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Monday, December 16, 2002
Franklin looms as team to beat
'Loaded' Quakers tough with Brooks manning point
Franklin High School point guard Aaron Brooks is a "once-in-a-career" basketball player, his coach Jason Kerr says, going on about the future Oregon Duck's skills.
In the same Southern drawl, Kerr adds, "This is a kid with a lot of character and that is really making the difference right now."
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 | Scott Eklund / P-I | |
| Franklin's Zenrique Tellez swoops to the hoop against Roosevelt's Norris Frederick (15). Tellez, a senior guard, is averaging 14.3 points per game for the KingCo 4A favorite. | ||
Brooks, in his fourth varsity season with the Quakers, is making the difference for Franklin, the runaway favorite to take the KingCo 4A for the second year in a row and the state's top-ranked team according to a preseason coaches poll.
"At this stage in the game, there are so many good teams in the state and with our league as tough as it is, (being favored) doesn't mean much," Kerr said.
Brooks is the cog that makes the highly talented Quakers machine go, but the other parts are equally important.
"Franklin is just loaded," Woodinville coach James Rowe said.
Brooks leads the league in the early scoring race with 25 points per game in two contests. But 6-foot-4 teammate Kellen Williams is averaging 18.7, while senior guard Zenrique Tellez is adding 14.3 per game.
A scary thing for the rest of the league is that the Quakers may add another part.
Lyndale Burleson, a 6-2 transfer from O'Dea, averaged 17 points last year as a sophomore, but is mired in eligibility red tape. Burleson had a hearing with the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association last week and Kerr said a decision has not yet been levied.
"He is incredible. He's probably the best junior guard in the state. He has ridiculous speed, particularly within the first step," Kerr said.
Burleson could bolster a lineup that already has eight returning lettermen and three returning starters.
"This year compared to the others, the experience and the senior leadership we have is our strength," Kerr said. "That always pays the most dividends and we have a number of kids in their second or third year. That makes things a lot easier when you're not having to teach things, but are recycling things."
Another strength for Kerr's team is its depth down low.
In addition to Williams' big game, Daryl Taylor, Tavar Proctor, Lucas Eaton and Richie Phillips all measure 6-6.
"This is the first year we've had depth at that position. We usually run around with 6-3 guys who we've transitioned, but we have four or five big guys and we can put pressure on people down there the entire game," Kerr said. "We have an inside-outside game finally and that's going to be big for us."
Kerr suspended six players for missing curfew on a road trip to Spokane and the players sat out the KingCo 4A opener against Roosevelt, which finished 3-10 in the league last year. But the Roughriders took advantage of the situation, handing Franklin its first loss of the season.
Kerr said the loss also goes to show that the league is tough from top to bottom.
"Depth-wise there has never been a team (in the league) that is ridiculously terrible. Every night there is some kind of challenge," Kerr said. "That's what makes this league strong and exciting. It really prepares you for the next level."
TUI ON THE BLOCK: Woodinville's first-year coach James Rowe got some good news when he took the Falcons' position. Matt Tuiasosopo was coming out for the team.
Already a star on the football and baseball teams, the 6-2 Tuiasosopo used his athleticism, strength and size to quickly find a place on the block for Rowe. As the Falcons have gone 2-1, Tuiasosopo is averaging a team-high 17 points per game.
"When he said he was coming out and I knew I was getting him, that was great. He's a superb athlete, a great kid, attentive in practice. He never has an answer; it's all, 'Yes, sir,' or "Yes, Coach' and then he goes out and does it," Rowe said.
While Tuiasosopo's prowess on the hardwood isn't surprising considering his athleticism, the junior did surprise his coach.
"He had never even shot a three in practice and then the first game he comes out and hits four," Rowe said with a laugh.
GARFIELD'S REAL: Garfield ran away with the Lake Division last season and, after a shuffling of the divisions, has the means to do it again.
After putting a 47-44 defeat on 3A powerhouse Mercer Island Saturday night, the Bulldogs (3-0) may have boosted their already-high expectations. But to make a seventh consecutive trip to the 4A tournament, coach Wayne Floyd's team will have to do it without much height.
Garfield's big men are junior Yusuf Salahuddin and senior Brian Schulkin, both 6-6, who collectively average 15 points per game.
Since that is where the height ends, Floyd relies on speedy guards to control the tempo.
"We're not real big so we have to rely on that speed and quickness to get some things done," Floyd said.
Omar Tompson (16.3 ppg) and Brandon Sanchez (8.3 ppg) are both 5-9 guards upon whom the Bulldogs rely heavily.
"Garfield could be as tough (as Franklin)," Inglemoor coach Greg Lowell said. "They have bought into scrapping and playing hard, and they have a lot of athleticism."
EASTLAKE'S THROWBACK: Eastlake junior Nick Livi is averaging 19 points through the Wolves' first three games and coach Richard Belcher said that isn't surprising.
"He is the most dedicated kid to the game of basketball that I have seen in a long, long time," said Belcher, who is entering his fifth year at Eastlake.
According to Belcher, Livi gets up at 5 a.m. each week day to shoot free throws.
"He is very faithful. It's amazing," Belcher said.
Eastlake (2-1) earned trips to the 4A tournament in 1999 and 2001. Since 1995, Redmond is the only other KingCo 4A team from the Eastside to make the state playoffs more than once. Redmond went in 1996 and 2001.
KINGCO 4A BOYS
| School | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | Total | Pct | Comment |
| Franklin | 16-3 | 10-10 | 17-3 | 43-16 | .729 | Brooks may be state's best point guard |
| Garfield | 19-1 | 19-1 | 17-2 | 55-4 | .932 | Upset of Mercer Island good way to begin |
| Redmond | 15-5 | 17-3 | 10-10 | 42-18 | .700 | Ishmael gives 'Stangs a go-to guy |
| Ballard | 7-13 | 16-4 | 17-2 | 40-19 | .678 | Jump from 3A to 4A could be formidable |
| Bothell | 14-6 | 9-12 | 14-6 | 37-24 | .607 | Haines-Rourke scoring tandem will be missed |
| Woodinville | 12-8 | 9-11 | 13-7 | 14-26 | .567 | Tuiasosopo tough on hardwood, too |
| Eastlake | 8-12 | 14-6 | 12-8 | 34-26 | .567 | Wolves bounce between contender, pretender |
| Inglemoor | 9-11 | 8-12 | 13-7 | 30-30 | .500 | Improving team is deep, experienced |
| Lake Washington | 14-7 | 7-13 | 4-16 | 25-36 | .410 | Already have three victories in bank |
| Roosevelt | 5-15 | 4-15 | 6-14 | 15-44 | .254 | Roughriders already have victory over Franklin |
| Juanita | 2-18 | 4-16 | 5-15 | 11-49 | .183 | Progress comes slowly in a powerhouse league |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
P-I reporter Molly Yanity can be reached at 206-448-8295 or mollyyanity@seattlepi.com
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