It's that time of year again... as the high school basketball scene is already underway. Plenty of potential to be shown out of the San Pedro, Port Of Los Angeles and Mary Star Of The Sea High boys and girls programs as they are in full swing for the 2014-2015 season.

Who will make the biggest shot of them all?

BOYS

SAN PEDRO - This will be the youngest team ever in the 13-year coaching regime of John Bobich, as the Pirates lost 11 senior, including News Pilot MVP Quincy Thomas, from last year's team that finished 18-13 overall and third in the Marine League with an 8-4 mark. Senior guard Omar Monroe is the only remaining member from that team.

Two of San Pedro's best players might even be freshmen, as 6'4'' guard Malik Muhammad got his high school career started off right with a 21-point performance in the Pirates' 65-21 season opening victory over Locke of Los Angeles seven days ago.

Freshman guard Cole Turner is another diamond in the rough for San Pedro, who's other key players will include 6'3'' junior G/F Igor Vaughan, junior guard Danny Guerrero, sophomore guard Juan Palma and 6'6'' senior center Scott Stevens, who played on the Marine League champion football team.

San Pedro will battle the likes of defending champion Narbonne, Washington and an improved King-Drew team for the Marine League championship.

MARY STAR - After being hammered in an extremely difficult Camino Real League, third-year coach Marc Vuoso and the Stars move down a level to the Santa Fe League, where they could turn some heads. Mary Star boasts the best pure shooter in town in senior forward Neil Green, who already has a 25-point performance this season against POLA. Junior center Justin Rodriguez and sophomore forward Noah Prince provide a valuable presence down low, while sophomore guards Nick Billings and Nathan Linayao are two dangerous shooters from three-point range.

Linayao was made famous for his game-winning three-pointer as time expired in a double overtime victory over Sage Hill last season.

Also keep an eye on 6'5'' junior newcomer Anthony Scheffler.

POLA - The Polar Bears are three years removed from a Crosstown League championship, and first-year coach Matthew Willens has a tall order in front of him even without defending league champion Rancho Dominguez Prep in the league anymore.

Senior guard Brandon Ramirez and senior forward Kevin Mendoza will be POLA's two focal points of attack, but sophomore guard Noah Barksdale, senior forward Everado Ramirez and junior forward Damian Florez round out the starting lineup for POLA, who missed the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Division IV playoffs last season, but will be competitive in league.

GIRLS

SAN PEDRO - Third-year coach Cynthia Atencio coached the Lady Pirates to their highest finish in the Marine League in two decades, going 14-8 overall and 8-4 in league, placing third, only losing all four games to the two residential powers of Narbonne and Carson.

It's the final go-round for senior guard Rita Fiorenza, the three-time All-Marine League first team selection, reigning News Pilot MVP and the most well-balanced all-around player in town. Even though San Pedro lost seven seniors from last year's team, they were able to get two brand-new post presences to provide balance in sophomore F/C Iman Garba, who moved from Kentucky, and junior forward Melannie Ortiz, who is a South Torrance transfer.

Sophomore G/F Deanna Valverde is poised for a magnificent season after making All-Marine League second team last season. Valverde and Fiorenza form a deadly tag team of outside shooting excellence, but both are also dangerous in driving to the hoop and drawing fouls.

Junior forward Reyna Canchola, junior guard Crystal Redd and senior center Sabree Atchison will also be key.

MARY STAR - If Fiorenza is the best returning player in town, Mary Star sophomore guard Angela Pisano is the next best in line. In five games, the All-Camino Real League second team selection a year ago is already averaging 28.2 points a game, boasting a 42-point outing in a season-opening win over Downey Calvary Chapel. 

While Pisano's offense grabs the attention, she's also a defensive stalwart, leading the team in steals.

Senior point guard Marina Vitalich is another amazing athlete on this team. After all, she's a three-time News Pilot Softball MVP pitcher headed for George Mason. Vitalich's outside shooting and excellent passing is crucial. Other key players are junior F/C Isabella Samperio, sophomore forward Amanda Vitalich, freshman guard Hanalei Emnace and sophomore forward Kaitlyn Martinez.

Freshman guard Jillian Duran is another potential rising Star.

Second-year coach Victor Tuberosi has turned around the fortunes of a once downtrodden program that appears primed to end their 39-game league losing streak, which the Stars have a good chance to do this season as they are now in the much-more competitive Santa Fe League. 

POLA - Despite San Pedro losing the most by graduation, the Polar Bears were hit the hardest by graduation talent-wise as they lost 2013 News Pilot MVP Angela Wade, Zefora Kemp, Alex Espinoza and Aubree Ponce.

Still, first-year coach Roger Cosgrove is the perfect man to right the ship of a program that placed third in the Crosstown League that gone through the year with three different coaches, and still was the only team out of the three to win a postseason game, reaching the CIF-LACS Division IV quarterfinals and losing to eventual champion LACES by just 11 points.

Sophomore guard Kyerstin Galloway, senior forward Kaela Razevich, senior guard Mayan Rodriguez and sophomore guard Miriam Moreno are the only returning players for POLA, who's best newcomer is sophomore G/F Alexandra Huerta, who led last year's JV team in scoring.

San Pedro will host their seventh annual San Pedro Pirate Shootout boys basketball tournament, with the Pirates, Mary Star and POLA all representing. January 7 will provide the only crosstown matchup in girls basketball when Mary Star hosts POLA.