KIDS STAY IN SCHOOL, LAKER SKIPS OUT.

Byline: Michael Rosenthal Daily News Staff Writer

Diana Gutierrez couldn't sleep for two nights in anticipation of her afternoon with Cedric Ceballos.

The Canoga Park High School sophomore and admitted basketball nut was one of 800 students with perfect attendance who were to be rewarded Friday with a concert in the school auditorium, with the popular Lakers star as the scheduled master of ceremonies.

This was a day Gutierrez wanted to remember.

"Look! I brought a camera and a (trading) card I wanted him to sign. I went to the store just to buy pen with permanent ink. I even dreamed about him. I dreamt he noticed me," Gutierrez said.

This was one dream that would be dashed, however: In a bit of cruel irony, Ceballos - the Lakers' "Stay in School" spokesman - played hooky from both the school and his team and went water-skiing in Lake Havasu, Ariz.

School officials were told Tuesday that the All-Star forward, who makes $27,378.05 per game, was required to attend a luncheon and would be unable to make it. On Wednesday, he went AWOL and missed Thursday's game. He reported in to team management Friday from Lake Havasu.

"I'm very upset with him," said Gutierrez, who found out Friday morning that Ceballos wouldn't be at the school. "I came to school every single day especially for him.

"It looked like he cared about more than just basketball. Now I don't know."

The show, which took place with a packed auditorium but no Ceballos, was part of the NBA's "Stay in School" program and was organized by Dion Grant, president of School Entertainment and Activities Program.

The students were told in January that those with perfect attendance in February would be eligible to attend the show, which included performances by rappers, a teen singing group and the Laker Girls, the franchise's dance team, as well as prize giveaways.

At the end of the month, 1,233 students had perfect or near perfect attendance. School officials whittled that number down - because of limited space in the auditorium - to 800 by drawing names from a hat.

However, Grant said he was notified by a Lakers representative Monday that Ceballos would miss the show because of a mandatory team meeting Friday called by coach Del Harris. In fact, that meeting was a Rotary Club luncheon in honor of announcer Chick Hearn.

School officials seemed to compound the unfortunate situation by failing to announce the news.

Many of the 800 students figured Ceballos wouldn't show when he missed Thursday's Lakers game. However, some didn't find out until Friday.

"We were still hoping that somehow he was still going to show up. We didn't want to disappoint the kids," said Nancy Delgado, Canoga Park High assistant principal, explaining her reason for withholding the information.

Grant, who runs a variety of student-incentive and fund-raising programs, defended Ceballos.

He said the player agreed to a three-month tour of 15 high schools in the Los Angeles area and had faithfully attended the first nine, singing a few rap songs, dancing and signing autographs.

Grant said he spoke with Ceballos over the weekend and was given no reason to believe he would miss the event.

"This is the first time he didn't' show up," Grant said. "I don't know what happened on the other end. On this end, though, his heart is here.

"He's the only NBA player I know of to make this kind of commitment. I can tell you, he'll make it a point to come here."

Such promises wouldn't mollify the students.

Student body president Marcos Nieves wanted to give Ceballos the benefit of the doubt because he didn't know why the player couldn't be there, but was unable to restrain his disappointment.

"It upsets me that this has upset so many people," he said. "It was something everyone was looking forward to.

"A lot of people look at athletes as role models. This will make people think twice. They're not going to look up to him as much because of what he did."

Carloes Harper, a member of Canoga Park's successful basketball team, was bit more understanding but just as disappointed.

"I'm the biggest Laker fan," he said. "I've never been to a game, but I'm the biggest fan. He must have some personal problems. I don't want to take anything out on him. It's still fun to be here.

"God, I wish he could be here, though."

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PHOTO

Photo Carloes Harper, a Canoga Park High basketball player, was one of 800 students left in the lurch Friday by the Lakers' Cedric Ceballos at a campus event to reward their attendance records. David Sprague/Daily News