Hawking Seeks Center; Must Have Experience

It was obvious most of the basketball season.

Even when John Williams was healthy and playing well, Cal State Fullerton still needed one more strong inside player.

Coach Bob Hawking hopes he’ll be able to remedy that need this spring by recruiting a quality community college center.

“We want someone with 60 to so junior college games under his belt,” Hawking said. “We’re in contact with quite a few players, and we’re hopeful of getting one of them.”

The Titans have two scholarships available after giving one to 7-foot high school center Corey Gipson of Lansing, Mich., in the early signing period last fall.

“We think we have our big man for the future, but we need someone who can help right away,” Hawking said. “It’s difficult to expect most players with that kind of size to be able to do that coming out of high school.”

The Titans should be in good shape at guard again next season with Chris Dade and Chris St. Clair returning as seniors. Dade averaged 16 points and St. Clair 10 this year.

Point guard Kenroy Jarrett also will be back with sophomore status after being a medical redshirt because of a knee injury in November, and freshman Dane Plock also will be in the picture again. Hawking hopes he can use only two guards and get more height in the lineup next season. “We had no other choice but to use three in the lineup this year after Williams went out with the injury,” Hawking said.

Ike Harmon, who sat out his freshman season as a Proposition 48 nonqualifier, is expected to move into the starting lineup next season as Williams’ replacement. Hawking says Harmon can play either power forward or the wing position.

Junior Craig Whitehead and sophomore Mark Richardson each started 14 games last season at forward, and junior DeVaughn Wright 22 at center. The problem was that none averaged more than Whitehead’s seven points.

Matt Caldwell, a 6-8 forward who was a freshman redshirt this year, also will figure into the mix next season, as will freshman Josh Leighton. “We’ll have depth on the front line, but the key for us will be getting the big guy,” Hawking said.

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Hawking says he remains committed to improving the Titan program, and has no interest in job vacancies elsewhere.

“I want people to know that I’m here to stay,” Hawking said. “My goal is to continue to build the program here. It’s going to take some time, but I think there definitely has been progress.”

Hawking still needs three more games to complete next season’s schedule, which he expects to be stronger than this year.

Fullerton will play nonconference games at UCLA, Pepperdine, Utah and Loyola Chicago and home games against West Coast Conference members San Diego, Loyola Marymount and Portland.

“I also think the conference will be stronger next season, based on the players the top teams have returning, and the four new teams [Idaho, Boise State, North Texas and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo] should be better after a year in the league,” Hawking said.

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Hawking says he has had no second thoughts about playing Williams in the Big West tournament only 48 hours after he had the cast removed from his wrist that was broken Jan. 23.

“Since he was so instrumental to our success before he was hurt, and had been cleared to play, you have to go with that,” Hawking said. “He really wanted to play, and we were obligated to give him a shot to see what he could accomplish.”

Williams played 17 minutes, scoring seven points and getting four rebounds in an 80-55 loss to Nevada, but he played cautiously and was not nearly as effective as before the injury. Hawking kept Williams’ return a secret to the point of leaving him at the hotel when the team took shooting practice at Lawlor Events Center on Thursday, the day before the game. Williams took part in a light workout with the team later that evening at a high school gym in Reno.

Hawking expects Williams to have an opportunity to play professionally, either overseas or in the Continental Basketball Assn. “He wants to play, and he’s going to explore all his options,” Hawking said.

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Deborah Ayres’ contract as the Titan women’s basketball coach is up at the end of March, and she hasn’t been told if it will be renewed.

Athletic Director John Easterbrook said only that a decision will be made on her status before the contract expires.

Ayres’ record in five seasons at Fullerton is 44-92. The Titans were 10-16 this past season, and missed a berth in the Big West tournament for the second consecutive year.

The Titans’ best record under Ayres is 14-15 in 1994-95, when they lost in the conference tournament semifinals.

Titan Notes

Former Titan Mark Kotsay had 11 hits in his first 22 at-bats in spring training with the Florida Marlins. He was five for five, including a home run, in a recent game against the Boston Red Sox. . . . Jennifer Canfield has a 9-8 record while playing either No. 1 or No. 2 singles for the women’s tennis team. Debbie Vonusa is 11-9 playing either No. 3 or No. 4. . . . Renato Gates and Brian Clawson have qualified for the NCAA fencing championships at the Air Force Academy March 20-23. Karen Lieu and Margaret McCarthy are alternates.

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Coming Attractions

Here is a look at key games this week for Cal State Fullerton:

* Baseball against Cal Poly San Luis Obispo Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m., and 1 p.m. Sunday, Titan Field.

* Women’s tennis, Titan Invitational, 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. Friday through Sunday, Titan Tennis Complex. Nebraska, Indiana State, Cal State Northridge, Fairfield, Portland, Colorado State and Idaho State join the Titans in the tournament.

* Softball against Cal State Sacramento 4 p.m. Friday, and against Pacific 1 p.m. Saturday, Titan Softball Complex.