BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: CHEVALIER FINDS FROSH REFRESHING.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

After a tumultuous season in which he took over as the Cleveland High of Reseda boys' basketball coach midway through the season and suffered through a miserable year, Andre Chevalier is enjoying a relaxing summer monitoring the young Cavaliers' progress.

Chevalier, the former Cleveland and Cal State Northridge guard, is excited about Cleveland's future. He should be thanks to an influx of freshmen, who all but guarantee stability and success over the next few years, and three key transfers who will steady things until the youngsters are ready.

``Things are moving forward,'' Chevalier said. ``We're headed in the right direction.''

Chevalier, who inherited eight sophomores and two freshmen from former coach Adam Levitt, is counting on two key freshmen to provide more talent and energy. In Andrew Moreno and Jeremy Jacobs, Chevalier feels he has the type of impact players to turn things around in a hurry.

``They're part of a special group of freshmen that you can build a program around,'' Chevalier said.

Moreno and Jacobs are both in the 6-foot-2 range and each will compete for a starting job this season. They'll join the returning underclassmen to provide Chevalier with enough youth and potential to build a championship-caliber team in the years ahead.

``The goal was to bring in young players and be able to work with them over the next two, three and four years,'' Chevalier said. ``I'll have a chance to implement my system and let them grow into what we're trying to do.''

In the interim, Chevalier will turn to three senior transfers from Granada Hills for leadership. Josh Rosenfield, Casey Bednash and Adam Emmer, all former Highlanders, will guide the youngsters through their inevitable ups and downs.

``We're excited about those guys,'' Chevalier said. ``They bring us skill and experience.''

--Ouch report: Just when Montclair Prep of Van Nuys got back Slobodan Cvijovic from his Yugoslavian vacation, the Mounties lost him to injury. And it will be awhile before the 6-3 guard returns to action.

Cvijovic suffered a broken left arm and a dislocated elbow when he fell hard to the floor recently. He underwent surgery this week and will be out three months. Cvijovic should be ready once the regular season starts in November but his spirits obviously were down after getting hurt.

``He took it hard,'' Mounties coach Tyrone Fuller said. ``He had just come back and he was looking forward to playing and then this happens. But if it was going to happen, I guess this was the best time. He'll have enough time to get ready for next season.''

On the bright side, key transfer Wendell White began practicing with the Mounties this week and could be available to play with them next week.

White, a 6-6 junior forward regarded as one of the top 20 underclassmen in the country, enrolled at Montclair Prep after leaving Redondo Union.

--Tournament time: A couple of tournaments are under way and a number of teams from the region are featured.

The Summer Slam Jam at Sylmar offers up Taft of Woodland Hills, the region's No. 1 team, in addition to El Camino Real of Woodland Hills, Cleveland, Sylmar, Canoga Park, Granada Hills, Valencia, Moorpark, San Pedro, Team Kentucky, Rolling Hills Prep and Hillcrest Christian of Granada Hills.

Slam Jam started Friday at Sylmar and resumes today from 11 a.m. to 4:50 p.m. Championship play begins Sunday at 10 a.m. with the championship game at 7:30 p.m.

In addition, the Saugus-Canyon tournament began Friday at both schools. The field is comprised of Canyon, Saugus, Palmdale, Crespi of Encino, Harvard-Westlake of Studio City, Santa Clara of Oxnard, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Oak Park, Newbury Park, Highland of Palmdale and Stockdale of Bakersfield.

Championship play starts at 9 a.m. today, followed by games at 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. Today's final is scheduled for 12:45 p.m. at Saugus.