Men’s basketball: Adamczak, Hartman, Egkan join Vanguard hoops

COSTA MESA - Vanguard University men’s basketball coach Stephen

French has received commitments from three players who will join the

Lions next season.

Conrad Adamczak of Los Angeles, James Hartman of San Clemente and Kyle

Egkan of Anaheim Hills have signed letters of intent to play for

Vanguard.

Adamczak, a 6-foot-4 guard, played two seasons for Santa Monica

College and will transfer in as a junior. Adamczak earned All-CIF and

all-state recognition in high school when he helped lead Pacific Hills

High to a state championship. He led Santa Monica College in scoring

(16.4 points per game) and averaged 6.6 rebound and 4.1 assists. He was

selected all-conference and was the team’s Most Valuable Player his

sophomore season.

“Conrad is a hard working and talented player who has a tremendous

understanding of the game, a very high basketball IQ level,” French said.

“This combination of attributes enables him to make other players better,

and that’s the key to having a successful team. We’re expecting great

contributions from Conrad over the next couple of years.”

Hartman is another community college transfer who will also play in

the backcourt. He averaged 4.3 points, 2.7 rebounds, and was Irvine

Valley College’s Most Inspirational Player last year. In 2001, he earned

first-team All-South Coast League status and team MVP honors at San

Clemente High, where he scored 18 points per game.

“We feel very fortunate to have James joining us this season,” French

said. “His athleticism and intensity on the floor has helped him develop

into an excellent defensive player. Offensively, he’s going to fit right

into the sort of tempo game we’re going to play.”

French and the Lions also added power in the paint with the addition

Egkan, a 6-7 center.

“Kyle comes from a great high school program (Villa Park),” French

said. “It’s a program that has developed some tremendous post players

over the past several years. Kyle has good strength in the post and is

very fundamental, however, perhaps his greatest attribute is the mental

and physical toughness he brings to a game and practice.”

Egkan will be the only player on the current Vanguard roster who will

have scored and rebounded both for and against the Lions, as Egkan spent

his freshman season at Point Loma Nazarene last year. His collegiate

highs of 16 points and eight rebounds came against Vanguard last season.