CAMARILLO'S PREWITT EXPECTS DRAMA AT NORTH-SOUTH MEET.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Daily News Staff Writer

Mike Prewitt considers himself pretty fortunate these days.

The Camarillo High School basketball coach has the enviable job of coaching the Ventura County South All-Star team, which he says is made up of talented area high school players who are open to all of his suggestions.

For any coach, this is a dream come true.

``It's been a real delight to work with them,'' Prewitt said. ``During practice they've been real receptive to what we're trying to do, and they work hard and take things seriously. It's been nice.''

Prewitt hopes that translates into a solid performance against the North team tonight at Ventura High School. The game is scheduled for 8 p.m., following the County All-Star girls game.

Like most all-star games, Prewitt expects the two teams will attempt to run the floor as much as possible and try to give the fans - and themselves - a good show.

He's emphasizing half-court defensive pressure in practice to give his team an opportunity to create some turnovers and get the running game untracked.

``We're going to try and pick people up at half court and really pressure them as much as possible,'' said the South's Brian Laibow of Agoura High School.

Laibow figures to be a big part of the attack as the South's point guard. But he'll get plenty of backcourt help from the likes of Marques Pena (Royal), Scott Blough (Simi Valley), Scott Schnetzler (Royal) and Brian Donahue (Moorpark), all of whom have experience handling the ball and triggering the fast break.

``All of those guys are pretty interchangeable in terms of what they can do,'' said Prewitt. ``They'll all get some time at each of the backcourt positions.''

Agoura's Joel Weiss, though slotted to play on the wing at forward, will also get a chance to handle the ball.

The South has a handful of talented big men who can post up or get out on the break, which should make its running game that much more effective.

Leading the way is Simi Valley's Pero Vasiljevic, a 6-10 center who has the ability to fill the lane on fast breaks or destroy people down low with his game around the basket. What's more, Vasiljevic is also a superb passer and can step outside and hit 3-pointers.

``The guy can definitely play,'' said Laibow of the Kansas State-bound Vasiljevic.

The South's other front-court players are Camarillo's Josh Hill, who is headed to the Naval Academy and Westlake's Jeremiah Nesbitt.

``We've got a pretty good mix of inside and outside guys,'' Prewitt said. ``We might not have as much size as the North team, but the guys we do have are all pretty talented.''

Prewitt is especially excited about coaching Hill one last time.

``Josh is just a real special kid,'' he said. ``We've been together three years so it's definitely special for me to coach him in his last game in Ventura County.''

The North team, which is coached by Buena's Glen Hannah, features terrific size in Buena's Ceneka Shaw and Ventura's Charles Dixon and Lincoln Edwards.

``It should be a fun game,'' Prewitt said. ``It's an opportunity for these guys to showcase their talents one more time on the high school level.''