Emotional Tribute to Big John
McIntyre & Flores Power Southern Sweep
HONORING BIG JOHN–From left, former Manual Arts star Dwayne Polee Sr, stand in support of his friend and former Crenshaw High great “Big” John Williams as former UCLA coach Jim Harrick presents The Jim Harrick Lifetime Achievement Award to Williams at the 26th annual Collision All Star Game on April 11 at St. Bernard High School. (NICK KOZA/PHOTO)
It was roughly 42 years ago when the 6’8 wunderkind “Big” John Williams dominated the high school basketball scene like no one before or after him at Crenshaw, a five tool phenom who was must see excitement.
On Saturday April 11, years after his exploits at LSU and multiple teams in the NBA and overseas, and an abbreviated coaching stint at Fairfax High School, “Big John” returned to the basketball court.
Albeit this time, in a mobile wheelchair that he was barely able to squeeze between the gymnasium doors at St. Bernard High School in Playa Del Rey flanked by his close friends and caretaker.
Both of his feet swollen and heavily wrapped, unable to stand on a surface he was born to star on, Williams used a different motor to roll out to center court where he was presented The Jim Harrick Lifetime Achievement Award at the 26th annual Collision All Star games.
Harrick, the only living and the last men coach to win a National Championship in basketball, hailed Williams as one of the greatest high school basketball players ever.
A humbled Williams, spoke of his idolization of another former LA City baller Dwayne Polee Sr. who was on hand for the tribute, but Polee graciously took the microphone from Williams and punted, “This is your day. He was the greatest. Allah is what they called him the God of basketball.”
It was that emotional moment that kicked off the festivities for Collision, just before the boys took the court.
If there was ever a chance for the City boys to conquer their sectional rivals this would seem the opportune time. The Southern Section was down to just 7 players after St. Paul’s Wil Bryson rolled his ankle the night before, and three others were unavailable due to other commitments.
BREAKOUT STAR-Leuzinger’s Aiden McIntyre played a well rounded game, scoring, defending, rebounding and passing en route to capturing the prestigious Collision MVP award following his 15 point performance leading the Southern Section to a 104-81 victory. Standing with McIntyre is his proud mother Tosha, and Collision founder and Director Kenneth Miller. (NICK KOZA/PHOTO)
However, what Southern Section coach Reggie Morris Jr. did have was more than enough as four players scored in double figures led by MVP Leuzinger’s Aiden McIntyre’s 15 points, including three 3-pointers. St. Bernard’s Jordan Ballard led all scorers with 20 points, and his high school mate David Fedelis added 14, while Rolling Hills Prep’s JoSahn Webster tallied 12 to lead the Southern Section to a 104-81 victory over the City Section, piloted by Jamal Hartwell of Fairfax. The victory was a far cry from 2025 one point thriller.
CRENSHAW SCHOLAR–Kenny Miller, Collision Executive Director, presents The Steve Lavin Family Scholar Athlete Award to Laran Coleman of Crenshaw High School at the 26th annual Collision All Star Game on April 11 at St. Bernard High School. 9NICK KOZA/PHOTO)
Crenshaw’s Laran Coleman received The Steve Lavin Family Scholar Athlete Award for the male student with the highest grade point average.
Victoria Sanders (center), the former girls basketball coach and athletic director at Narbonne High School was presented with the Barbara Fiege Humanitarian Award for the female Los Angeles Unified School District employee who best exemplifies the character of the former Los Angeles City Section Commissioner. (NICK KOZA/PHOTO)
The final pregame award presentation, The Steve Lavin Family Scholar Athlete Award for the female with the highest grade point average went to St. Joseph’s Bella Harmon, a University of Alabama Birmingham commit.
BELLA WINS IT–The Steve Lavin Family Scholar Athlete Award for the female with the highest grade point average went to St. Joseph’s Bella Harmon, a University of Alabama Birmingham commit. She was presented the award by Kenny Miller, Collision Executive Director, and his father Kenneth Miller, director and founder.
The Southern Section girls coached by Collision alum Chole Wells of Hillcrest High in Riverside, rolled out eight four year college recruits, included six headed to D-1 programs against an undersized City Section girls squad that put up a fight for the first quarter.
A 31 point second stanza and a 29 point outburst in the third, essentially put the game away as the Southern Section captured its 22 win in dominating fashion, 93-43.
TOP PERFORMER-Oak Park High’s Karisma Flores proved to be the best performer during the event, scoring a game high 26 points and earning MVP honors for the girls game. The Millers, Kenneth and Kenny present her with the award. (NICK KOZA/PHOTO)
Five girls scored in double figures, led by MVP Oak Park’s, Karisma Flores 26 points, including six 3-pointers. Rancho Christian’s Alyson Boys added 14, Cal State Northridge bound Sophia Dignadice of Bishop Montgomery scored 12, Cal State LA bound Jackie Polk chipped in 11 and Arroyo Grande’s Diana Sorrondo finished with 10. Among the most impressive players for the City team was Araceli Gonzalez of Granada Hills Charter who scored a team high 9 points. Other top City performers included Elly Tierney and Ayla Teegardinq of Palisades Charter, and Saxon Bagby of City Open Division Champion Westchester.
