Banning Forward Picks Waves

Bryan Hill, who helped lead the Banning High boys’ basketball team to the City Section 3-A Division title and was named division player of the year last season, has made an unwritten commitment to attend Pepperdine.

Hill, a 6-foot-7 and 200-pound forward who averaged 14.5 points and 13.5 rebounds last season, will sign with the Waves as early as today.

“It’s just a case of me getting the paperwork,” he said. “I’ll sign as soon as it gets here.”

He also received scholarship offers from San Diego State and Hofstra.

The Waves were 23-8 and reached the second round of the National Invitation Tournament last season.

“It’s a good program and I think it will help me develop as a player as and as a person,” Hill said. “I can’t think of a better situation for me.”

Banning Coach Marc Paez said Hill, 17, is still maturing physically.

“That’s what a lot of the coaches who have watched him say,” Paez said. “They think he has a great deal of potential and, if he develops as much as coaches think, he could end up being quite a find for Pepperdine.”

Hill will join a Pepperdine team that already has two former City players of the year on its roster. Forward Dana Jones was named 1990 3-A player when he attended North Hollywood, and LeRoi O’Brien was selected the 1991 4-A player when he attended Westchester.