Quinn’s Game Is Passing Fancy : Prep basketball: Mater Dei’s senior guard hopes his playing career will continue. If not, he might try coaching.

SANTA ANA — Jason Quinn, Mater Dei High School’s point guard, didn’t hesitate when he was asked about his future in the game of basketball.

Quinn, who has led Mater Dei to a two-year record of 57-4, wants an opportunity to play college basketball and hopes to coach the game that he has played so effortlessly since he was 7 years old.

“I’d like to play college basketball anywhere,” he said. “I know I won’t be a college star or play in the NBA. But I love the game and would someday like to become a coach after I get my degree. I’d like to come back someday to Mater Dei and help Coach (Gary) McKnight.

“I’ve been lucky to have some great coaches here at Mater Dei and on my traveling teams. I’ve learned a lot from all of them, and I hope I get the chance to learn some more in college.”

So far, Quinn, who has a 3.0 grade-point average at Mater Dei, has only one college offer--from Cal State Fullerton. But the senior isn’t disappointed.

“I don’t consider one offer a disappointment,” Quinn said. “I’m happy with myself and consider myself lucky to have been on the same team with so many great players at Mater Dei. I’ll play anyplace as long as somebody gives me a chance.”

Quinn’s offensive numbers aren’t overly impressive. He is averaging 6.2 points and five assists per game as Mater Dei (32-1) enters the championship game of the Southern California Division I regionals at 8:30 tonight in the Los Angeles Sports Arena.

But Quinn has played a pivotal role in Mater Dei’s quest for its second state championship, providing leadership as the captain and guiding the team on the court. Quinn said he gets more satisfaction making a good pass than scoring; in the Southern Section 5-A semifinals against El Toro, Quinn set a school record with 16 assists.

“I like making the pass, especially the pass that nobody thinks you can make,” Quinn said. “I like having two defenders on me and then getting the ball to the open man. Scoring is fun, but I’d rather make a good pass.”

Lately, Quinn has been passing to some hot-shooting teammates. Guard David Boyle scored 32 points in the 5-A championship game against Loyola. Forward Andy Karich scored 26 points in the opening round of regional play against North Hollywood. Quinn said both players ask for the ball when they’re hot.

“David will say, ‘Give me the ball’ in the first quarter when he’s hot,” Quinn said. “Andy is a little quieter. Once in a while, he’ll say, ‘Look for me.’ The other night against North Hollywood, he was hitting the three-pointer and wanted the ball.”

Quinn and Karich were teammates in the seventh grade on a traveling all-star team--Quinn played small forward and Karich played the point. They switched roles in the eighth grade and Quinn has been playing the position ever since.

Quinn started playing basketball at the Boys Club in Santa Monica and then joined the Upper Bay Boys Club after his family moved to Costa Mesa when he was in the sixth grade. He started at point guard for Mater Dei’s freshman and junior varsity teams before becoming a varsity starter as a junior.

Quinn has been on the losing team only seven times in four years at Mater Dei and he is hoping he gets an opportunity to avenge one of the losses in regional play. Mater Dei’s only loss this season was to Long Beach Poly in the title game of the Tournament of Champions, 54-47, and Quinn is hoping for a rematch.

“I have no qualms about the first game . . . they beat us fair and square,” he said. “It’s hard to say why we lost. We didn’t shoot very well and they shot awfully well.”

Another loss that Quinn found difficult came against St. Monica in the quarterfinals of the 5-AA playoffs last year. It marked the first time Mater Dei had failed to reach a Southern Section championship game in the eight years that McKnight has been the team’s coach.

“That loss was tough to take,” Quinn said. “Even though we went farther than we thought we would as a team, there was everyone else’s expectations to deal with. The loss was probably good for us this year.

“When we got behind Irvine and Cerritos in the playoffs, the St. Monica game was in the back of our minds. We haven’t looked past anyone this year.”

DIVISION I BOYS’ CHAMPIONSHIP GAME LINEUPS

MATER DEI (32-1) Coach Gary McKnight

Name Hgt. Yr. PPG Pos. Charlie Andres 6-7 Sr. 11.1 F Andy Karich 6-6 Sr. 10.1 F Derek Stone 6-7 Sr. 9.0 C David Boyle 6-5 Sr. 15.8 G Jason Quinn 6-0 Sr. 6.2 G

LONG BEACH POLY (28-2) Coach Ron Palmer

Name Hgt. Yr. PPG Pos. Melvin Jones 6-2 Sr. 10.0 F Yikeem Craddock 6-3 Jr. 8.9 F Willie McGinest 6-5 Sr. 13.5 C Rod Hannibal 6-2 Sr. 15.0 G Tyus Edney 5-11 Jr. 10.0 G