baron davis update

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SoCalHoops College News

Baron Davis Update: Wouldn't
You All Like To Know--(April 30, 1999)

Baron Davis (6'-2" So. PG) from UCLA and possibly soon to be an NBA player attended the WSS Scholastic Hoops Jam banquet tonight, and was honored as a student-scholar-athlete and role model for all of the high school seniors and underclassmen in attendance at the banquet tonight. Baron will also coach the Southern Section team which will go up against the City Section team, coached by his UCLA teammate, Billy Knight.

We had dinner with Baron tonight at the banquet, and also sitting at the same table were Billy Knight, Todd Ramasar, Billy's brother Eric Knight (6'-2" Sr. SG) of Westchester High, Lou Wright (6'-6" Jr. SG) from Westchester, Barbara Fiege, the LA City Section CIF Commissioner, Carrie Herrera (City Section Girls' coach) and Jean Givan (Southern Section Girls' coach). Dean Crowley was also supposed to be sitting at our table, but he didn't show (something about laryingitis) so we did our best to sub in for the ailing Southern Section Commissioner. Just kidding Dean. (But we did sit in his seat during the banquet next to Barbara Fiege anyway).

Baron was his usual shy self, retiring, bashful, and a bit quiet. . . . well, he wasn't too loud. We couldn't resist asking the same question that Frank Burlison pulled on him as reported in his column last week. We asked him if a banquet like this was a suitable location for making an announcement, and he deadpanned: "Yeah, this would be great. Maybe I'll make an announcment. . . . tonight." Big grin.

Of course Baron wasn't saying anything, except, "I've got until the middle of May, and I'm not saying anything until then." Another big grin. Clearly he was having fun tormenting us.

So when Baron was called away from the table to give a TV interview, we thought we'd probe around a bit and see if any of the other Bruins at the table had any idea. But if either Billy Knight or Todd Ramasar know, they aren't saying either. Todd just grinned and said "We all have our opinions on the team." When we asked him what his opinion is, he just smiled and said, "Oh, I don't know." Then he laughed.

Of course, the great Baron speculation game will continue to play itself out for the next two weeks. Will he or won't he stay at UCLA, or go to the NBA draft?

If anyone knows, nobody's talking. Least of all Baron. And the impression we had is that he truly hasn't made any decision about leaving school; which is another way of saying that it seemed to us (don't ask us why, just one of those intangible "feelings" you sometimes get) that his first instinct is to stay in school. But don't take our word for it, because we're really just guessing on this one.

Oh, by the way, Baron and Billy both gave really nice inspirational speeches to all of the student-athletes in attendance (and their parents and coaches too). These two guys, who both spoke about the importance of giving to others, education and learning, are truly quality young men to whom education is a top priority. They are both great examples of just about everything that's good in education and athletics today. Billy talked about how this past year, with his injury, he had more time to study and focus on the educational component of his experience at UCLA. He spoke about how he has improved his grades, widened his educational horizons, and stopped looking at school just for basketball. "I've become a more complete person. Now, if basketball for some reason doesn't work out for me, I'll still have the rest of my life and my education." Smart way to look at it, especially when the NCAA statistics show that only 1 in every 10,000 players makes it to the NBA.

And as for Baron, he may look flashy on the court, but there's real substance to the young man, and he too spoke about the value of his education, and what it meant to him. Very nice to hear for a change instead of all this speculation about leaving school.

But, having said that, it looks like we'll have to wait to find out if we get to see Baron back next year wearing a Bruin uniform again next season, or whether we'll see him playing at the Staples Arena a couple of years early.