The measure of a great player is how he performs when it matters most.
At the end of games, few were better than Westchester High School’s Elijah Stewart.
The 6-4 senior guard averaged 19.9 points per game, but that was only partly why he was named the Wave Newspapers West Region Player of the Year for boys basketball.
It was what he did in crunch time that contributed to the Comets going 30-7 and barely missing pulling off a huge upset of eventual national champion Mater Dei in the Southern Regional Open Division title game. Mater Dei would complete a perfect season the next week by defeating Oakland Bishop O’Dowd for the state title.
Against Narbonne in the City quarterfinals, he scored 11 points in the fourth quarter of a 62-58 Comet victory. In the final 34 seconds, he converted a three-point play and later added two clinching free throws.
Then in the City finals, he had more fourth-quarter heroics with 11 points, although this time the Comets would lose to El Camino Real, 58-56. Stewart had 25 points in that game.
He then led Westchester through the Open Division regionals where they eventually ran into Mater Dei.
Stewart had 19 points, including a big three-point basket to give the Comets a six-point lead with 2:46 left. But the Monarchs would eventually rally to earn the trip to the state final in Sacramento the following week.
Stewart, who originally signed with Loyola Marymount, but has since de-committed and reopened the recruiting process, earned a number of other individual honors this season, including City and Western League player of the year. He was also an all-state selection.
The rest of the All West Wave team:
First Team
Chance Comanche, View Park Prep, Jr.
The 6-11 nationally recruited center led View Park to the City Division 5 title and to within a game of playing for the State Division V championship. He averaged 19.5 points, 13.0 rebounds and 4.3 blocked shots per game. He was the City Division 5 player of the year.
Thomas Welsh, Loyola, Sr.
The 7-foot, 250-pound future UCLA Bruin averaged 15.3 points, 11.2 rebounds and 2.7 blocked shots in leading Loyola to a 27-4 record and the Southern Regional Division I final. He was a McDonald’s All-American.
Tavrion Dawson, Serra, Sr.
Dawson, a 6-8 power forward headed to Cal State Northridge, averaged 19.4 points and 10.6 rebounds per game for the Cavaliers, who made the CIF-SS Open Division playoffs and later advanced to the regional semifinals.
Ron Carter-Freeman, Serra, Sr.
The 6-6 swingman averaged 16.5 points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.2 blocked shots per game for the Cavaliers. He has signed with Cal State Fullerton.
Isaiah Bailey, Compton, Sr.
Bailey, a 6-6 Fresno State signee, led Compton to a 25-8 record and the Southern Regional Division II finals. The All-Moore League first-team selection had a huge hand in an overtime win over Anaheim Canyon in the regional semifinals.
Kyron Cartwright, Compton, Sr.
Cartwright was outstanding as a playmaking point guard who could hit from beyond the three-point arc. The All-Moore League first-teamer has signed with Providence.
Terrell Gomez, Inglewood, Sr.
Gomez, a 5-10 point guard, averaged 21.0 points, 8.0 assists and 3.0 steals per game in leading the Sentinels to the CIF-SS 1AA semifinals. He was an All-CIF selection.
Brandon Crawford, Washington, Sr.
Crawford, a 6-7 power forward, averaged 12.6 points, 10.1 rebounds and 1.6 blocked shots per game in leading the Generals to the City Division I playoffs. He was first-team All-City.
Chimeze Metu, Lawndale, Jr.
Metu, a 6-9 forward, earned Pioneer League MVP honors after averaging 15.0 points and 9.0 rebounds per game. Lawndale advanced to the CIF-SS 1A quarterfinals.
Second Team
William Brown, Animo South L.A., Sr.
The City’s leading scorer had averages of 24.5 points and 11.6 rebounds per game. He was All-City second team.
David Lynch, Jordan, Sr.
Lynch, a 6-1 guard, was a prolific scorer, averaging 22.4 points per game for the Bulldogs.
Josiah Breda-Nixon, King-Drew, Jr.
The 6-3 Breda-Nixon averaged 16.5 points and 8.6 rebounds per game.
Michael Chavers, Locke, Sr.
The senior forward averaged 18.0 points per game for the Saints. He was All-Coliseum League.
Max Hazzard, Loyola, Jr.
Hazzard, the floor leader for the Cubs, averaged 16.2 points, 4.2 assists and 1.7 steals per game.
Tramel Wilson, View Park Prep, Jr.
Wilson provided leadership in the backcourt for the City Division 5 champs and averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.9 steals per game.
Marquis Mckinzy, Fremont, Soph.
The sharp-shooting sophomore averaged 10.1 points per game and led the Pathfinders with 77 three-point baskets. In the City playoffs, he had 15 against Cleveland in a win and 17 in a loss to Narbonne in the quarterfinals.
Jason Richardson, Serra, Sr.
Richardson averaged 14.3 point, 5.7 assists and 3.4 steals per game from his point guard spot for the Cavaliers.
Cory Dollarhide, Inglewood, Sr.
Dollarhide averaged 14.0 points, 6.0 assists and 4.0 rebounds as a guard for the CIF-SS 1AA semifinalists.
Iziahiah Sweeney, Compton, Sr.
The athletic Sweeney was the third outstanding member of a Compton team that reached the state regional Division II title game. He had 19 points in the semifinal win over Anaheim Canyon.
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