Basketball Starts Early for Irvine

Here’s something you won’t see too often: Official men’s basketball practice in August.

Eight returners began drills Sunday at UC Irvine in preparation for a five-game, 10-day swing through British Columbia, Canada, Aug. 23-Sept. 1.

Because of the timing of the trip, the Anteaters were given special permission from the NCAA to hold as many as 10 days of summer workouts. By rule, basketball practices prior to the start of the regular season cannot begin before the middle of October. The Anteaters, 14-14 last season, open the regular season Nov. 17.

NCAA rules prohibit incoming freshmen or transfers from participating.

Expected to make the trip are 6-foot-3 junior guard Jerry Green, 6-5 senior guard Sean Jackson, 6-1 senior guard Malachi Edmond, 6-7 senior forward Ben Jones, 6-9 junior center J.R. Christ, 6-7 sophomore forward Matt Okoro, 6-3 freshman Aras Baskauskas and 7-foot freshman Adam Parada. Baskauskas and Parada were redshirts last season.

ON TARGET

Cal State Fullerton basketball player Ike Harmon is in the home stretch of his bid to graduate in four years and earn another season of eligibility with the Titans.

The final summer session ends today, and Christine McCarthy, assistant athletic director for academic services, said Harmon is taking the final nine academic units he needs for his degree.

The NCAA passed legislation last spring that gives a Proposition 48 non-qualifier such as Harmon an opportunity to regain the year of eligibility he lost as a freshman if he graduates in four years.

“Ike has been working extremely hard this summer,” McCarthy said. “He checks in with our office almost every day. He’s been very positive about it, but he knows it’s a challenge.”

Harmon, who played for Santa Ana Valley High, has been a Titan standout for three seasons, averaging a team-leading 18.7 points and 7.5 rebounds last season.

Harmon is majoring in criminal justice, and plans to work in youth probation after his basketball career is over.

“If he graduates on time, he still would have to be admitted to a graduate student program to be eligible for next year,” McCarthy said.

SOCCER SEASON

The Cal State Fullerton men’s and women’s soccer teams will play their preseason Orange-Blue intrasquad games today in Titan Stadium. The women’s game begins at 5 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 7.

The men’s team also will play an exhibition game against the Orange County Waves at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The women’s team opens its regular season Aug. 25 at home against Nevada Las Vegas. The men open play at home Sept. 1 in the Fila Classic against Rutgers.

Vanguard soccer Coach Dave McLeish has nine starters returning from last year’s men’s team that finished fourth in the GSAC. The Lions open the regular season Wednesday at The Master’s. The women’s team, under first-year Coach Kerry McGrath Crooks, opens Aug. 29 at Cal State San Bernardino.

Concordia’s second-year men’s coach, Greg Morales, and the Eagles begin the regular season in Salt Lake City at the Westminster College Tournament, Aug. 24-26. The women’s team, under Coach Kevin Macare, scrimmage Santa Ana College Aug. 29.

ALL-STAR SOFTBALL

Chapman pitcher Linsey Buendia (Saddleback High) and infielder Amie Barnes (Foothill High) were in the Netherlands last month participating in an international all-star tournament. Their team, STARS, finished third.

Staff writers Lon Eubanks and Ben Bolch contributed to this report.

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