HIGH SCHOOL BOYS’ BASKETBALL PREVIEW:

Over the phone, Sean Donovan got the good news from Corona del Mar High Coach Ryan Schachter.

“We got two new starters,” Donovan said Schachter told him, allowing the lone returning starter to breathe a sigh a relief before the boys’ basketball season.

“The last few years, we kind of started the CdM legacy again and it’s up to us to keep it going.”

Eight games into the season, the Sea Kings are far from returning to their decorated past.

Schachter is the first to inform CdM (4-4) of the realistic expectations this season.

Two Mater Dei transfers aren’t going to hang up a CIF Southern Section championship banner in the gym like Schachter delivered the school its fifth in his first year at CdM.

The two new faces belong to guards Danny Cheek and Keegan Jakosky. They’re sophomores. They’re playing varsity for the first time.

“Slow start to put it mildly,” Schachter said of the team adjusting to the young season, a new starting lineup.

The running joke among Schachter’s colleagues is that he has to actually coach this season.

In every joke, there’s some truth.

“I’ll know if I’m worth myself this year,” said Schachter, laughing. “It’s good. It’s a challenge.”

Schachter isn’t backing down in his third season at CdM. Neither are his players.

Unlike his players, Schachter understands how difficult the season will be for CdM.

Winning 20-plus games, a Pacific Coast League championship and making a run at a section crown for the third straight season isn’t going to be easy.

For starters, lost to graduation are 6-foot-9 center Stefan Kaluz and 6-6 forward Joe Eberhard. These two played vital roles in the Sea Kings’ success the past two seasons.

Sacrifices have to be made before getting a chance at the top. A newbie was bold enough to predict the league outcome for the Sea Kings before Schachter saw his players commit to each other.

“I don’t want to be cocky,” said Cheek, adding that he transferred to CdM due to the opportunity to start on varsity, the same reason Jakosky gave for making the move from Mater Dei, where last season Cheek started for the junior varsity and Jakosky started on the top freshmen team.

“With the talent that we have, I think we can win the league championship, easy.”

If it were going to be a simple ride, Schachter might not have dubbed University the league favorite.

Or said he has “a team that is in search of a steady point guard,” the most difficult position to play on the court.

Schachter chose his alma mater to win the league title over CdM because the Sea Kings aren’t a cohesive bunch yet.

The Sea Kings leave on Christmas Day for Orlando, Fla. They’re going to Walt Disney World Resort, the so-called “Happiest Place on Earth.”

Maybe this will help Schachter because he isn’t too happy with CdM.

The Sea Kings have already dropped a nonleague game to Calvary Chapel, which finished third last season in the inferior Orange Coast League.

Three games are scheduled for the Sea Kings at the KSA Holiday Classic. Schachter is looking forward to more than the games during the six-day trip.

Schachter is also hoping the games aren’t so competitive, for the sake of his inexperienced team.

“We need that [bonding time],” Schachter said. “This team has not quite understood what sacrifice means in terms of [players] having to fight for each other. A lot of that is because we’re so fresh.

“We’re taking our lumps right now.”

CORONA DEL MAR

Coach: Ryan Schachter (third year).

2007-08 record: 21-8, 8-0 (first) in the Pacific Coast League.

Returning starters: G-F Sean Donovan (Sr.).

Key newcomers: G Danny Cheek (So.); PG Keegan Jakosky (So.); G Connor Gaal (Fr.).

Key dates: at Laguna Hills, Jan. 9; at University, Jan. 16; Newport Harbor (home), Jan. 24; Laguna Hills (home), Jan. 28; University (home), Feb. 4.

Outlook: Winning the Pacific Coast League title for the third straight season will be harder than the previous two seasons. Donovan is the lone returning starter and the Sea Kings are young and undersized compared to Schachter’s first two years when he had 6-foot-9 center Stefan Kaluz and 6-6 forward Joe Eberhard, who are now at Brown University and UC Irvine, respectively. Steven Gallian, a backup last season, provides some size at 6-7. Schachter said CdM misses point guards Erik Rask and Clayton Ragsdale. Rask graduated and Ragsdale moved. Schachter hopes Mater Dei transfers Cheek and Jakosky settle into the backcourt once league begins.

COSTA MESA

Coach: Bryan Rice (first year).

2007-08 record: 1-26, 1-8 (fourth) in the Orange Coast League.

Returning starters: G Mikey Molina (Sr.).

Key newcomers: G-F Ben Lefebvre (Sr.); F Will LeValley (Sr.); G Brian Waldron (Jr.); C Andrew Albers (So.); C Ryan Thompson (Sr.); G Justin Murata (So.).

Key dates: at Temecula Linfield Christian Caged Classic, Saturday through Dec. 31; Estancia (home), Jan. 9; at Estancia, Jan. 28; Laguna Beach (home), Feb. 11.

Outlook: Rice, a walk-on, said Costa Mesa has the potential to do well and also to not do so well. Rice took over for walk-on coach Kevin Palmer, who was fired after one season. Costa Mesa avoided going winless last season by winning the regular-season finale. Six games into the season, the Mustangs surpassed last season’s win total. Costa Mesa has some size in 6-9 Thompson and 6-6 Albers. Rice said Albers underwent hernia surgery and is expected to be back in time for league play.

ESTANCIA

Coach: Agustin Heredia (second year).

2007-08 record: 14-14, 5-4 (second) in the Orange Coast League.

Returning starters: G-F Kohl Jones (Jr.); G Troy McClanahan (Sr.); C-F Ryan Knapp (Sr.); F Tim Neumann (Sr.); G Kevin Thomas (Jr.).

Key newcomers: G-F Devon Joyner (So.); F-C Ryan Cherney (Jr.); G Jesus Antonio (Jr.); F-C Zack Mikol (Jr.).

Key dates: at Sage Hill, tonight; at Estancia Coast Classic, Friday through Dec. 30; at Corona del Mar, Jan. 3; at Costa Mesa, Jan. 9; Costa Mesa (home), Jan. 28.

Outlook: The core group that led Estancia to the second round of the CIF Southern Section Division III-A playoffs last season is back. Guard Mark Allred graduated and Heredia said early on, the Eagles miss his savvy play. McClanahan has provided the scoring with his dangerous three-point shot. McClanahan hit a career-high nine three-pointers in a game already, but he has been forced to shoot from the outside due to Estancia’s lack of size and its propensity to fall behind early in games. Just like last season, Heredia should get the most out of his players when league play gets under way.

NEWPORT HARBOR

Coach: Bob Torribio (first year).

2007-08 record: 17-10, 7-3 (second) in the Sunset League.

Returning starters: None.

Key newcomers: F Wes Shaw (Jr.); G Chris Anderson (Jr.); F Alex Rios (Sr.); F Cameron Holmes (Sr.); F Austin Bagby (Jr.); G Trevor Davis (Jr.); G Chad Seeber (Jr.).

Key dates: at New Mexico Rio Rancho Oil & Gas Assn. Classic, Dec. 29-31; Los Alamitos (home), Jan. 9; at Corona del Mar, Jan. 24.

Outlook: Torribio’s first year, as interim coach while Larry Hirst takes a sabbatical, started out rough: five losses in the first six games. The only team the Sailors beat was Abbotsford Collegiate from Canada and Torribio joked that it didn’t count, saying, “We’re still looking for our first U.S. win.” Newport Harbor is a guard-oriented team after 6-9 center Kyle Caldwell, the Sunset League Co-MVP, graduated. The Sailors’ streak of 12 consecutive playoff appearances might be in jeopardy.

SAGE HILL SCHOOL

Coach: Jeff Beeler (second year).

2007-08 record: 9-16, 5-5 (fourth) in the Academy League.

Returning starters: F Troy Astorino (Sr.).

Key newcomers: PG Mark Loper (So.); G Kevin Schaefer (Jr.); G Frank Shapiro (Jr.); F T.J. Danner (So.).

Key dates: Estancia (home), tonight; Capistrano Valley Christian (home), Jan. 6; St. Margaret’s (home), Feb. 6.

Outlook: Beeler, a walk-on, has one starter returning off last season’s team that missed the playoffs. Sage Hill lost its starting backcourt, shooting guard Jamie McGee, a three-time All-Academy League pick, and point guard Nick Witte to graduation. Beeler said Loper is the team’s only player capable of distributing the ball effectively in the offense. Loper has played well so far, earning all-tournament honors at the Brethren Christian Hoop Time Invitational. Shapiro showed his scoring ability when he produced 23 points, including the game-winner, against Tahquitz of Hemet.

DAVID CARRILLO PEÑALOZA may be reached at (714) 966-4612 or at [email protected].