Valley Boys’ Player of the Year

Changing positions in midstream--especially when the player is looking to have a watershed season--can be tricky.

Reseda High’s Marquis Burns entered his senior season with high expectations as the leading returning scorer among area City Section players. But could he duplicate his statistics compiled as a junior forward (20.0 points, 9.1 rebounds) while facing the basket as an off-guard?

The 6-foot-3 Burns faced the music--and just about every type of defense in the book--and again came away with outstanding numbers.

Burns, who has signed a letter of intent with UCLA, averaged 26.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and two steals to help Reseda to a West Valley co-championship, even though he was the team’s lone returning starter.

“The versatility of Marquis is his strong point,” said Reseda Coach Jeff Halpern, who coached former UCLA forward Keith Owens and Arizona standout Anthony Cook in high school. “We moved him to another position and he had an even better year.”

Burns is a two-time member of the All-Valley first team. But then, honors are old hat for Burns, who was named league most valuable player and earned a berth on the All-City Section 3-A Division team for the second consecutive year.