Los Angeles Times 1988 ALL-STARS : The Times’ All-Southeast High School Boys Basketball Team Packs Scoring Punch

The all-star boys and girls teams, each consisting of 10 members, their coaches and parents will be guests of the Times at 9 a.m. Sunday, May 1, at the annual Times High School Basketball Awards Brunch where all-star teams from 12 circulation areas will be honored at the Anaheim Hilton. The featured Speaker will be Loyola Coach Paul Westhead. The players and coaches of the year from each area will be announced.

The teams were chosen on the basis of a poll of area coaches, who are asked to fill out ballots nominating their own players and opponents, plus the observations of college scouts and sportswriters. Each player will receive the traditional Times golden basketball plaque and award certificate.

A high-scoring cast comes on stage with the announcement of The Times’ All-Southeast High School Boys Basketball Team.

Seven of the 10 all-star players averaged 20 or more points a game for the 1987-88 season.

For example, Hank McMahon of Norwalk High scored at a 25.8 clip. Whittier Christian’s Erik Martin hit for a 24.1 average. Huntington Park’s Johnny Salas (24.8), Tyler Austin of La Serna (24) and Paul Chavez of Schurr (23.8) were other high-figure performers, as were the Pius X pair of Lamont Hollinquest (21.9) and John Finau (21.3).

The other all-stars not only hit close to the 20 mark but starred in other categories. St. Paul’s John Guerrero was second highest in the CIF Southern Section with 9.8 assists a game. John Brown of Montebello had a heyday season, collecting 13.6. rebounds a game, while Scott Roczey, the big man from Santa Fe High, also rebounded effectively for an 11.8 average.

Brown is the only all-star who is not a senior. He makes the honor team in his junior year.

All-Stars for Second Year

Martin and Austin are Times All-Southeast in basketball for a second consecutive year. Finau, Hollinquest and Guerrero also made All-Southeast in football last fall.

Three of the players are headed for big-time colleges. Hollinquest, a safety on the gridiron and a guard-forward on the floor, signed with USC--but to play football. Finau signed with San Jose State to continue basketball, as has Martin with Texas Christian University.

The other seniors say they are undecided on their next school to continue basketball. Some have expressed interest in going to NCAA Division II or III schools or enrolling to play for community colleges for later transfer to four-year colleges. A handful of junior college basketball powers are waiting in the wings--hopefully to acquire the services of these unsigned All-Southeast players.

He Turned Down Navy Offer

More on the players:

Austin--The La Serna hotshot turned down an offer to sign for basketball at Navy, according to his coach. Whittier and Claremont still are interested in this point-maker deluxe, who also rebounded at a 15-per-game clip. A forward, Austin played well inside and outside, exhibiting skills also from the three-point range.

Brown--His 6-2 size normally relates more in basketball to a guard position. However, the team needed him for center and he performed like a champion for Montebello, sparking the team into the playoffs. He collected a lot of votes from coaches in the all-opponent balloting.

Chavez--His exceptional shooting ability netted him 41 points in one game. The player of the year in the Foothill League led Schurr High in rebounds for three straight seasons, averaging nine a game in 1987-88. His deadeye shooting, especially from the top of the key and low-post area, has the University of San Diego, Occidental, Southern Cal College and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo interested in his future basketball services.

Finau--A nose guard in football, he turned down offers in that sport to cast his future in basketball with San Jose State. He is a strong, 6-foot-6, 230-pounder, but quick for his size. At forward and center, he showed a fine shooting touch for Pius X.

Guerrero--He played for one of the nation’s highest-scoring prep teams as his St. Paul squad averaged 93 points over 22 games. His coach counted 57 three-point field goals for him. A lot of St. Paul’s points came from Guerrero’s on-the-mark passes to teammates who scored. He totaled 205 assists.

Hollinquest--National champion Kansas, San Diego State and Oregon wanted Hollinquest for basketball, but the 6-foot-4, 205-pound super safety already had decided on football at USC. Besides 21.9 points for Pius X, he averaged 11.4 rebounds, five assists and four steals--indicating a combination of skills few prepsters possess.

McMahon--The co-most valuable player of the Suburban League had three 30-point games, the high at 36. In another contest, he gathered 30 rebounds for a Norwalk school record. He averaged 15 rebounds for the season. Quite effective on his jumper at the top of the key, McMahon, at 6-5 and 190 pounds, is pegged by his coach to be a power forward in college ball. His grade-point average is 3.5.

Martin--Southwest fans should see big things of Martin when he plays for Texas Christian University. He has the look of a class player. The Horned Frogs must have seen that when they signed him to a scholarship. In addition to a fine touch at shooting, Martin is hailed by coaches for his additional skills at passing, rebounding and general court sense.

Roczey--He sparked Santa Fe High to its first league championship in 21 years. It earned him MVP of the Whitmont League. The towering center came into his own this season after taking up basketball as a rank beginner in his sophomore year. He grew another half-inch to 6-8 during the recent season and he will be even taller for a future college team.

Salas--He hit 43 points in one of his single-game scoring sprees for Huntington Park High. Salas earned MVP in Los Angeles City’s Eastern League and then was named All-City.

BOYS PREP TEAM Name: Tyler Austin School: La Serna Year: Senior Height: 6-4 Average: 24.0 Name: John Brown School: Montebello Year: Junior Height: 6-2 Average: 18.2 Name: Paul Chavez School: Schurr Year: Senior Height: 6-1 Average: 23.8 Name: John Finau School: Pius X Year: Senior Height: 6-6 Average: 21.3 Name: John Guerrero School: St. Paul Year: Senior Height: 6-0 Average: 17.5 Name: Lamont Hollinquest School: Pius X Year: Senior Height: 6-4 Average: 21.6 Name: Hank McMahon School: Norwalk Year: Senior Height: 6-5 Average: 25.8 Name: Erik Martin School: Whittier Christian Year: Senior Height: 6-4 Average: 24.1 Name: Scott Roczey School: Santa Fe Year: Senior Height: 6-8 Average: 19.0 Name: Johnny Salas School: Huntington Park Year: Senior Height: 6-2 Average: 24.8