Looking back at perhaps the greatest All-CIF | College News

It’s the 50-year anniversary of one of the greatest groups in Southern California high faculty basketball historical past — the 1974-75 All-CIF staff in Division “AAAA.”

The Most worthy participant on that staff was David Greenwood from Verbum Dei. He went on to star at UCLA and in the NBA. An astounding seven gamers amongst the 10 first-team picks made it to the NBA, together with Reggie Theus of Inglewood, Bill Laimbeer of Palos Verdes, Brad Holland of Crescenta Valley, Roy Hamilton of Verbum Dei, James Hardy of Long Beach Jordan and Paul Mokeski of Crespi.

“Everyone talks about that year because it was extraordinary with the amount of talent playing,” stated Holland, who performed for UCLA and received an NBA title with the Lakers in 1980. “We were all blue chippers, all getting recruited nationally and for seven of us to go into the league was pretty remarkable.”

The different All-CIF picks have been Neil Arnold of Long Beach Wilson and Bob Losner and Rich Branning of Marina. All three ended up being all-time greats at their colleges.

Holland, who went on to be a faculty coach, stated he ended up enjoying towards 5 of the six gamers in the NBA. During that ultimate high faculty season, he knew many of them. He’d play pickup video games towards Greenwood and Hamilton at UCLA, the place all three ended up as teammates. He performed Theus in a sport of one-on-one at a camp that summer season. He confronted Laimbeer at a Glendale event sport. He took on Mokeski in a playoff sport.

Greenwood stated, “It was a special class.”

Palos Verdes received the “AAAA” championship over Marina and ended Verbum Dei’s six-year championship run. There have been solely 4 All-CIF groups and, as Holland recalled, “I can remember All-CIF honors was huge. If you made All-CIF, you were special.”

It’s the fiftieth anniversary of the 1975 All-CIF boys basketball staff through which seven of the 10 first-team picks made it to the NBA.

(Southern Section)

First, you must perceive how these groups have been put collectively. They have been sponsored by the Helms Athletic Foundation, which later was named Citizens Savings Athletic Foundation. Sportswriters would come collectively in Culver City lured by a free lunch to appoint and vote for gamers. Sometimes the debates received loud and personal as native writers supported gamers of their areas. But this staff was totally different.

The 1975 assembly was the first for former Times sportswriter Mike Kennedy. He stated 9 of the 10 picks “were so obvious” that it was comparatively simple to put collectively.

Nowadays, All-CIF groups are carried out by coaches and the gamers chosen primarily are from groups that make the playoffs.

When you add who was enjoying in the City Section, 1974-75 turns into even more historic. Dorsey had one of its best groups, led by James Wilkes, who went to UCLA and performed three years in the NBA. Also on Dorsey was Flintie Ray Williams, a fifth-round decide of the Detroit Pistons after enjoying at Pepperdine and Nevada Las Vegas. The City participant of the yr was Chris Lippert from Cleveland, one other future UCLA participant.

Holland stated he remembers John Wooden coming to see him play at Crescenta Valley, however Holland was a yr too late arriving at UCLA to be coached by him, as Wooden retired after successful his tenth NCAA title in 1975.

Greenwood stated it was enjoyable enjoying with and towards the gamers for years after in the NBA. Theus grew to become his teammate with the Chicago Bulls. And gamers loved all the consideration that Laimbeer acquired for being a “mean, tough guy.”

“The funny part is Bill is a pussycat,” Greenwood stated. “We all know Bill from high school.”

Holland, 68, is retired and residing in La Quinta enjoying tons of golf. Reminded how many gamers that season reached the NBA, Holland stated, “It brings back great memories.”