Prospects from LAHC earning early attention

The coaching staff at Los Angeles Harbor College didn’t have a lot to work with when it took over the men’s basketball program three years ago, but with the help of some strong recruiting efforts of kids within a stone’s throw of the LAHC campus, the staff has put together three seasons that have seen the program win more games than it had in the 15 years prior to their arrival.

This year, LAHC assistant coach Todd Malecki expects to have the staff’s best team ever and it’s bolstered by a handful of prospects that are getting looks from schools along the West Coast.

- Leading the way is Bruce Bevins, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound combo guard that redshirted last year but should be one of the Seahawks’ top players in 2004.

“He’s a great perimeter defender and a great shooter. He’s being looked at by a lot of different people,” Malecki said. “He’s extremely strong and has a fanatical workout ethic. I open up the gym for him and goes in and makes 500 shots.

“He’s kind of a throwback player … a little old school. He works his butt off, he’s very coachable. He’s got a great outside shot but he can also get you on his hip and take you to the rack. And he’s a great free throw shooter.”

Bevins, who has received early looks from Cal State Fullerton and San Jose State (as well as several Division II schools) is a player with a tremendous upside.

“I think Bruce’s strength is that his best basketball is ahead of him. Someone that gets him is going to be very happy,” said Bevins.

- Up next, point guard Derrick Clark, a 5-foot-10, 160-pound slasher who averaged 11 points and 6 boards last year.

“Derrick is one of the best point guards I’ve ever coached,” Malecki said. “He’s a great passer, has great anticipation skills, he’s tough, he has a really good first step and he can shoot it. I would say he’s best from 17 feet and in but he can put it on the deck right or left and he defends really hard. He’s just a solid kid.”

According to Malecki, Clark is getting looks from Pepperdine as well as some mid-majors.

- One of the team’s most athletic players, Ameer Espy, a 6-foot-9, 225-pound forward is really starting to hit his stride after not even playing as a prep.

“He wasn’t eligible in high school but his strengths are his quickness and his athleticism. He’s long and lean. He’s averaged 4 blocks per game this summer,” Malecki said.

Espy could really increase his options with a strong showing this year and right now he’s getting looks from San Jose State, Pepperdine and Cal State Fullerton.

“He’s got a tremendous upside,” said Malecki.

- Last but not least is off guard Dante Cottrell, a 6-foot-2, 175-pound scorer that earned all-conference honors last year. Cotrelll, who has a 40-inch vertical, hit for 15 points per game last season.

“He’s explosive. He can hit the three, he can create his own shot. He blocks shots, is a good rebounder … he’s the real deal,” said Malecki.

Cotrell may have to redshirt to get his academics in order and most schools are holding off in recruiting him until he gets things squared away.