Boys’ basketball: Honeycutt vs. Stover lives up to hype

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Neither rain nor traffic nor the threat of a stormy night was going to prevent UCLA Coach Ben Howland from attending Tuesday night’s scrimmage between Sylmar and L.A. Windward that featured two future Bruin players, 6-foot-8 Tyler Honeycutt of Sylmar and 6-10 Anthony Stover of Windward.

And what a show they delivered. Stover, looking much improved from his days at La Canada Renaissance, scored 25 points, had nine blocked shots and sent down five dunks. Honeycutt had 20 points, four blocked shots and four dunks. Both pulled down rebounds in double figures.

At one point, Stover had a dunk, Honeycutt responded with a dunk and Stover came back with another dunk. Windward won the game, 59-54, despite playing without Michigan-bound Darius Morris.

Howland said he attended to support the two players who signed with UCLA earlier this month. But he added, ‘I’m excited about both of them. Anthony is active and blocking shots. Tyler is skilled and very explosive. They’re both long.’

Sylmar looks like a legitimate contender to challenge Fremont, Dorsey and Cleveland for the No. 4 spot in the City Section. The Spartans have been strengthened by the addition of point guard Malik Johnson, a transfer from Houston.

The official season begins next week for Windward, which is playing in the Westchester tournament.

-- Eric Sondheimer