LeFlore (Mobile, Ala.) High School senior center Demarcus Cousins came to the 'Iolani Prep Classic last year and won the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award as a promising-but-tad-raw elite college prospect.

He returned last night even stronger — mentally, physically and skill-wise.

Cousins, a chiseled 6 feet 11 and 260 pounds, scored 19 points in impressive fashion as the Rattlers coasted past Leilehua, 92-27, in a first-round game at 'Iolani Gym. LeFlore, No. 13 in USA Today's latest Super 25 rankings, returns to action in tomorrow's 5 p.m. quarterfinals against DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), ranked No. 12 by ESPN Rise.

Cousins — who has Memphis, Louisville, North Carolina State, Texas, Washington and Kansas State among his college choices — is noticeably improved physically and mentally, and acknowledged as much.

"I just matured a lot," said Cousins, who is regarded by some as the nation's No. 1 senior post player. "Last year I was considered a baby, but this year I'm leading this team."

Cousins said he "hit the weights hard every day" in the offseason and did a lot of conditioning work. The result is a toned body void of any visible baby fat from last year.

"He's just more focused and committed," LeFlore coach Otis Hughley said. "Last year was his first year with us, and he figured out how we do things. He just made the decision to get good at it, and bought in."

Cousins is built like an NBA post player, but the position does not define his game. Last night, he blocked shots, showed post moves and grabbed rebounds, but also led the fast break, made nice assists and even swished a 3-pointer with a smooth stroke.

"You usually don't see a 6-11 guy lead the game in assists, do you?" Hughley said. "He was like Joe Montana out there."

Leilehua coach Keith Spencer, who watched Cousins in last year's Classic, said he noticed the improvement as soon as the game started.

"You could see it in his agility up and down the floor, and just his overall confidence," Spencer said. "Even when he shot that 3-pointer, he looked so comfortable. And he was focused — on every possession, he played with heart."

Spencer said his team — short-handed because of three players attending the school's Winter Ball — also played hard despite being obviously overmatched. The Mules trailed 57-2 late in the second period before scoring the final five points of the half.

"I just told them to try to execute, and they did a lot better in the second half," Spencer said. "I'm proud of them. Coming from Wahiawa, this is a big eye-opener for them, so I told them to just be happy and enjoy it.

"One day, when Demarcus Cousins is playing for the Boston Celtics or whoever, they can say, 'Hey, I played against him ...' "

'IOLANI 57, MCKINLEY 34

Pablo Warner scored 12 points to lead the Raiders past the Tigers.

Jordan Macalma led McKinley with 11 points.

MONTROSE CHRISTIAN 81, MARYKNOLL 30

Mouphtaou Tarou led the No. 7-ranked Mustangs from Rockville, Md., with 18 points and Terrence Ross and Isaiah Armwood each added 14 points.

DEMATHA 84, TSINGHUA 30

Josh Selby scored 14 points, Naji Hibbert added 12 points and Marcus Rouse 10 for the Stags, who are from Hyattsville, Md. and ranked No. 12 in ESPN Rise's Fab 50.

Shuailin Li led Tsinghua, from Beijing, with 13 points.