Harmon Inspires the Titans

Before Ike Harmon came along, no Cal State Fullerton player had been selected for the All-Big West Conference first team since Bruce Bowen, now of the Philadelphia 76ers, in 1993.

Harmon made the all-conference team last year as a junior when he led the Titans in scoring and rebounding.

He is the only first-team selection returning, and is one of the main reasons Coach Bob Hawking is hoping Fullerton’s string of six consecutive losing seasons will finally end.

Harmon averaged 15.7 points and 6.7 rebounds last season after averaging 15.3 points and 6.4 rebounds as a sophomore. He had to sit out his freshman season as a Proposal 48 nonqualifer.

Hawking believes he’s capable of more this season.

“He’s improved in every phase of the game,” Hawking said. “I’m not sure he was ever at 100% last season because of injury problems.”

Harmon said he is fully recovered from the ankle injury of a year ago and the foot problems of his sophomore season.

“I feel like I’m in the best shape of my life,” he said. “There were times last year and the year before that I had trouble jumping the way I used to, but I hope that’s all over now.”

Two other senior starters--point guard Kenroy Jarrett and three-point specialist Mark Murphy--also return, along with 6-foot-8 junior center Matt Caldwell. Murphy averaged 11.5 points, Caldwell 9.9 and Jarrett 9.7 last season.

Jarrett is another key to Fullerton’s success. He averaged 37 minutes last season and played the last five games with a broken hand. “He’s our leader, and our catalyst,” Hawking said.

Hawking also thinks Caldwell will be improved. “He’s had his moments--both good and bad--the last two seasons, and now it’s time for him to be more consistent,” Hawking said. “But his inside game is stronger, and he’s a legitimate threat now. He’s been tremendous in our preseason workouts.”

The Titans lost one recruit who was expected to help strengthen their inside game. Power forward Patrick Ceresa of Switzerland failed to qualify academically and will play this season at Wabash Community College in Mt. Carmel, Ill.

Hawking is planning to play Harmon at power forward and on the perimeter.

The Titans’ chief losses were power forward Mark Richardson and swingman Jason Cunningham. Both were solid defensively, an area that is more questionable going into this season without them.

Josh Fischer, a 6-9 sophomore, is expected to move into a more prominent role after averaging four points last season.

“He started last season with mononucleosis and had practiced only twice before our first game, so he’s way ahead of that this year,” Hawking said. “He probably was our most improved player last season after he got going.”

Hawking also is counting on sophomore Brandon Campbell, an outstanding all-around athlete who won the Big West Conference long-jump championship last spring. He is regarded as a potential replacement for Cunningham.

“We’re going to need him to take on some of the top scorers from the perimeter, the way Cunningham did,” Hawking said.

Dan Thompson, a 6-6 freshman who played on Australia’s under-20 national team last season, should also provide depth at both forwards. “He’s been a pleasant surprise,” Hawking said.

Fullerton was ranked fifth in the Western Division in the preseason poll of conference coaches, but the coach is unperturbed.

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CS FULLERTON AT A GLANCE

Date Opponent, Time

Nov. 19: at Simon Fraser, 7

Nov. 23: San Diego, 7

Nov. 27: at Montana State, 8

Nov. 30: at St. Mary’s, 7:30

Dec. 4: Loyola Marymount, 7

Dec. 7: at Pepperdine, 7

Dec. 11: San Jose State, 7

Dec. 21: Patten, 7

Dec. 30: Eastern Kentucky, 7:30

Jan. 5: at San Diego State, 7

Jan. 8: at San Diego, 7

Jan. 13: at Utah State, 6

Jan. 15: at Nevada, 7

Jan. 20: Boise State, 7

Jan. 22: Idaho, 7

Jan. 26: at UC Irvine, 7

Jan. 29: at North Texas, 5:30

Feb. 3: Pacific, 7

Feb. 5: Long Beach State, 7

Feb. 10: at UC Santa Barbara, 7

Feb. 12: at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 7

Feb. 17: UC Santa Barbara, 7

Feb. 19: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 7

Feb. 24: at Long Beach State, 7: 30

Feb. 26: at Pacific, 7

March 1: UC Irvine, 7

March 4: New Mexico State, 7

ROSTER

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No. Player Pos. Ht. Wt. Year 3 Mark Murphy : G 6-1 190 Sr. 4 Rodney Anderson: G 6-2 180 Fr. 5 Ike Harmon : F 6-7 190 Sr. 10 Dan Thompson : F 6-6 190 Fr. 12 Ahmad Shurdim : F 6-4 200 Fr. 14 Kenroy Jarrett: G 6-0 175 Sr. 15 Danny Dinh : G 5-10 155 Fr. 22 Josh Pierson : G 6-0 175 Fr. 23 Jon Stoa : G 6-4 200 Fr. 24 James Hackett : G 6-0 175 Jr. 25 Brandon Campbell: G/F 6-4 205 So. 40 Josh Fischer: F 6-9 255 So. 44 Mitch Deve : C 7-0 275 Fr. 50 Matt Caldwell : C 6-8 235 Jr.

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