Metro League Boys Basketball

MOUNTAIN DIVISION

BLANCHET -- NICKNAME - Braves. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 2-6 in league, placed fourth; 8-13 overall. -- HEAD COACH - Eric Hjort, second season, 8-13. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - C/F Greg Wickstrand (6-5, Sr.), 2nd-team all-Metro; G Jacob Cheha (5-11, Jr.); G Dante Elder (5-11, Sr.); F Djan Austin (6-1, Sr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - G Brendyn Ryan (5-10, Sr.); C Todd Lynch (6-6, Sr.); F Sherrell McCullum (6-4, So.). -- OUTLOOK - The Braves should see a winning record, thanks to the new league alignment. Last year's team fared well against the Metro AA teams. An experienced group with four returning starters and six seniors. They have had time to adjust to Hjort. They have the height and the scorers to compete with anybody in the league. Wickstrand and Cheha have traveling-team experience. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "A key for us is to share the basketball. We have different people who can score every night. One of our weaknesses is that we lack experience in the post-season."

FRANKLIN -- NICKNAME - Quakers. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 6-2 in league, placed second; 15-7 overall. -- HEAD COACH - Ron Drayton, first year. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - F Kareem Hill (6-7, Sr.); F Ahmed Jenkins (6-7, Sr.) -- TOP NEWCOMERS - G Chris Black (5-9, Jr.), F/G Johnny Dumas (6-0, Sr.), G Derek Elliott (5-11, Jr.); G Marvin Hall (5-11, Sr.); F Mike Murphy (6-1, Sr.), G/F Shae Phillips (6-3, Jr.); G/F Antwine Williams (5-11, Jr.); G Willie Heard (5-9, Sr.); G Roderick Sampson (5-7, Jr.) -- OUTLOOK - The only thing that kept the Quakers from winning the league last year was Garfield. They might have the best front in the league with Hill (bound for Marist) and Jenkins. If speedy guards become a consistent scoring threat, the Quakers will be contenders in the post-season. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "The real future for the program is in the freshmen of this year. We have six seniors but that's not indicative of the program. Most are new to the team, and haven't gone through this system. They are all very coachable."

EASTSIDE CATHOLIC -- NICKNAME - Crusaders. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 2-11 in league, placed ninth; 4-16 overall. -- HEAD COACH - Al Kawashima, first year. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - F/C Pete Coleman (6-5, Sr.); G Ben Magnano (6-1, Jr.); G Tyler Runnells (6-0, Jr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - G Ryan Flanagan (6-0, So.); F David Britt (6-5, So.). -- OUTLOOK - Coleman, a three-year starter, will have to pull this team together. Team has new coach (Kawashima came from O'Dea) and there are nine players with no varsity experience. Coleman, who averaged 22 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, and Britt have all the height. Team doesn't have enough dimensions and will struggle to win in new league. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "Our small size will be a weakness. Pete Coleman has been an overlooked player. We've always felt he was one of the best in the Metro League."

HALE -- NICKNAME - Raiders. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 5-8 in league, placed seventh; 5-14 overall. -- HEAD COACH - John Burnley, fourth season. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - F Tavares Mack (6-8, Sr.); G Eddie Turner (6-3, Sr.); G Andre Taylor (5-10, Jr.); F Ryan Clark (6-2, Sr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - G/F Jevon Green (6-3, So.); G Chris Bryson (5-10, So.); F Robert Montgomery (6-4, Jr.). -- OUTLOOK - The Raiders already have shown big-score potential, scoring 83 and 101 points in their first two games. They put six players in double figures against West Seattle. They have veteran talent in Mack, Turner and Taylor, as well as young talent, Green. They have enough to build a team around Mack, the best post player in the league. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "We're a lot more mature, having had our ups and downs. We have a lot more flexibility, a lot of 6-foot-3 guys who can play different roles."

CHIEF SEALTH -- NICKNAME - Seahawks. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 1-12 in league, placed last, 3-17 overall -- HEAD COACH - Bruce Richardson, fourth season, 40-29. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - G Aaron Dyson (5-10, So.); G James Hassen (5-9, Jr.); C Mario Martinez (6-1, Jr.); F Shane Mjelde (6-5, Sr.); F Lee Wilson (6-2, Sr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - F Bruce Bentley (6-0, Jr.); G/F Jimmy Rainwater (6-5, Fr.). -- OUTLOOK - The season will be a long and winding road for the Hawks, who lack a lot of the essentials - height, experience, seniors. Most of the starters will be underclassmen. With the new teams coming into the league, don't look for the Hawks to do much better than last year's mark. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "Our strength is balance. We're a very balanced team with no overwhelming standouts. There are no returning starters. Overall team play will improve as the team matures."

LAKE DIVISION

BALLARD -- NICKNAME - Beavers. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 6-7 in league, placed fifth; 12-9 overall. -- HEAD COACH - Al Harada, fourth season. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - F John Clark (6-4, Sr.); F Vito Paul (6-2, Sr.); C Evan Thomas (6-2, Sr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - F Damon Williams (6-6, Sr.); G Herman Tucker (6-1, Sr.); G Ed Locke (5-9, So.); G Gino Williamson (5-9, So.). -- OUTLOOK - Clark and Williams are both big scoring threats. Clark was team's top scorer last year. Williams gives team more physical presence. Beavers, always a player away from being contenders, have enough speed and height to give any other team trouble. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "We lack experience playing together. We know we have some talent, if only we could put it together. Last year we started fast and hit a lull in the middle of the season. That's been our problem."

SEATTLE PREP -- NICKNAME - Panthers. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 8-5 in league, placed fourth; 16-8 overall. -- HEAD COACH - Chris Miller, first year. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - F Bryan Weathers (6-5, Sr.); G Brian Meza (6-2, Sr.); C Erik Feider (6-4, Sr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - F Joe Jackson (6-1, Sr.); G Dan McShane (6-2, Sr.); G Gino Trippy (5-10, Jr.); G Arne Klubberud (5-10, So.); G Gus London (5-11, So.). -- OUTLOOK - The Panthers are down a point guard, after graduating Joe Trippy. Not the most talent-laden team in the league. But Weathers and Feider are able scorers and both give the Panthers a presence under the basket. Success depends on development of the backcourt. Klubberud and London are young, but have quick reliable hands. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "It's an interesting league this year. Some teams should be strong for the first time in a while. There are a lot of good players. We don't have a lot of depth. We've got senior leadership and the kids are working very hard."

ROOSEVELT -- NICKNAME - Roughriders. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 4-4 in league, placed third; 15-9 overall. -- HEAD COACH - Greg Kalina, first year. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - G/F Ben Scheffler (6-2, Sr.); F Mike Greene (6-3, Sr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - G Mike Triol (6-0, Sr.); F Mike McGowan (6-1, Sr.); F Andy Nordfors (6-4, Sr.); F Mike Lui (6-2, Jr.); F Jeff Daly (6-4, So.); Joe Lewis G (5-11, Jr.); F Lars Gresseth (6-1, So.). -- OUTLOOK - The Roughriders need a complete overhaul. Most of the team is gone, including all-league guard Dan Morris. Diluted talent won't take the Riders too far. Kalina, a former assistant, takes over for Ben Snowden (medical leave) so continuity is a plus. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "We may not win more games, but we're a way better team, which goes a lot farther than talent sometimes. The kids are sensitive toward each other. We're going to take it one possession at a time."

O'DEA -- NICKNAME - Fighting Irish. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 10-3 in league, placed third; 20-4 overall. -- HEAD COACH - Phil Lumpkin, first year. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - G James Jackson (6-0, Jr.); F Lonnie Franklin (6-3, Jr.), G Mark Bailly (6-1, Sr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - G Jason Hanley (6-0, Sr.); F Jayson Bass (6-4, Jr.); Leon Horn (6-4, Sr.); Paul Bianchi (6-2, Sr.); Matt Westphal (6-3, Jr.). -- OUTLOOK - The junior-dominated Irish could make a move by mid-season, when they're fully dressed. They started the season without several of its players, who were in the football playoffs. Most of last year's team is gone, including Matt Bollinger and Andre Lang, both college players now. O'Dea's best season will probably be next season. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "We're not as rich as some of the other teams we've had in recent years, but we have kids who will work hard in maintaining the tradition. We're going to have to earn our way."

WEST SEATTLE -- NICKNAME - Indians. -- 1990-91 RECORD - 3-10 in league, finished eighth; 5-13 overall. -- HEAD COACH - Don Conner, returning after year off. -- TOP RETURNING PLAYERS - F Brian Oczkewecz (6-3, Sr.). -- TOP NEWCOMERS - F Dan Nokes (6-3, Sr.); G Chris Meeds (5-8, Jr.); G J.R. Montgomery (6-2, Sr.); F John Tuell (6-4, Sr.). -- OUTLOOK - Not much has changed for the Indians, who return only one starter. They must rebuild a rebuilding team. Big hurdle will be just to win a game. Oczkewecz is the go-to player, but doesn't have the size (155 pounds) to be an all-around threat. -- COACH'S COMMENT - "We have an enormous amount of work cut out for us, with almost no experience. We have to shore up defensively first and do a better job of controlling our half of the rebounds. Our players are unselfish."