Dominguez’s Chandler Nears Day of Decision

Tyson Chandler, a 7-foot-1 senior at Compton Dominguez High, has time to mull his future.

If he opts, as expected, to make himself available for the NBA draft on June 27, a letter stating his intent to renounce his college eligibility must be received by the NBA commissioner’s office no later than 11:59 p.m. EST on May 13, said NBA spokesman Peter Steber, who added that the league will not release names of those who have declared until after May 13.

Steber said players can remove their names from the draft by June 20 without losing college eligibility as long as they have not hired an agent or violated other NCAA rules.

High school players are eligible for the draft if they have graduated or if their class has graduated, he said.

Despite media reports, Chandler, a McDonald’s All-American who averaged 26 points, 13 rebounds and seven blocked shots this season, has yet to confirm whether he will turn pro.

Vernie Threadgill, Chandler’s mother, said Tuesday night that “he has not made his final decision.”

Chandler, who missed the state regional final and Division II state championship game because of a severely sprained right ankle, had said that either a press conference would be held or a news release would be issued Monday through Dominguez. School officials, however, said they were not aware of either scenario. No press conference was held and a release was not issued.

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An autopsy will be conducted to determine the cause of death of Malibu Kilpatrick basketball coach Alvin Brown, a doctor said.

Brown, 29, collapsed while playing in a church league basketball game Saturday night. He suffered cardiac arrest and was pronounced dead later that night at King/Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles, said Dr. Alfred Forrest.

Brown was also a deputy probation officer at Kilpatrick, a detention camp in Malibu for juvenile offenders. He guided the Mustangs to a 27-3 record and their first Alpha League title this season. Kilpatrick lost to Price in the Southern Section Division V-AA final.

Brown, a graduate of Granada Hills High and former basketball player at University of San Francisco, was survived by his parents and 3-year-old son, Brent. Brown was planning to be married.

Funeral services are scheduled for Wednesday at 11 a.m. at Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood.

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Can Ryan Hall of Big Bear break another record set by Jeff Nelson more than 20 years ago?

That question could be answered Saturday night when Hall runs in the boys’ two-mile race in the Meet of Champions Distance Classic at Azusa Pacific.

Nelson set a national record of 8 minutes 36.3 seconds in the two-mile as a Burbank High senior in 1979, but Hall is said to be in phenomenal shape following a cross-country season in which he placed third in the national championships and cut four seconds off Nelson’s 22-year old course record over Mt. San Antonio College’s 2.95-mile layout.

“He’s in very good distance shape,” said Mickey Hall, Ryan’s father and the coach at Big Bear. “He’s not in great [speed shape] yet, but he’s very strong.”

Senior Anita Siraki of Glendale Hoover, the defending state champion in the 3,200 meters, heads the entries in the girls’ meet.

Siraki is the two-time defending champion in both races and set meet records of 4:52.4 in the 1,600 and 10:34.9 in the 3,200 last year.

The meet will start at 10 a.m. with the boys’ 2,000-meter steeplechase. The boys’ two-mile is scheduled for 8:20 p.m.

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Maytal Shvartz, who led Woodland Hills El Camino Real to the City Section girls’ soccer title, was named City player of the year.

Shvartz, a midfielder, helped El Camino Real defeat Chatsworth, 4-0, to win its first girls’ major-division title.