Boys basketball: Local All-Stars take separate paths

Barry Faulkner

NEWPORT BEACH - For two Newport-Mesa boys basketball standouts

taking part, tonight’s Orange County All-Star Game represents a fork in

the hardwood road.

Corona del Mar High senior Kevin Hansen looks upon the 8 o’clock contest

at Orange Coast College as a farewell to the sport. After accepting a

volleyball scholarship to attend Stanford, Hansen’s hoop future lies in

pickup games and the occasional driveway shoot-around.

Estancia senior Jon Cantrell, on the other hand, looks at tonight’s

battle with the best players from the North as a high-profile transition

to the community college ranks. And his approach and preparation has

reflected the importance he places on the game.

“I’ve been playing every day and really working on my game,” said the

three-point bomber, who set a Newport-Mesa District record with 10

three-balls in a December tournament win over Antelope Valley Christian

and who made more shots from beyond the 19-foot-9 arc (96) than all but

one Orange County player last season. “It’s anybody’s dream to be one of

the best 12 players in South Orange County. I’m honored to be playing in

this game and I think I have something to prove.”

Hansen, whose commitment to the CdM volleyball team has remained his

focus during all-star preparation, said he hopes to avoid injury, have

fun, and savor his competitive basketball swan song.

Cantrell, leaning toward attending OCC next fall, has checked the

all-star record for three-pointers (five, he reports) and has cleared a

place in his collection of career memorabilia for the game program.

“Basketball is my No. 1 priority,” said Cantrell, who averaged 16.1

points in his third varsity season for the Eagles. “Some guys look at it

like they don’t always have to be working on their game. But I’m not one

of those guys. I’ve been working with a shooting coach and trying to

improve my ballhandling.”

Both Hansen and Cantrell have impressed South Coach Roger Holmes, who

worked two seasons as an assistant to then-Southern California College

men’s coach Bill Reynolds, before beginning his current six-year tenure

at Marina High.

“Kevin is just a solid kid who has an all-around game,” said Holmes, a

Fountain Valley alum who helped the South set the team scoring record in

1978 with a 124-116 victory.

Holmes said Cantrell was selected for his shooting skills and will likely

have an opportunity to display them coming off the bench.

“His job is to spot up and shoot threes and he and Andy Lawrence

(University) both do that really well,” Holmes said.

Holmes identified Laguna Beach standouts Travis Hanour (bound for

Arizona) and Chris Manker (Oregon State), Lawrence, Marina’s Dustin Katz

(Humboldt State) and Trabuco Hills’ Evan Fields as his tentative starting

lineup.

Hansen, the Newport-Mesa District Co-Player of the Year and a two-time

All-CIF Southern Section performer, said he has had to knock some rust

off his game, since shifting to volleyball after the Southern California

Regional basketball playoffs.

“It’s been kind of tough juggling basketball with volleyball,” said the

6-foot-4 guard-forward, who averaged 20.8 points and 7.1 rebounds to lead

the Sea Kings to the Pacific Coast League title. “I’ve had to go from

volleyball practice to basketball practice a few times and just try to

give it whatever I have left. Since basketball isn’t my No. 1 sport, I

wasn’t real confident, but (CdM Coach Paul Orris) told me I definitely

belong and to go out and just play like I know how to play. That boosted

my confidence.”

The 6-0 Cantrell, the shortest player on the South roster, said he, too,

was mildly intimidated by the elite talent which surrounds him.

“I’m thankful to Coach Holmes for selecting me,” he said. “When I found

out I was going to play in this game, I started working harder, because I

wanted to make sure I was ready. When I get in there (tonight), I’ll try

not to feel pressure. I just want to have fun and prove the South is

better than the North.”

The girls game, which does not include any Newport-Mesa players, precedes

the boys game at 5 p.m.

The games, which provide proceeds to community youth and other Orange

County charities, are organized by the Downtown Costa Mesa Kiwanis.