Olive’s First Recruit Should Help Fill Void in Backcourt

Bill Mazurie, a 6-foot-3 guard who led Cerritos College to the state community college championship last season, has signed a letter of intent to play basketball for Loyola Marymount.

Loyola’s first recruit under new Coach John Olive, Mazurie was named most valuable player of the state community college tournament after scoring a career-best 32 points in the semifinals against Ventura and 30 in an 89-87 victory over West Valley in the title game.

Mazurie, a sophomore, averaged 17.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.2 assists for Cerritos (33-4). Named to the All-South Coast Conference second team, Mazurie’s stock as a player rose considerably after his strong play in the state tournament.

Mazurie, who can play either point guard or shooting guard, will be among the candidates to replace graduating seniors Terrell Lowery and Tony Walker, Loyola’s backcourt starters last season.

Mazurie averaged 22 points as a senior at Capistrano Valley High in 1989. He played for Cal State Northridge as a freshman, starting five games and averaging 7.3 points. He sat out the 1990-91 season before transferring to Cerritos.

Mazurie is the fifth recruit for Loyola. The Lions signed three high school seniors--5-10 point guard Marcus Moss of Killeen, Tex., 6-7 forward John Anthony of Peninsula and 6-1 shooting guard Tom Airey of Capistrano Valley--and 6-7 forward Zan Mason, a former Westchester standout and transfer from UCLA who will become eligible after sitting out last season.