Vanguard playing one day at a time

Barry Faulkner

Playing in transition has taken on a double meaning for the Vanguard

University men’s basketball team.

The Lions have endured a revolving door at head coach within the

last 11 months, after Stephen French was fired 20 games into last

season and was replaced on an interim basis by VU Athletic Director

Bob Wilson.

Wilson, a collegiate coach for 20 seasons at the University of

Hawaii, Hilo and Phillips University, relinquished the reins to Jim

Degroot in April, only to be called upon once again when Degroot

resigned in April for personal reasons.

Wilson, committed to restoring stability, begins his first full

season at the helm with a youthful collection of talent that faces an

uphill battle in the ultra-competitive Golden State Athletic

Conference. Vanguard was 7-24 last year, 3-17 in conference.

“We’re just very, very young,” said Wilson, whose season-opening

starting lineup in Thursday’s Westminster tournament included two

freshmen, two sophomores and a junior.

“Our guys all have a passion to play the game, which is good. We

shoot the ball fairly well and we have good quickness. But, on the

other side, we’re not very big.”

The quickness and lack of height have prompted Wilson to intensify

an up-tempo approach.

Starting point guard Horace Wormely, a 5-foot-6 junior transfer

from Pasadena Community College, is the trigger man in the Lions’

running game. Wilson believes he’ll bring scoring punch, as well as

playmaking skills to the backcourt.

Kevin Dalafu, a 6-1 freshman out of Troy High, joins Wormely at

guard, replacing senior Josh Pierson, who will have surgery for a

dislocated shoulder sustained in preseason practice. Pierson, the

leading scorer among returners (10.1 points per game as a junior), is

out for the season.

Leon Rosborough, a 6-5 sophomore who averaged 7.5 ppg last season,

starts up front, where he is joined by 6-5 sophomore Brian Kim, a

transfer from Portland, and Brett McGee, a 6-6 freshman center from

Oklahoma City.

Tim Burnette, a 6-7 forward-center who averaged 7.5 points and 4.1

rebounds as a starter last season, will come off the bench, Wilson

said.

Wilson termed Rosborough a gifted athlete and strong rebounder.

Wilson considers scoring the strength of Kim’s game, and Wilson

praises McGee’s shooting touch and ability to bang inside.

“[McGee] has a lot of potential,” Wilson said.

Levi Seekins, a 6-6 sophomore who played sparingly last year, has

the potential to contribute much more off the bench.

Wilson will also count upon relief help from 6-5 freshman Curt

Watson, out of Savanna High, 6-1 senior Jesse Carlson, a transfer

from Sierra College, and Brendan Cotter, a 6-3 junior.

The Lions first home game is Nov. 15 against Cal State Los

Angeles, for which Costa Mesa High product David Conte is the

starting freshman point guard.