SoCalHoops Tournament News

40th Annual Best In The West--Program Notes:
LA Palisades--(Dec. 26, 1999)

What:      40th Annual Best in the West Invitational
Where:   Long Beach State & Lakewood High School
When:    December 27, 28, 29 & 30, 1999
Who:      32 of the top boys' teams in the West

Palisades HS (Pacific Palisades, CA).  James Paleno has been around a while.  In fact, he's been around so long that he was Steve Lavin's first landlord in Los Angeles.  "I knew him when he drove his little Toyota; now he's a big deal, but I joke about that with him and I've got to admit, it makes me feel a bit old to have been around that long," Paleno said. For James Paleno, who has been coaching at Pali for 10 seasons, this could be the year that Palisades, which finished 18-7, 2nd in league (1998-99 City Champion Manual Arts finished 1st) mounts a serious challenge for the LA City Section Championship.  Steve McMaryion (6'-4" Sr. SF/SG), a ferocious, slashing wing player, is getting attention from a lot of D-I schools. He's a fourth year varsity player, the only guy to ever do that at Pali (that Paleno knows of), and this year he also played wide receiver on the football team.  He's back with the basketball and is getting some attentino from San Jose State and Oregon State, both of whom are recruiting him right now, and the good news is that he'll probably be a qualifier. .

Marko Mihailovic (6'-5" Jr. SG/SF), the team's leading scorer this season is currently at 16 ppg. Marco is a bit of a sleeper, and Paleno likens him to a Jason Kapono type of playre, a solid perimeter player with height, and this summer he had some games in which he hit 8 3's.  He's from Yugoslavia, but lived here for 5 years.  "Marko is a very talented, who played jv last season just because we wanted him to play, but he had a great summer, and he'll get noticed early. And he's a solid student, so he'll be a top recruit by the time he's a senior."  Mike Wood (6'-0" Sr. PG) and Isaiah Sago (5'-10" Sr. PG), will run the point, and be sure to get a good look at Deonte Allen (5'-8" Sr. G) while he's standing still, because on the court he's a blur. Wood will likely be the starting point guard, and he's a defensive specialist, who has been chasing around the other guards for years in practice and he's improved his jumper. "He's smart, and could be a D-II possibly a low D-I," said Paleno. He's also a high jumper, and has cleared 6'-5" . Wood is also a solid leader and you can count on him to stop another team's best player. Federico Bianchi is one of the best soccer players in the City, a good defender, and a good point guard, an intelligent basketball player, who moves his feet well, and comes up with a lot of steals and deflections.

Rasheed Oliver played JV last year, and this summer he played at some of the camps and has been getting a lot of looks. Based on what we saw, we'd say he's a really solid shooter who needs to get a bit more physical and intense.   According to Paleno, he's  very smart (3.8 gpa, strong academically).   His  defensive effort is improving and he's been forced to play more on the perimeter with this team, but is getting better each day. Rasheed also has a good first step, can shoot the three, and is solid in low post. "He's a young kid who will get a lot of people looking because he can shoot and he's got size," said Paleno. "He's a Derrick Strong-type, with wide shoulders, and a good body." 

Darnell Jones could be likely to start out on the wing.   He's a great shooter who has finally  made a commitment to defense. "He's an exceptional player one on one, and on the wing, and is more of a catch and release guy who can also come off screens, and spot up from very long range. "If they had a four pointer, he'd be launching them regularly," Paleno joked.  "Every day in practice, he will challenge anyone to a half court shooting contest." DeJaun Stevens played frosh two years ago, but was out last year, not attending Pali, but he's back.   "He'll sneak up on people" said Paleno. "He's a solid defender, goes to the glass and gets the boards, a slasher who can also spot up and shoot the jumper. He'll get a lot of minutes." Max Czernin is the younger brother of Phillip who is now at LMU redshirting, a scrappy kid, from Austria originally, who dives on the floor for loose balls, and basically does a lot of little things very well. "He's a good set shooter too, sort of a throwback in his form, but it goes in. And he's tough around the boards," said Paleno.  Ronald Eskridge could also possibly start;  he's ambidextrous around the basket, sort of a warrior-type,  a guy who knocks around, boxes out, and will guard a lot of the big post players. "He's not ego driven at all, and just wants to win and be a part of the team," said Paleno.  "He's my favorite player." James Matthews, is a definite top prospect from Manual Arts, very athletic, tough, physical, and the only thing holding him back is that he's young.  "He has a lot to learn, but he's very quick and agile for his size, and creates a shotblocking presence that we haven't had around here for a while," said Paleno.   "He needs to work on defense but he knows that he's a good student of the game."  Chanson Smyth also played jv last year, but has made great inroads this summer;  mostly a set shooter, he can also put ball on floor, and told Coach Paleno that he's proud of his commtiment to defense. "Everyone wants to put the ball in the basket, but not eveyone can or should. He's great on D and getting better every day," said Paleno. Leon Mirochnik is a Russian body builder (not just a body-builder "type") who has absolutely no fear and will guard anyone. "He's scrappy, sets picks, and isn't shy about shooting the wide open shot.  He's played in the program for four years and is the perfect role player who will do everything to help the team and nothing to hurt it

Paleno is happy with the job he's been doing, and wouldn't think of changing.  He told us about a month ago: "The guy I got the job from was at it for 34 years. I've been coaching here since 1983, 10 years as the varsity head coach. Will I be at it in another 18 years? Who knows. But right now I love what I'm doing."  He's been at Pali since 1983, back when Steve Kerr was there, then he went over to Santa Monica City College for two years, but returned.  He's a Resource Specialist, which means that he works with kids with learning disabilities, and he also really loves doing that. "I find it very rewarding," he told us.  He said he got into coaching simply because it was a natural progression. "It seemed like I was always going to get into this area. I like teaching, and it was just a natural progression."  With all the talent on this team, Coach Paleno believes he could definitely have one of the Top 10 City teams this year. "I think it's going to involve Fairfax, Crenshaw, Westchster, and then us, maybe Cleveland and a couple more.   I think we're pretty good." 

See you there.

©Copyright 1997-1999 All rights reserved
Questions? Comments? Need Information?
E-mail: jegesq@socalhoops.com