Valley Sports Foundation Battle of the Valley All-Star Games Notebook
April 28, 2009
Jack Pollon
Taft of Woodland Hills and Reseda will have no shortage of participants at the 13th annual Valley Sports Foundation "Battle of the Valley" boys and girls senior all-star games Saturday at CSUN.
The City finalist Toreadors will have UNLV-bound Justin Hawkins, CSUN-bound Terran Carter and San Francisco-bound Michael Williams on the West team.
Reseda, the Division II champion, counters with 6'7 forward Ryan Watkins and guards Randall and Rasheem Harris.
"It is going to be fun going against each other," Hawkins said. "Those guys all went to Taft so it will fun to play against them one time before high school is over."
Hawkins and Williams could be a little more fresh than most of the other all-stars after playing in the Collision game in Torrance last Saturday. Hawkins made a key 3-pointer down the stretch to help the City team beat its Southern Section counterparts and Williams had 16 points, including four 3-pointers.
"Our legs could be a little more conditioned but its and all-star game so everyone will be ready to run and gun," Williams said."
HALFTIME FESTIVITIES
The boys game will feature a 3-point shoot out and the always entertaining dunk contest. The girls game will have a 3-point shootout.
Former Cleveland of Reseda and Washington Wizards sixth man Nick Young and Crespi of Encino's Joseph Fauria have wowed the crowd in the past and this year shoud be no different.
Golden Valley of Santa Clarita's Steven Thornton, Calabasas' Evan Smith, Village Christian of Sun Valley's Bak Bak and Monroe of North Hills' Antonio Garrett are scheduled to particpate.
Thornton is the early favorite after throwing down some high-flying slam dunks this past season.
"I might have some new tricks in my arsenal," Thornton. "The people will have to come and see."
The 3-point contest could be a battle between Ventura County sharpshooters Brad Lewis and Sam Levine.
Lewis set a record for most 3-pointers made in a two year span at Simi Valley and Levine buried seven 3-pointers in a January game against Malibu. Levine also recently shined at a local showcase wowing the crowd with his long range ability.
Both are on a loaded West team coached by Cleveland of Reseda's Osiris Nalls.
"I am glad I have the shooters because I know we have some good inside players too," Nalls said.