THIS CLASS OF BASKETBALL SOPHOMORES IS ANYTHING BUT JINXED 2008 GRADS EXPECTED TO BE ONE OF SAN FERNANDO VALLEY'S BEST.

Byline: Sean Ceglinsky Staff Writer

It's not uncommon to find college basketball scouts from the powerhouse conferences - the Pacific-10, ACC, Big Ten, SEC and Big East - sitting in huddled masses in the corner of the gyms at Taft High of Woodland Hills or Campbell Hall of North Hollywood.

They're not always looking for someone who can help their programs immediately. In fact, the focus has been geared toward the area's underclassmen, including a superb group of sophomores that's grabbed the attention of recruiters.

Remember these names: Taft's Larry Drew and Oscar Bellfield, Campbell Hall's Jrue Holiday and Hillcrest Christian of Granada Hills' Dallas Rutherford - all 10th-graders, each making impacts now, years ahead of schedule.

``In basketball, you can tell at an early age if a kid has potential or not,'' said Sonny Vaccaro, a Calabasas resident and one of the most influential figures in amateur basketball. ``There's some pretty darn good young players in the Valley, and I say that because I've seen them play.

``These sophomores are challenging the seniors and holding their own. They're on the radar.''

Drew is a true point guard, Taft's unquestioned leader, averaging eight assists per game. Bellfield is his perfect complement, a good perimeter player who shoots 50 percent from the field and more than 40 percent from 3-point range - and an even better defender.

Connecticut, Kansas and Louisville have expressed varied levels of interest in both.

Said Vaccaro: ``I can understand why colleges are in contact with them.''

Taft, the Daily News' top-ranked team, opens up first-round play in the City Section playoffs tonight against Grant of Van Nuys in a championship bracket game, and the third-seeded Toreadors figure to go as far as their backcourt tandem will take them, perhaps to the March 4 title game at the Sports Arena.

``Larry and Oscar are legit. Nothing fazes them,'' Taft coach Derrick Taylor said. ``They could be two of the best to ever come through here.

``The fun part is molding them and playing a role in their development - you don't want ruin them. These guys are true, true basketball players, students of the game. You'll see both of these guys at a big-time college, for sure.''

The consensus among recruiters is that Holiday has tremendous upside and is quickly developing into the caliber of player most Division I programs covet.

The 6-foot-4 wing is shooting 51 percent from the field, 42 percent from 3-point range and averaging 20.4 points, 9.3 rebounds, 6.2 assists and 2.6 steals per game for the Vikings, the defending Southern Section Div. IV-AA champion and title favorite again this year.

And Holiday, just 15, doesn't mind the spotlight. With UCLA coach Ben Howland looking on earlier this season, he scored 35 points with four 3-pointers and grabbed 14 rebounds in a 12-point victory over rival Montclair Prep of Panorama City.

Rutherford leads Div. V-AA defending champion Hillcrest Christian against Highland Hall of Northridge in a second-round playoff game today and is exceedingly versatile. The 6-2 guard is the Eagles' leader in nearly every significant statistical category, including points (21.8), rebounds (7.1), assists (5.1) and steals (2.9).

``The 2008 class is loaded,'' Rutherford said. ``I'd put money on our sophomore class going up against any (group of seniors) in the Valley. I like our chances of winning.''

Harvard-Westlake of Studio City's Alex Stepheson and fellow seniors Jarrel Smith (Birmingham of Lake Balboa), Craig Partovich (Montclair Prep) and Calvin Haynes (Taft) might think otherwise. It has the makings of an intriguing four-on-four game, especially considering Holiday, Drew, Bellfield and Rutherford have played alongside one another at various spring and summer tournaments and high-level, elite camps.

``I haven't seen a class this good around here in quite some time. It's rare,'' said Bort Escoto, who's in his 13th year as coach at Sylmar. ``I've seen Drew, Bellfield and Holiday play at the Modesto Christian tournament and Rutherford in some nonleague games. These guys are impact players, go-to-guys, sophomores doing some special things at the varsity level.''

Sean Ceglinsky, [phone]

sean.ceglinsky(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

2 photos, box

Photo:

(1) From left, Campbell Hall's Jrue Holiday, Taft High's Oscar Bellfield, Hillcrest Christian's Dallas Rutherford and Taft's Larry Drew are sophomores who are drawing attention from college recruiters.

(2) Taft's Larry Drew, left, and Oscar Bellfield are being courted already by the likes of Connecticut, Kansas and Louisville.

Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer

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