Sunday Gazette-Mail from Charleston, West Virginia • Page 52

Parade's Eleventh Annual ALL-AMERICA HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAM by HASKELL COHEN 'oday 25 of the nation's finest high school basketball players step closer to fame, as college performers, and perhaps fortune, in professional ranks. They are coveted places on PARADE'S I th annual All-America High School Basketball Team. The all-star squads continue to grow a this year's surpasses its predecessors in overall height. And the big men more asilc than ever. Manv selected i'nr the forecourt arc quick enough to play kcourt.

At the same time, the return of the small man is reflected. PARADE'S first iive has one player at 5'feet 9, for example, in line with the current theory a a team can afford a slick, though short," playmakcr among its giants. The developing skill of some of the most brilliant players of recent years has been recognized in PARADE'S annual choices. Among this season's college standouts incomparable Lew Alcindor of Wes Unsold of Louisville, Bernie Williams of LaSalle all were selected, Alcindor three straight years. In the professional National Basketball Association, Toin Meschery of the San Francisco Warriors and the Gint i nati Royals' Terry Lucas were on PARADE'S original team in 1957.

Dave DcBusschciT, Detroit Pistons' player- O958), and Dick Van Arsdale, New York Knickerbockers (1961), are among others in the pro league. Making the selections isn't easy for the more than 200 sportswriters and high school, college and pro coaches who are polled. The field of candidates is vast. And the slimmest margins differentiate the talents of the players on the five squads. Here are the '67 lineups: FIRST SQUAD CURTIS ROWE Fremont H.S.

Los Angeles, Calif. Led team to city title. Mlfime I hien school scorer. His 46 points the best single-game performance in history of city playoffs. HOWARD PORTER Booker H.S., Sarasota, Coach Lou Watson of Indiana U.

says: "Best big man I've seen all year. A sure college All American." Averaged 38 points a game. JIM McDANIELS (7'), Allen County U.S., Kentucky. State coaches rate him further advanced than was Wcs Unseld, PARADE '64 all-star and unanimous college All American this year, at same stage. Fast, high scorer, great reboundcr.

GREG STARRICK Marion, 111., H.S. Team's offense revolves around his superb ball-handling. Scores an average of 30 points a game. DICK DEVENZIO Ambridge, H.S. His slick playmaking, 27- points-a-game sharpshooling make it easy for the coach his father to keep him in lineup.

An student. SECOND SQUAD KEN DURRETT Schcnley H.S., Pittsburgh, Pa. A repeater from Little All-American: Dick DeVenzio, at 5 feet 9, is the best high school player in Pennsylvania last year's PARADE selections. Outre- bounds and outscorcs opponents three inches taller. CRAIG MANWARINO Highland, 111., H.S.

Some 200 college coaches have expressed interest in him. Hits close to 60 percent of his shots. DANA LEWIS Weeqtiahic U.S., Newark, N.J. Averages 20 points a game, more than share of assists. Held some opposing players scoreless.

DANA PAGETT El Scgundo, H.S. Voted most valuable player in each of four tournaments his team played in. Hit 88 percent of foul shots. FRED HILTON McKinley H.S.. Baton Rouge, La.

Houston coach Guy Lewis says: "The most outstanding backcourt man I've seen- all year." THIRD SQUAD BART JOHNSON (6V), Torrance, H.S. To his coach, Bill Boerger, he looks like "another Jerry Lucas." SPENCER HAYWOOD Pcrsh- ing U.S., Detroit, Mich. A Big Ten coach calls him "one of the ten best in the country." ARDIS GILMORE Carver H.S., Dothan, Ala. Deadly shooter from up close, can hit from outside, too. PIERRE RUSSELL Wyandottc M.S., Kansas City, Kan.

Began season with 46-point came. Fine rebounder. DEAN MEMINGER (6'), H.S., New York, N.Y. An adroit ball-handler and playmaker, fine outside shooter. FOURTH SQUAD I I LONG South Side U.S., Fort Wayne, Ind.

LYNN HOVVDEN Waltrip U.S., Houston, Tex. GREG NORTHINGTON Wood H.S., Indianapolis, Ind. AUSTIN CARR Mackin H.S., Washington, D.C. JIM ROSE Hazard, H.S. FIFTH SQUAD DENNIS WUYCIK Ambridge, H.S.

RICH YUNKIS Benton, 111.. H.S. SID CATLETT DcMatha U.S., Hyattsville, Mel. MARTY BERNBOCK Christian Brothers U.S., Quincy, III. CURRY TODD Treadwcll U.S., Memphis, Tenn.

Parade Mar. 26, 1967.