North Given Edge in All-Star Boys’ Basketball : South to Employ Three-Guard Offense to Help Offset Height Disadvantage

Contrasting styles of play and an outstanding collection of talent will be featured at 7:30 tonight in the 21st Orange County all-star boys’ high school basketball game at Orange Coast College’s Peterson Gymnasium.

The North team will start a frontline that includes three players who have signed with Pacific 10 Conference programs while the South will counter with quickness and a three-guard offense.

Kevin Walker, a 6-foot 10-inch senior from Brea-Olinda who has signed with UCLA, leads the North. Joining Walker on the frontline are 6-9 Stuart Thomas of Mater Dei and 6-9 Bob Erbst of Katella. Thomas has signed with Stanford and Erbst will play for USC in the fall.

The South team will be led by Saddleback guard Bryant Walton, The Times’ Orange County Player of the Year. Walton will play for Cal in the fall after averaging 24.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 6.4 assists a game. He shot 56% from the field during his senior year.

South Coach Greg Coombs also will start guards Jeff Fryer of Corona del Mar and Nathan Call of Capistrano Valley in an effort to negate the North’s size with quickness.

“The matchups should be very interesting,” Coombs said. “We’ve emphasized defense from the opening day of practice. We’re going to press and put a lot of pressure on the ball. It’s the only chance we have of winning.”

Area sportswriters have listed the North the favorite to win its fifth game in the past six years. The South leads the series, 12-8.

One of the key matchups should be at point guard, where Call will go up against Mater Dei’s Tom Peabody. The two clashed in the championship game of the Orange Tournament last December. Peabody outplayed Call to earn the tournament’s most valuable player award.

“Peabody has a big responsibility of bringing the ball up against their pressure,” North Coach Ray Rodriguez said. “Can we penetrate their pressure?”

Peabody, who will attend Rice University, played point guard for Mater Dei for two seasons in which the Monarchs lost only once in 60 games. Rodriguez said Erbst will help in the backcourt if needed.

Coombs’ biggest concern is his team’s lack of height. Centers Tim Knowles of Mission Viejo and Alonzo Jamison of Santa Ana Valley, both 6-7, are the team’s tallest players. Jamison is the team’s most physical player, but Knowles will start because Coombs fears that Jamison will get into early foul trouble.

The North’s only weakness is a lack of quickness. The team had problems playing a transition game in a scrimmage with Cypress College and looked like anything but all-stars in an 85-62 loss. Walker’s outside shooting was the highlight of the scrimmage.

“Kevin is the premier player on the team,” Rodriguez said. “He is an amazing shooter for a guy who is 6-10.”

The Class of ’86 includes one of the most talented group of basketball players produced in Orange County. There will be five Pac-10 players among the 10 starters, including Los Alamitos’ J. T. Snow, who has signed to play baseball at the University of Arizona.

The game, sponsored by the Costa Mesa Kiwanis Club, will feature 20-minute halves with a 30-second shot clock. Game officials also have added a three-point shot with the line at 19-feet 9-inches from the basket.

North Boys’ All-Star Team:

Centers: Stuart Thomas (Mater Dei) 6-9; Kevin Walker (Brea-Olinda) 6-10. Forwards: Roger Carter (Rancho Alamitos) 6-3; Bob Erbst (Katella) 6-8; Troy Joseph (Western) 6-3; Dave Roth (Orange) 6-5; Jim Sammons (El Dorado) 6-3. Guards: Bob Coady (Servite) 6-4; Kevin Jones (Valencia) 6-4; Tom Peabody (Mater Dei) 6-5; J.T. Snow (Los Alamitos) 6-2. Alternate: Guard David LaRue (Valencia) 5-11.

Coach: Ray Rodriguez (Valencia)

Assistant Coaches: Jim Bell (Valencia), Ed Graham (Orange).

South Boys’ All-Star Team:

Centers: Alonzo Jamison (Santa Ana Valley) 6-6; Tim Knowles (Mission Viejo) 6-7. Forwards: Coby Naess (Laguna Beach) 6-6; Tony Panzica (Ocean View) 6-6; Jason Trask (Capistrano Valley) 6-7; Eric Turner (Santa Ana) 6-5; Gary Wade (San Clemente) 6-6. Guards: Ken Ammann (Edison) 6-2; Nathan Call (Capistrano Valley) 6-0; Jeff Fryer (Corona del Mar) 6-2; Derek Johnson (Foothill) 6-3; Bryant Walton (Saddleback) 6-4. Alternate: Guard Wes Torrell (Newport Harbor) 6-3.

Coach: Greg Coombs (Santa Ana)

Assistant Coaches: Ed Matillo (Santa Ana), Greg Katz (Santa Ana).