Boys HS BB: Pippen and Martin

By Ed Piper

"They told me Scottie Pippen and Kenyon Martin come to all their sons' games," said Montgomery basketball coach Ed Martin. "There's a sound room in our gym. I'm going to give them the option of sitting in the sound room or the bleachers."

Scotty Pippen Jr. and Kenyon "K.J." Martin, two highly-touted high school hoopsters, play for Sierra Canyon, which is coming into San Diego County Thursday night, Nov. 15, to play Coach Martin's Aztecs.

"Their A.D. (Athletic Director) said they're (Pippen and Martin senior, former NBA stars) pretty personable. They sign autographs and chat with people until game time."

So, Coach Martin wants to lay out the red carpet by making it as comfortable as possible for the high-name basketball personages and give them some privacy, if they choose, during their sons' games.

How did he pull off such a coup to get Sierra Canyon in his tournament?

"It was dumb luck, I guess you could say," said Ed Martin. "They (Sierra Canyon) were looking for something. I called the A.D. Steele Canyon was in that slot, but they dropped out. I went to SoCal Hoops, which is kind of a chat line."

Regarding the first-night match-up Thursday of his Aztecs, who played in Division 2 last year and who were ranked ninth in San Diego, against Sierra Canyon, a Southern California power, Coach Martin said, "When you have the chance to play the number-five nationally-ranked team, you take it.

"Their A.D. said, 'Wouldn't it be better to play on Friday night?' But with the bracket, I don't think there are (many weak teams)" and the chance to play Sierra Canyon might slip away if they don't play in the first round of the tourney.

Montgomery has four four-year starters coming back in their starting lineup, though one is academically ineligible right now. Kyle Paranada is a 5'8" guard--"he grew over the summer"--who averaged 17.7 points per game as a junior. Rahin Williams, 6'2", averaged 11.4 points and 7.0 rebounds a game. Sebastian Morgan is 6'1". "We're a 6'1"-and-under team," said their coach.