1995 PREP BASKETBALL ALL-STARS : To Opposing Teams, He Was Anything but Gentle Ben

The Westside area has traditionally been known for residents who are movers and shakers in the financial and entertainment worlds. And the Times’ 1995 Westside All-Star boys’ basketball team features some of the best shakers and rim rattlers of the high school sports world.

After competing in tournaments such as Above the Rim and Slam-N-Jam, the area’s best players are prepared to bend any rim with a variety of thunderous dunks.

One of the most exciting dunkers was Westchester guard Ben Sanders, who would frequently steal the ball from an unsuspecting opponent and break loose for a one-handed tomahawk dunk.

Sanders and Venice’s Quentin McCowen were selected to The Times’ team for the second consecutive season. Cassian Aguet (Palisades), Frank Brown (Beverly Hills), Duane Davis (Fairfax) and Teddy Miller (Brentwood) made the team after earning second-team distinction in 1994.

Making their first appearance on The Times’ team are Wayne Dooley (Culver City), Jair Fray (Fairfax), Jason Hart (Westchester) and Darnai Thomas (Hamilton).

Selections were based on ballots cast by area coaches, all of whom were asked to participate, and a poll of Times sportswriters.

Players named to the first team, along with their parents and coaches, will be guests of The Times at an awards breakfast at 9 a.m. Sunday at the Guest Quarters Hotel in Santa Monica. The winners of the Westside player and coach of the year awards will be announced at the breakfast.

Here is a look at The Times’ 1995 All-Westside team:

Cassian Aguet (Palisades)--One of the hardest players to stop one-on-one, Aguet’s best move was a fake wraparound pass and drive to the basket for a layup. It was move he learned from his cousin ,former Dolphin standout Olin Simplis.

Aguet, who was named to the City Section first team, scored a game-high 18 points in an upset of Dorsey in a first-round playoff game. Aguet, a senior, averaged 18.3 points, 9.3 rebounds and five assists a game. The 6-foot-3 guard plans to attend Clark County Community College in Kansas.

Frank Brown (Beverly Hills)--The 6-5 senior forward, who averaged 23 points a game, was a good outside shooter from 18 feet, but his time spent last summer working out in the school’s weight room proved beneficial to his inside game. He averaged eight rebounds a game.

He scored 43 points against Fremont in the Beverly Hills tournament and was named to the Southern Section Division II-AA first team. Brown will attend either Pennsylvania or USC in the fall.

Duane Davis (Fairfax)--The 5-10 senior was one of the City Section’s premier point guards. Davis, a two-year varsity starter, complemented his outside shot with drives to the basket. He was adept at running a half-court offense or leading a fast break.

His best game came in the first round of the City Section 4-A playoffs when he scored eight of his team’s 11 points in overtime, including a last-second shot to give the Lions a 57-55 win over Granada Hills Kennedy. Davis also scored 26 points, including a three-point shot at the buzzer, in a 57-55 loss to Crenshaw in the City 4-A finals. Davis, who signed with Arizona State, was honored as City 4-A Division co-most valuable player and was rated one of the top 15 players in the state by Cal-Hi Sports magazine.

Wayne Dooley (Culver City)--The 6-5 senior forward helped lead the Centaurs to the Southern Section Division III-AA playoffs for the first time in two seasons.

In his third season at the varsity level, Dooley averaged a team-high 18 points and nine rebounds. He shot 64% from the field. Dooley is being recruited by Cal, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and Drake.

Jair Fray (Fairfax)--The 6-5 forward is known for his slashing drives to the basket. He averaged 18.7 points and 10.3 rebounds as a senior.

He scored 15 points, including the game-winning basket at the buzzer against Fremont in the City 4-A semifinals. Fray, who signed with Cal State Dominguez Hills, was also selected to the City 4-A all-star team.

Jason Hart (Westchester)--Often overshadowed by his teammates, the 6-2 guard proved to be one of the Comets’ most consistent players. He helped lead the team to the City 4-A semifinals.

Hart can drive to the basket using either hand and is a good shooter from 15 feet. He won two games at the buzzer with three-point shots in the Las Vegas Holiday Classic. Hart, a junior, averaged 15 points, five assists and four rebounds.

Quentin McCowen (Venice)--The 6-5 senior guard led the team in scoring (22.8 points) and rebounding (9.7) for the second consecutive season. McCowen, who has a spectacular array of dunks, scored most of his points driving to the basket or off offensive rebounds.

McCowen, who scored 41 points against Westchester, appears headed to Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y.

Teddy Miller (Brentwood)--A mark of a standout player is the ability to excel in games that mean the most. Miller, a 6-3 senior forward, was the key to the Eagles’ two-game sweep over Crossroads and the Delphic League championship.

He averaged 20 points and eight rebounds and was named to the Southern Section Division V team. Miller plans to continue his playing career at Yale.

Ben Sanders (Westchester)--Even when teammates had an off night, Sanders was able to carry the Comets with his defense and drives to the basket.

Sanders, who was named City 4-A co-MVP, had a spectacular dunk over two Crenshaw defenders in the City semifinals. Sanders, who signed with Nevada Las Vegas, averaged 18.5 points and five steals.

Darnai Thomas (Hamilton)--The 6-3 junior forward led a resurgence Yankee program by averaging 18 points, 10 rebounds and three assists.

He was the most valuable player of the Hamilton tournament after scoring 36 points in a 69-57 win over Kennedy in the championship final.

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BOYS’ ALL-STAR TEAM Name: Cassian Aguet School: Palisades Year: Senior Points: 18.3 Name: Frank Brown School: Beverly Hills Year: Senior Points: 22.0 Name: Duane Davis School: Fairfax Year: Senior Points: 19.5 Name: Wayne Dooley School: Culver City Year: Senior Points: 18.0 Name: Jair Fray School: Fairfax Year: Senior Points: 18.7 Name: Jason Hart School: Westchester Year: Junior Points: 15.0 Name: Quentin McGowen School: Venice Year: Senior Points: 22.8 Name: Teddy Miller School: Brentwood Year: Senior Points: 23.1 Name: Ben Sanders School: Westchester Year: Senior Points: 23.1 Name: Darnai Thomas School: Hamilton Year: Junior Points: 18.0

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Westside Boys’ Second Team

Player School Yr. Ht. Avg. Ivan Barahona Pacific Hills Sr. 5-7 19.9 Tyrone Bowers Santa Monica Sr. 6-3 15.5 Sean Davidson Westview Jr. 6-1 34.4 Baron Davis Crossroads Soph. 5-9 13.0 Pierre Elize Murphy Sr. 6-2 24.0 Michael Johnson St. Bernard Jr. 5-11 14.0 Darren Harris St. Bernard Sr. 6-2 14.0 Bobby Kassaie Hamilton Sr. 6-0 17.0 Adrian Klemm St. Monica Sr. 6-5 15.4 Danny Walker Westchester Jr. 6-1 17.6