June 24th, 1999
1999-2000 Season Preview
1999-2000 Season Outlook
“Familiar” is not a word Long Beach State men’s basketball coach WayneMorgan has been, well, familiar with in his first three seasons with the 49ers. Only one player, senior forward D’Cean Bryant, has been in uniform foreach of Morgan’s first three years, and the lack of continuity has hampered Morgan’s efforts to build a winning program at The Beach.
That’s not the case this year. The Beach brings back more players than ever under Morgan, and the 49ers feel they have something to build on, after winning three of theirlast five games and advancing to the Big West semi-finals for the first
time in five years.
Morgan has all five starters back from last year’s squad which went13-15 on the year and reached the semi-finals of the Big West Tournament in March. He also has his top three reserves returning from last year’s team, and with some top-notch newcomers, the 49ers figure to make dramatic improvements in 1999-2000.
Leading the list of returnees are a pair of All-Big West Conference selections from a year ago. Shooting guard Ramel “Rock” Lloyd led the 49ers in scoring, averaging 18.0 points per game, and went over the 30-point mark three times, including a 36-point game against Kansas State. Lloyd led the 49ers in minutes played, and ranked among the Big West leaders in field goal percentage, at 45. 2%. One of the most dangerous offensive players in the Big West, he was a second team all-conference pick in 1998-99 as a sophomore.
Joining Lloyd on the All-Big West second team was center Mate Milisa, perhaps the 49ers’ most consistent performer last season. Milisa scored 13.9 points per game, and led the team in rebounds, with 5.6 rpg. He missed three weeks of the season after turning his ankle against Utah, but the 6-11 Croatian, the 49ers’ top free throw shooter (78.4%), returned to pace the frontcourt the rest of the way.
Antrone Lee finished the season with a flurry, averaging 16.5 points per game at the Big West Tournament, to be named to the all-tournament team. Lee, who has played everywhere but center in two seasons under Morgan, is a versatile offensive performer and the 49ers’ top defender
Two positions will be critical for The Beach in 1999-2000: power
forward and point guard. A year ago, the 49ers used three players-D’Cean Bryant, Richie Smalls, and Grant Stone at the number-four position, but none of the three were able to take charge and earn the spot outright.
Bryant is perhaps the 49ers’ most physically gifted athlete, and
possesses a fine outside shot, leading the ‘Niners in 3-pt. FG % last year, at 35.1%. Smalls is more of a rebounder and shot-blocker, who has added 25 pounds to bulk up the inside. Stone, a smart player and good defender, has also bulked up, now weighing in at 240 pounds, among the biggest players on the 49er frontcourt.
At the point, Charles O’Neal and Ron Johnson will shoulder the load, as they did a year ago. O’Neal, a senior, will benefit from playing the entire season, and should become the 49ers’ floor leader. He led the squad in assists with 58 last year, despite missing 12 games. Johnson was an impact player as a true freshman, playing tenaciously at the point, and recording 38 assists for the season. With a year under their belts, both players should stand out for the Beach in the coming season.
Among the newcomers, 6-9 Rudy Williams from Dixie JC in Utah leads the way. Williams averaged 12.8 points and 7.6 rebounds at Dixie a year ago, and should strengthen the Long Beach frontcourt. Cesar Sanchez from Garden City CC is a 6-6 forward who will also help the front line. In the backcourt, James Wright is a 6-1 point guard who led Manual Arts to the 1999 L.A. City Championship and the state tournament. He is an
extremely quick guard, who will benefit from playing alongside O’Neal and Johnson as a freshman. Keith Felton comes to the 49ers from Highland CC in Illinois, and Brad Smith from Cypress JC will help solidify the 49er backcourt.