Colleges / Alan Drooz : That Close! Lions Lose Cage Gem to Arizona

The big one that got away is a summer story that may affect Loyola Marymount University’s basketball fortunes for several winters.

In this case the one who got away is shot-swatting, dominating, 6-foot-10 Brian Williams, the former St. Monica High School star who was Atlantic Coast Conference freshman of the year at Maryland last season.

Williams, considered a top-notch pro prospect at center, started his own transfer rumors even before the season was finished, announcing he would leave Maryland due to personal differences with Coach Bob Wade, then said he had changed his mind and would stay.

Meanwhile, he was spending the summer in Southern California, taking classes at a local university and informally visiting campuses. Loyola and UCLA appeared to have gotten Williams’ attention, and he and his mother made a formal visit to Loyola.

By mid-July things seemed to indicate that Loyola would have something to celebrate. Then Arizona Coach Lute Olsen entered the picture. Subsequently, Williams announced he was transferring--to Arizona.

“He made an official campus visit. We felt very comfortable,” said Judas Prada, Loyola’s basketball recruiting coordinator. “We were very close to releasing (an announcement). Arizona overpowered us, basically. I’d say it all turned in a span of 48 hours.”

(Actually, the school is not allowed to issue an official statement until the transfer is enrolled an on campus at the start of the semester.)

This is the second time Olsen has snatched a prize catch from the Lions at the last minute. Five years ago, the Lions thought they had successfully recruited Anthony Cook out of Van Nuys High and expected him to sign a preseason letter of intent. Cook did--with Arizona, after the persuasive Olsen entered the scene. The 6-9 Cook earned All-Pac-10 honors last season.

No hard feelings, Prada said. “Arizona is a quality program that has got a lot to sell right now,” he said. “They made the Final Four and they’re one of the quality programs in the country. We’ve got to keep plugging away.”

Prada said the Lions are finally in the running for some of the blue-chip recruits. But, he said, the program’s new-found recognition--in light of last season’s 28-4 record and 110-point-per-game average--doesn’t mean much until the Lions actually sign a few big-name players. “A lot of kids are very receptive now,” Prada said, “where before it was, ‘That’s nice, but leave me alone.’ Just the fact we’re involved with some of these kids that the big schools are after is nice, but we’ve got to get some of them or it doesn’t mean anything.”

And the possibility of getting Williams had Coach Paul Westhead’s staff excited. “He’s an impact player, at any program on any level in the country,” Prada said. “I’m sure in a few years he’s going to be in the top eight picks (in the National Basketball Assn.). He might be the best big man in the country.”

The associate athletic director’s spot remains open at Cal State Dominguez Hills but probably won’t be filled before autumn. The opening was created when Dan Guerrero was promoted to athletic director. However, now there is a hiring freeze in the state university system, and once the freeze is lifted the job has to be posted for five weeks. In the interim, Toros sports information director Tom Neff is handling some administrative duties.

Dominguez Hills soccer Coach Marine Cano, who coaches the men’s and women’s teams, has added Bill Merrell to his staff. Merrell will work primarily with the women. He replaces Andy Bonchonsky, who recently resigned after assisting Cano for three seasons.

Merrell, 48, began his coaching career at Rolling Hills High in 1980 and later moved to Palos Verdes High. After earning CIF coach of the year honors twice, Merrell coached UC Berkeley for three seasons--earning top-five ratings each year--and most recently coached at Wellesley College in Massachusetts.

Lady Toros Coach Jennifer Gorecki, who hopes to make noise in the California Collegiate Athletic Assn. this year after two seasons of building, has signed two more players to letters of intent to Dominguez Hills, including middle blocker Sandra Noriega, who will be one of the tallest players Gorecki has had at 6-2. Gorecki has also signed outside hitter Josie Gonzales. Both join the team as freshmen.

Noriega was a basketball and volleyball standout at Glenn High School in Norwalk. The 5-7 Gonzales graduated from Huntington Park High in 1986 and has been out of school for two years.

College Notes

Recent Loyola graduate Mike Yoest, the school’s No. 3 career scorer in basketball, has been invited to try out for the Sacramento Kings as a free agent. . . . There are 28 members of last season’s El Camino College football team playing at four-year schools this year. The list is led by Leuzinger High graduate Sean Smith, who is expected to be one of the top receivers at Big 10 power Iowa, a preseason contender for national honors. . . . The Occidental football team, a perennial Division III power, will get big help on the offensive line from junior John Streetmaker and sophomore Lee Ursich. Streetmaker, a former North Torrance High standout, is listed at 5-10, 365 pounds. Ursich, out of San Pedro is a mere 6-2, 292. Both are expected to be regulars.