By Ed Piper
The City Section of CIF has published the names of 23 high school athletes and coaches since 1952 who have impacted prep sports and stood out in their particular sports. I say, what a great idea for the San Diego Section to do as well.
It may be already in the works--I don't know. The state CIF issued a Hall of Fame honor roll a couple of months ago. So, maybe the San Diego Section powers-that-be are working on the same thing. Bring it on, I say.
A name who stands out to me on the CIF-City list is Greg Lee, a 6'3" guard from Reseda High who then teamed with Helix's Bill Walton on some of the John Wooden-coached UCLA basketball teams in the 70's to continue the Bruins' 88-game win skein and string of NCAA titles.
I had the joy of watching a young Walton, who was a redheaded cut-up when he let his guard down, in a practice John Wooden opened up to the public in the 70's. Lee must have been there, though all eyes were on the 6'11" Walton, who seemed to be an unlikely successor to Lew Alcindor/then Kareem Abdul Jabbar as the Bruins' center.
Another, more recognizable name is Larry Dierker, a right-handed pitcher for the Astros who starred at Taft High in the San Fernando Valley, graduating in 1964.
The only other name of the 23 inductees I even faintly recognize is Tim Hovland, who starred in volleyball, though I would have to look it up to figure out where. His high school days were spent at Westchester, Class of 1977.
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