Mesa’s Krikorian will continue at Chapman

Barry Faulkner

Costa Mesa High Senior Danny Krikorian, a four-year varsity boys

basketball standout, has signed to continue his athletic and academic

career at Chapman University, he said Sunday.

A 6-foot guard who averaged a team-high 16.6 points as a senior,

Krikorian said he chose Chapman over Cal State Monterey Bay and the

United States Merchant Marine Academy -- King’s Point.

His decision will allow him to join former Newport Harbor stars

Greg Perrine and Tony Melum with the Panthers, a Division III program

coached by former UC Irvine assistant Mike Bokosky.

“I like being able to play with Greg Perrine and Tony Melum

again,” Krikorian said. “I grew up playing with them. I also like the

coach, the program and the school.”

Krikorian, with a 3.83 grade-point average, plans to major in

either psychology or journalism. Currently competing in both track

and field and volleyball, he said he is relieved to have solidified

his athletic future and anxious to apply the work ethic that made him

a favorite of Mustangs basketball coach Bob Serven.

“I’ve always dreamed about playing in college and Chapman is a

great place to play,” Krikorian said. “I know I have to step up.

After school is out, I want to start lifting weights to get stronger

and start working on making my jumpshot quicker.”

Krikorian’s jumper resulted in a Newport-Mesa-best 82

three-pointers as a senior and his 163 career three-pointers are a

school record.

A three-year starter, Krikorian made at least one three-pointer in

25 of 26 games for the Mustangs, who finished 10-16. Krikorian contributed to the Mustangs’ 2001 Pacific Coast League

co-championship, the program’s only league title.

Krikorian said he was a club soccer teammate of Perrine for five

or six years, beginning at age 5, and has played against both Perrine

and Melum in the Newport-Mesa NJB program.

Perrine started at point guard as a freshman for the Panthers,

while Melum will begin his Chapman career next season, having

transferred at mid-year from Colorado School of the Mines.