SOUTH COAST LEAGUE

Capistrano Valley

Coach: Brian Mulligan

1998-99 record: 22-7

League record: 8-2

While it looks like a rebuilding year with only three players, including 6-1 Lucas Pace, returning, Coach Brian Mulligan finds room for optimism. Pace averaged 12 points, and most importantly in Mulligan’s eyes, the senior guard took three charging fouls a game on average. Senior swingmen Nick Jensen and Jim Bosma also return. A key transfer could be Jeff Gloger, a junior from Santa Margarita. There’s also three sophomores and three more juniors vying for playing time.

Dana Hills

Coach: Mark Thornton

1998-99 record: 9-17

League record: 2-8

Coach Mark Thornton sounds a familiar refrain: “Not much experience, young players must step up.” Tom Newidowski, a 6-4 center, and Andrew Spaulding, a 6-3 forward, return for Thornton, who begins his fourth season. Jimmy Jackson, a 5-10 guard, and Bryce Tuttle, a 6-0 guard, are also back. Shane Del Rosario, Scott Klein, Ed Lachman, Mitch Mathews, Travis Nelson and Mike Rush are up from the lower levels and vying for playing time.

El Toro

Coach: Todd Dixon

1998-99 record: 14-12

League record: 3-7

The Chargers make the jump from the Sea View to the South Coast and have been installed by league coaches as slight favorites ahead of Trabuco Hills because they return four starters and appear to have a deep bench. Dana Hills transfer Steve Gallups, a 6-4 forward, adds to a roster that includes starters Wes DeCoite (seven points, five rebounds), Ashkan Nazeri (11 points), Chris Parish (12 points) and Ken Tanaka (10 points, five assists). Matt Green (four points, four rebounds) adds height at 6-6. And there’s plenty of height in reserve with 6-10 Brian Kenard, 6-6 Chase Peterson and 6-5 Kyle Martin. Kennard returns after two seasons on the swimming team. Martin only played volleyball last season.

Mission Viejo

Coach: Jeff Cunningham

1998-99 record: 12-15

League record: 4-6

First-team all-league guard Francis Ireifej, who averaged 12.6 points and 4.7 rebounds, leads a parade of four returning starters. Travis Niesen (10.6 points, six rebounds) was a second-team all-league choice. Matt Cole, a 6-4 forward, and Jon Shieh, a 5-11 guard, are also back and they’re joined by lettermen Steve Floyd, Jordan Million and Mike Stanitsas and 6-6 newcomer Erik Engstrom, as well as Corona transfer Mykel Valentine and Greg Villanueva.

San Clemente

Coach: Brad Davis

1998-99 record: 17-10

League record: 6-4

There’s not a weak team in the league, according to Coach Brad Davis, including his own. “We’re a little bit better than last year. We’re deeper and more athletic,” he said. He figures El Toro, which replaced perennial power Mater Dei in the league, has the edge, but “we really have a good shot to be right there at the top.” Brian George, a 6-5 senior forward who averaged 12 points, returns. Swingmen Efrain Martinez, a 6-1 senior, and James Hartman, a 6-0 junior, split time in starting roles last season. Both figure to start this season. Also back is Greg Garrett, a 6-6 senior center, who started about half the time last season.

Trabuco Hills

Coach: Ranier Wulf

1998-99 record: 12-16

League record: 1-9

With three starters returning, including 6-6 guard Brennon Martin, Coach Ranier Wulf feels his team has a lot of experience to carry it. Martin, who has signed with Texas A&M;, made 62 of 182 three-point attempts last season. Starting post Evan Fields, who made 56% of his shots and averaged 7.8 rebounds, and swingman Aaron Tudor also return. Newcomers include John Baggerly, Sean Boatright, Lamont Holt, John Kupper, Jon Nelson, Anthony Newkirk and Ian Wright.