Laguna Hills’ Future Is Bright With Scaglione in It : Boys’ basketball: Hawks’ junior guard has the tools to make his team a winner.

Laguna Hills junior guard Mike Scaglione knows the future is bright although his team has taken some lumps this season.

The Hawks finished third in the Pacific Coast League--behind Estancia and Laguna Beach--and lost their two games to league champion Estancia by a combined 36 points.

Even if Laguna Hills defeats El Dorado in tonight’s first-round Southern Section Division II-A playoff game, top-seeded Tustin--which has lost only to Mater Dei--likely awaits in the second round.

So why all the optimism?

“All of our starters will be back next year,” Scaglione said. “I think we can take league next season.”

But the Hawks aren’t looking past their playoff appearance. Scaglione said his teammates will be focused.

“All the seniors will make sure of that,” Scaglione said. “My brother is always reminding me that this is his last chance.”

Tom Scaglione is a senior captain for the Hawks this season. Although Mike has played on the varsity since his sophomore year, this is the first time they have played together.

“Tom’s my biggest critic,” Scaglione said. “He wants to make me better and he makes me play harder. He’s probably my biggest fan.”

Laguna Hills Coach Dave Brown is another strong supporter.

“Mike has a lot of things you can’t teach,” said Brown, who has coached boys’ basketball for 26 years at Fountain Valley and Laguna Hills. “He has a real good feel for the game.

“He can deliver a shot, he has good elevation, a real good first step. . . . He has a rare combination of tremendous strength and quickness. He’s solid now and you can just see a potential there with those physical tools.

“I’ve never had a perimeter guy with these kinds of skills.”

Scaglione, 6 feet 2, is averaging a team-high 21 points, leads the team in rebounding and is second in assists. So in an effort to slow him down, opponents have thrown all kinds of gimmick defenses at Scaglione.

“He’s playing on a team where other teams can gang up on him,” Brown said. “But he’s willing to kick the ball off. He’s seen all kinds of special defenses and handled them.”

But 5-8 sophomore Jesse Dunham showed Scaglione something he had never seen.

“I saw him in the gym one day just jump up there and grab the rim with both hands,” Scaglione said. “Man, where did that come from?”

Dunham, who plays on the Laguna Hills sophomore team, told Scaglione his secret. Now Scaglione is following an exercise regimen that promises to add 12 inches to his vertical leap.

“An inch a week is what they say,” Scaglione said. “I want to be able to do those crazy dunks.”

Scaglione already is working to improve his game, something Brown appreciates.

“He has a high upside to his potential,” Brown said. “If he’s willing to dedicate himself to get there, he could be a Division I player. But it’s not just going to happen. He’ll have to work hard at it.”

Scaglione has made improvements throughout his career. He played on the freshman team, then moved to the varsity as a sophomore.

“I always knew Mike was special,” Brown said. “He made a big jump this year with his off-court maturity and leadership skills. We wanted him to more of a leader and he really stepped that up.”

Said Scaglione: “Last season, I was the only sophomore on the varsity. I didn’t play much until the middle of league, then I worked into the starting lineup.

“We were a pretty talented team and I had all these seniors around reminding me to work hard.

“Now everyone is looking to me.”