PREP BASKETBALL ‘91-’92: FREEWAY LEAGUE

La Habra

1990-91 RECORDS: OVERALL: 7-19 LEAGUE: 1-9

COACH: Frank McCarroll RECORD AT SCHOOL: 32-63

RETURNING STARTERS YR. HGT. P Jose Amaya Sr. 6-1 G Mike Rowland Sr. 6-4 F

TOP RETURNER YR. HGT. P Rusty Volkert Jr. 6-5 F

TOP NEWCOMERS YR. HGT. P Cinque Brown Sr. 6-5 F Andrija Kristich So. 6-4 C Jerry Medina Sr. 5-10 G

OUTLOOK

Four juniors started last season but none was in the starting lineup when La Habra opened its season against Santa Ana. Amaya and Rowland suffered knee injuries in practice and won’t return until league play. Scott Seminoff decided not to play basketball while trying to qualify for the junior national water polo team. A fourth starter, all-league forward Wendell Wickersham, is recovering from prostate cancer in an isolation ward at USC medical center and is out for the year. “No matter how tough things get, Wendell’s battle with cancer puts everything in perspective,” McCarroll said. “Wendell’s courage will inspire us to do whatever it takes to be successful.” Doctors diagnosed Wickersham’s injury after he played his first baseball game last spring. He has lost 40 pounds since contracting the disease. Among the top newcomers is Kristich, younger brother of volleyball/basketball star Zrinka Kristich. Andrija is a 15-year-old sophomore who has already grown to 6 feet 5, 235 pounds. “He’s a little slow, but he’s been around the game most of his life,” McCarroll said. “His problem is that he sometimes fails to realize he’s 6-5 when he goes inside.” Brown is a transfer from Portland who has been the biggest surprise. “If there’s been a plus this season, it’s been Cinque Brown,” McCarroll said.