SOME OF AREA'S BEST TIP THINGS OFF IN STYLE.

Byline: GERRY GITTELSON Community Sports

Several of the region's top high school boys' basketball players from the Foothill League are scheduled to participate in the annual Fall Slam Jam Individual Senior Showcase beginning this morning at Granada Hills High.

The event features a series of all-star games, and players from Canyon, Hart and Burroughs of Burbank are among the entries.

Four players from Burroughs of Burbank - Matt Jackson, Kris Jones, Levon Maronyan and high-scoring Joey Paysinger - are on the same team which will take the floor for the first time at 10:30 a.m.

``Those are four really experienced seniors. I think Burroughs is going to surprise some people this season,'' event organizer Jack Pollon said.

Brandon McQueen of Hart begins action at 2:30 p.m., and Jess Guidroz from Canyon makes his first appearance at 4:30 p.m.

--Nick Delio, a freshman at Saugus High, continues to impress on the youth golf circuit. In his most California Junior Tour event, Delio came from five strokes behind to win by four strokes at the La Purisima Golf tournament in Lompoc. Delio shot a 4-over-par 148 over two rounds, especially impressive because the course was more challenging than usual because a PGA qualifying event was scheduled shortly thereafter.

He is the tour's points leader for most in the 14-under division. Delio's next event is the Tournament of Champions next month in San Diego, where he is the tournament's defending champion. For tournament results, visit the Web site: www.californiajuniortour.com.

--Popular local youth coach Jim Wagner, a former baseball star at Providence High in Burbank and Cal State Northridge, is considered the region's premier pitching tutor. His son, Josh, is quite a baseball player, too, but the youngster's best sport might be football. He had an interception to lead the Santa Clarita Warriors J1 Seminoles to a 44-0 victory over the West Valley Raiders to help Santa Clarita to its sixth consecutive shutout.

Other highlights included Brendan Cox's 40-yard punt-return touchdown to open the scoring, along with Cox's two interceptions. Spenser Souza scored on a 5-yard run and also had an interception. Andrew Harbour (23-yard run), Allen Sarkissian (30-yard run), Connor Garelick (7-yard run) and Scotland McKenzie (5-yard run) rounded out the scoring.

--Former Dodgers general manager Kevin Malone is doing a fine job as the director of development at The Master's College.

``He's out there raising money, and he's doing great,'' sports information director Dan Waldeck said.

Malone also helped negotiate local track star Allyson Felix's sponsorship deals.

--The brightest surprise for College of the Canyons' football team is probably Charles Manigo, who leads the team in tackles after a relatively anonymous prep career at low-profile Marshall of Los Angeles.

``He's 6-foot-2, 200 pounds and kind of the prototype college safety. I'm sure he'll get a Division I scholarship,'' Canyons coach Chuck Lyon said.

Meanwhile, running back Marcus Crawford is the only player on the team with a firm offer (Colorado State). But JC players generally sign late, and Lyon believes perhaps a dozen Canyons prospects eventually will sign. Among the remaining probables are: offensive linemen Nick Longshore, Faitasi Lefiti and Shawn Huntsinger, receivers Jeremy Boyle and Trevor Brackett, kicker Josh Cummings, defensive back Kevin Jones, defensive linemen Daniel Zynn and Domata Peko.