Price lands Dominguez’s Norvel Pelle
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Price High boys basketball Coach Michael Lynch has added another significant player to his roster, telling The Times Tuesday that Compton Dominguez center Norvel Pelle has enrolled at his school.
Pelle made his intentions to move known on the summer when he spoke to The Times in Las Vegas. The 6-feet-9 junior helped Dominguez reach the Southern Section semifinals and state tournament last year under interim coach Duane Cooper.
Compton Unified School District opted not to retain Cooper, however, and a roster assembled by former veteran coach Russell Otis has now completely unraveled, with 2008-09 San Gabriel Valley League MVP Keala King registering at Mater Dei and new coach Jordan Littlejohn possessing no boys varsity basketball coaching experience.
Otis, who led Dominguez to five state titles, has been fired pending appeal, and is awaiting trial on felony charges of theft and unwanted sexual advances on a minor.
Pelle, meanwhile, enters a well-stocked Price team that has Division 4 state-title aspirations, with shooting guard Allen Crabbe and recent transfer from Torrance Bishop Montgomery, 6-9 Richard Solomon.
-- Eric Sondheimer and Lance Pugmire
