have some height but obviously no one near the talent level The strength of the Village Christian team (in comparison to others in the league) is two returning sophomores: Jacob Briggs averaged 16.9 ppg. and 9.1 rpg. in league last season, making second team All-Alpha League as a freshman, and Daniel Barrett could possibly be one of the best point guards in the league this year. After being primarily a spot shooter last year while Daryl Ellis ran the point for Village Christian, he has developed his all-around game. These two have a very bright future ahead of them. Update 11/24/01: The LA Times published some small preview capsules of Glendale-LaCanada based teams on Saturday, 11/24/01. Here's what they said about Village Christian: VILLAGE CHRISTIAN Players to watch: Daniel Barrett, sophomore, guard; Jacob Briggs, sophomore, guard; Jimmy Hall, senior, forward. Hamblin's quote: "I think we've turned the corner with our basketball program at Village. The varsity has been steadily improving and our JVs are extremely talented." |
Village Christian Coach: Patrick Hamblin D 04 Fillmore |
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