tpi2

SoCalHoops Tournament News

Long Beach Fall Hoops Classic:
TPI II, Too. Er, Um, We Mean Also--(Sept. 13, 1998)

The tournament schedule has the interesting possibility raised that TPI II might meet TPI I in the quarterfinal round at 2:00 p.m. in the LBCC Main Gym, and while we've talked a lot about TPI I, we've really overlooked Top Prospects II. Here they are:

E.J. Harris (6'-2" Jr. PG) Crenshaw HS (Los Angeles CA)
Tommy Johnson (6'-4" Jr. G) Crenshaw HS (Los Angeles, CA)
Lou Wright (6'-6" Jr. F) Westchester HS (Los Angeles CA)
Chad Bell (6'-11" So. C) Westchester HS (Los Angeles CA)
Phillip Johnson (6'-11" So. C) Arroyo Grande HS (Arroyo Grande CA)
Isaiah Fox (6'-9" So. F) Crossroads HS (Santa Monica CA)
Ryan Sims (6'-8" Sr. F) Crenshaw HS (Los Angeles CA)
DeWayne Parker (6'-3" Sr. G) Crenshaw HS (Los Angeles CA)
Teddy Fletcher (5'-9" So. PG) Inglewood HS (Inglewood CA)
Steve McMaryion (6'-4" Jr. G) Palisades HS (Los Angeles CA)
Johathon Stokes (6'-1" Sr. PG/SG) Crenshaw HS (Los Angeles, CA)

E.J. played point much of last season at Crenshaw, and he's gotten better, more confident and even improved his shot. He's not really a slashing, penetrating type of point, but does push the break and distribute the ball. Tommy Johnson is now apparently over at Crenshaw from Fairfax, and Kitani will certainly miss him, as will Jason Morrissette and Joe Shipp, but even without him, Fairfax will be formidable.

Lou Wright (aka Sweet Lou) is a smooth outside shooter and good rebounder, who didn't get as much playing time last season with the State Championship team as he might have because of the presence of another 6'-7" big guy, David Bluthenthal. But Lou is really a much different player, and presumably, now that Chad Bell is at Westchester, it will free Lou up for some great inside outside play.

And why, why, why, does Dinos continue to spell Isaiah Fox's name "Isiah"? We don't know, but perhaps the huge sophomore should simply consider changing the spelling of his name. Isaiah is large, very large, and he's also incredibly mobile for someone so large, more so than say JJ Sola who's playing with Bob Gottlieb's BWBA I team, who does manage to get up and down the floor, but who also looks like he needs to lose about 20 or 30 pounds. On the other hand, with Isaiah, it looks like he's starting to develop some muscle and will put his bulk to good use.

The rest of the guys are all great players too, with Ryan coming in to bang and rebound, DeWayne at the shooting guard spot playing great defense, Stokes and Fletcher backing up E.J., and Steve McMaryion using his tremendous speed and athleticism and tremendously accurate outside shooting to get it done. Steve also mysteriously came into the lineup for Bob Gottlieb's BWBA I team last night about midway through the first half of the game, to lend even further imbalance to BWBA's dominance over the very young but incredibly talented And 1 team featuring DeAngelo Collins (6'-9" Fr. F/C) who's enrolled at Tustin.