Westchester Again Starts at No. 1

Trying to determine the Southland’s top boys’ basketball team the last four seasons has been a simple task. Westchester has gone wire to wire at No. 1 three times in The Times’ Southland rankings.

The Comets finished No. 2 a couple of seasons ago after they lost a showcase game to Akron (Ohio) St. Vincent-St. Mary, which was led by LeBron James, the NBA’s No. 1 draft pick only four months later.

The gap, however, has narrowed this season.

Westchester, banned from the City playoffs last season because of an alleged recruiting violation, hasn’t welcomed any new players who weren’t previously enrolled at the school.

Amir Johnson, the Comets’ 6-foot-10 senior who is finally eligible after transferring last season from Los Angeles Verbum Dei, recently suffered a broken left foot, sidelining the Louisville-bound center until at least after Christmas and possibly into mid-January.

In the meantime, transfers have helped Los Angeles Fairfax and Etiwanda add inside muscle and Compton Dominguez and Santa Margarita gain much-needed depth.

Fairfax, the defending Division I state champion, returns 6-7 forward Jamal Boykin, who earlier this month became the first City Section player to sign with Duke. Boykin shot 76.6% from the field and averaged 19.5 points and 11.4 rebounds last season. He has further developed his offensive game, Coach Harvey Kitani said, by smoothing out his jump shot and adding some back-to-the-basket moves.

“He’s working as hard as if he was a junior varsity player,” Kitani said.

Boykin will get some help with the addition of 6-8 junior Matt Shaw, a transfer from Verbum Dei who is being recruited by Michigan, Georgia Tech and Connecticut.

Jerren Shipp, a 6-5 junior swingman, is the Lions’ other returning starter. He made several clutch baskets during last season’s playoff run.

Already returning at Etiwanda are guards Darren Collison and David Carter and forward Jeff Pendergraph, the three best players from last season’s team that lost to Fairfax in overtime at the regional final.

The Eagles have gained the services of 6-7, 230-pound senior forward Rashad Austin, a transfer from Santa Ana Mater Dei, and 6-5 senior wing Marcus Carter, a transfer from Claremont.

The addition of Austin will allow Pendergraph, an athletic 6-9 forward who has signed with Arizona State, to play more on the perimeter.

Carter, who signed with Portland, can slash to the basket and relieve Collison of some ball-handling duties. “With the two transfers coming in, you’re going to see a lot more intensity,” said Collison, who signed with UCLA. “They bring a lot more to the table.”

Dominguez lost eight players to graduation but returns its best one in 6-5 senior shooting guard Bryan Harvey, who averaged 17.7 points and 9.1 rebounds last season. He has signed with Louisville.

The Dons won the Division II state title last season with a frenetic defensive pace fueled by fresh legs. They’ve kept their bench deep with the addition of transfers Quinton Watkins, Brantley Watson and Auston Autry -- quick, athletic players who can run the floor and score.

Watkins, a 6-2 sophomore who played last season at Bellflower St. John Bosco, is considered one of the top players in his class on the West Coast. Watson is a 6-4 junior wing from Long Beach Jordan, and Autry was a second-team Division III-A selection last season at Torrance Bishop Montgomery.

Santa Margarita lost shooting guard Tyler Smith, the Division III-AA player of the year last season, to graduation, along with 6-11 center Todd Follmer, but the Eagles picked up three transfers who should complement 6-8 junior forward James Keefe, who recently committed to UCLA.

Landon Pluimer, a 6-3 sophomore, transferred from San Clemente; 6-1 sophomore Cheyne Martin came over from Laguna Beach and 6-5 junior Jonathon Gunderson is from Mater Dei.

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THE TIMES’ RANKINGS

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A PRESEASON LOOK AT THE TOP 25 BOYS’ BASKETBALL TEAMS IN THE SOUTHLAND AS RANKED BY TIMES STAFF WRITERS:

*--* Rk Team (Sec.-Div.) Comment 1 WESTCHESTER (City) Three Division I recruits can carry the load until Amir Johnson returns after holidays. 2 ETIWANDA (SS-Div. I-AA) Darren Collison, Jeff Pendergraph and David Carter return after making regional final. 3 FAIRFAX (City) Lions and Jamal Boykin could take control until broken foot of Westchester’s Johnson mends. 4 DOMINGUEZ (SS-Div. II-AA) Three quality transfers add to a talented group led by senior guard Bryan Harvey. 5 SANTA MARG. (SS-Div. III-AA) Junior forward James Keefe is joined by three quality transfers. 6 MATER DEI (SS-Div. II-A) Four-year point Mike Gerrity will elevate play of Alex Jacobson (7-1) and Taylor King (6-7). 7 COMP. CENT. (SS-Div. III-A) Juniors Tyre Thompson and Jervaughn Johnson will be counted on to defend state title. 8 HARV.-WESTLK. (SS-Div. III-A) Junior center Alex Stepheson and senior point Ed White experienced inside-outside combo. 9 LOYOLA (SS-Div. II-AA) Four starters return, including 6-10 center Jordan Wilkes, who is bound for California. 10 EL TORO (SS-Div. I-A) Fourth-year guards Darryl Best and Jonathan Johnson are joined by 7-1 junior David Foster. 11 MISSION VIEJO (SS-Div. I-A) Once the football teams ends its run, these Diablos will begin theirs. 12 CALABASAS (SS-Div. II-A) Harvard-bound Drew Housman is one of the region’s most exciting players, even at 5-7. 13 WASHINGTON (City) Senior Kenneth Bowman (6-8) and junior Rickey Boyles (6-5) will be a force. 14 FREMONT (City) Danny Williams leads nine returners from last season’s team that reached City quarterfinals. 15 CAPO. VALLEY (SS-Div. II-AA) Chad and Dane DeCasas form a strong bond on and off the court. 16 VILLA PARK (SS-Div. II-AA) Seven return from squad that reached Division II-AA title game last season. 17 TAFT (City) If young players remember what Jordan Farmar taught them, return to City final possible. 18 ARTESIA (SS-Div. III-AA) Junior transfer Shawntelle Norman (6-10) and frosh Malik Story join three returning starters. 19 OCEAN VIEW (SS-Div. III-AA) Sophomore Clint Amberry, (6-10) should help secure 27th consecutive playoff spot. 20 CLEVELAND (City) Cavaliers won’t depend on one player to get their offense rolling this season. 21 LYNWOOD (SS-Div. I-AA) UNLV-bound forward Jerry Davon-Jefferson should give Dominguez fits in league. 22 L.B. POLY (Div. I-AA) Defending division champion regroups behind lone returning starter, point guard A.J. Laguana. 23 EL SEGUNDO (SS-Div. III-A) Four starters return, including Pioneer League’s MVP Jamie Jones, a 6-7 forward. 24 CAMPBELL HALL (SS-Div. IV-AA) Five starters, including Pacific-bound guard Joe Ford, return for Vikings, who finished 25-3. 25 ALISO NIGUEL (SS-Div. I-A) Before senior Michael Roll leaves for UCLA, he wants to give Wolverines their first league title.

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