ORANGE LEAGUE

Anaheim

Coach: Jose Marco Castellanos

1998-99 record: 10-14

League record: 3-7

There is a lot of optimism from the Colonists, who expect to have their best team in decades, according to Coach Jose Marco Castellanos. Guard Stephen Miller, who led the county in scoring last year, averaging 23.7 points, has transferred from Orange. His cousin, 6-6 freshman Manuel Thomas, has moved west from Indiana. The team’s top two scorers from a season ago, 6-7 Robert Mendoza (10.1 points, 8.5 rebounds) and 6-1 guard Jesus Salcedo (12.5 points), join guard Brandon Pinkney as the three returning starters. Nate Traynor, a 6-foot guard who was a part-time starter last year, is also back, as is 6-foot guard Brandon Clark, 6-4 forward Ricky Carbella and 6-3 forward Aurelio Torres.

Brea Olinda

Coach: Bob Terry

1998-99 record: 26-3

League record: 10-0

Coach Bob Terry has a great deal of optimism, calling the Wildcats “one of the better shooting teams in Brea’s history with some solid returners from last year.� Transfer Curtis Levine, a 6-0 senior guard who left Brea after his freshman year, made 73 three-pointers last season at Savanna. Starters Landon Lewis, a 6-2 junior guard, and Ryan Wilber, a 6-5 senior guard, averaged 23 points and eight rebounds between them last season. Ryan Moore, a 6-5 guard who averaged seven points and three rebounds, is also back, as are Kirk Reimer, a 6-6 forward and Chase Uleny, a 5-9 guard.

Magnolia

Coach: Al Walin

1998-99 record: 13-14

League record: 5-5

The Sentinels have good height, led by 6-3 sophomore point guard Geoffrey Clayton (14 points). Stia Asoau, a 6-1 senior wing and Jacob Davis, a 6-5 senior forward, are starters returning, while Scott Henry, a 6-6 senior who was a part-time starter toward the end of last season, also returns. Vincent Bryant, a 6-2 junior wing; Gabriel Costea, a 6-5 senior forward; and Justin Smith, a 5-10 senior point guard, give Magnolia more depth than in past seasons.

Savanna

Coach: James Honell

1998-99 record: 17-10

League record: 7-3

Coach James Honell predicts the Rebels are “looking forward to a big season� and will battle Brea Olinda for the league title. The Rebels may find out just how good they are when they open against Mater Dei at the Tournament of Champions Dec. 6. Allan Purnell, a 6-4 senior forward who averaged 15 points and 10 rebounds, returns, as does Marcus Butler, a 6-foot point guard. Parwiz Akbar, a 6-foot senior guard; Chris Hutton, a 5-9 senior point guard, and Paul Nelson, a 6-7 senior center return. Newcomers include 6-6 Jason Eastman, 6-5 Xavier Medina, 5-11 Francis Tangonan and 6-5 Narrid Wadood.

Valencia

Coach: Dean Yoshimura

1998-99 record: 8-19

League record: 5-5

Even without a starter over 6-2, Coach Dean Yoshimura expects the Tigers to double their number of victories. Emmanuel Ortega, a 5-9 junior guard who led the team in scoring (12.1), returns, as does Eric Dixon, a 6-foot senior forward who averaged 10.7 points and 4.9 rebounds. Keinan Briggs, a 6-1 junior; Brian Browne, a 6-2 senior forward; Hugo Hernandez, a 5-11 junior guard, and Jesse Jackson, a 5-11 senior guard, figure to see playing time. Newcomers include 6-5 junior Chris Franklin, 6-foot Ben Jones, 5-8 Mike Nguyen and 5-10 Steve Nguyen.

Western

Coach: Joseph Aihara

1998-99 record: 2-22

League record: 0-10

The emergence in summer leagues of 6-8 center Robert Turner, who has signed with Pepperdine, makes Western appear to be on the upswing. Turner, who averaged 17 points and 7.4 rebounds, is one of five returning starters. Guards Billwick Perez (12 points) and Rendi Wigaya (8.2 rebounds) and forwards Dajuan Pannell (six points) and Roger Spencer (eight rebounds) also return. Sophomore guard Jarom Watts will also see a lot of playing time, according to Coach Joseph Aihara.