ucla recruiting update

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

UCLA Recruiting Update: Kapono,
Nigerians, Gloger & More--(May 12, 1999)

We haven't really been reporting much on UCLA's recruiting lately, principally because it's been so unsettled and the reports we've seen and heard have been so wild and widely divergent. As an example, if anyone had told us two weeks ago that Spencer Gloger was going to be a scholarship player for UCLA, we'd probably have thought him or her nuts; just goes to show that anything can, and often does, happen. Especially the unexpected. And as the National Letter of Intent season comes to a close on May 15, things are starting to get a bit busier. Frantic maybe, but certainly busier.

Spencer Gloger: Several sources (Jim Downs, Tracy Pierson) have reported that Spencer Gloger was seen on campus at UCLA today, and he will reportedly sign his letter of intent shortly. We also tend to agree with Rich Meyer over at West Coast Hoops, who wrote a very nice critique of ULCA's recruitment of Spencer. Basically, Rich's analysis is pretty much right on: Comparisons of Spencer to Brandon Loyd are probably unfair and completely wrong, because Spencer has more height and can get open in situations that Brandon could only dream about. He's an excellent defender, possibly better than Rico Hines, and an excellent shooter, maybe better than Billy Knight, and if he can defend better than Billy, and shoot better than Rico, he might just challenge for serious playing time. He didn't get to be the Orange County Player of the Year for nothing you know. Jim Downs and Frank Burlison both report that Spencer will sign his LOI shortly, and that's consistent with what Spencer's father told us Friday.

The Nigerians: The word is that UCLA was following and or trying to get involved with three mysterious Nigerian players who reportedly had difficulty getting into the United States. We've heard several pretty wild stories about these guys, including one which had the Russian "mafia" (whatever that is) being enlisted to get these guys into Canada, and from there into the U.S. Apparently UCLA is interested in two of them, or possibly all three. One reportedly already committed to Houston, or possbily Louisville, we don't know which, but apparently no LOI has been signed, so this is all speculation. As far as we can tell, the players are Muhamed Lasege (6'-11" ?? PF/C), Uche Okafo (7'-0" ?? C) and Ben Ezendubuisi (6'-8" ?? PF). We've listed ?? for their class, because rumor has it that they are having difficulty getting transcripts from their high school back in Nigeria which reportedly burned down, destroying their records. We haven't seen these guys, but Jim Downs says he watched/played in a pick up game at the Men's Gym at UCLA today, so he's obviously got the inside track on these guys. The biggest obstacle to UCLA really doing anything with these big boys is whether they would be cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse for freshman eligibility.

Jason Kapono: In the "see you don't need to sign a letter of intent" department, unbelievably, it looks like Jason may have been the smartest player on the planet and Lavin may truly be a genius after all. By waiting to sign (if indeed he even signs during the NLOI period, and he might not, because, after all, what's the point of being locked into a school when the school isn't locked into him, from a contractual point of view?) Jason may just have secured himself a spot with UCLA, and Lavin may be able to pick up one of the smartest and most saavy players, and certainly one of the hardest working guys in the senior class. Jason will reportedly take an unofficial visit tomorrow. UNLV looks to have all but given up on Jason, and we'd say that Harrick bombed out when he left Rhode Island, came back to Rhode Island and then left again, all in the same day. And if we were Jason, we'd also have to wonder just how much playing time he'd really get at Missouri, as compared to UCLA. Friendship with Kroenke aside, Jason would look better as a Bruin than a Tiger. And Arizona is reportedly also getting involved late with Jason, and we've also seen several reports saying that he'll take an official visit there (which would be his last?) sometime this week. And from what we hear, it looks like Fran Fraschilla's last minute push to get him at New Mexico (which was widely reported late last week) may not happen either. But then it might. Amazingly, right about now, we'd like to think that UCLA has a pretty good shot, but then we haven't spoken with the Kapono family in a while. We'll try to find out some first-hand info tomorrow.

Chris Burgess: This former McDonald's All-American, was reportedly on the UCLA campus on Monday. The Woodbridge High grad supposedly took an unnofficial visit on Monday, and reports have also said that he likes UCLA because his girlfriend is a student there. We'd guess that UCLA is a longshot and Chris will probably select Utah. But the idea of Burgess as a Bruin is intriguing.

Ryan Humphrey: The Oklahoma transfer (6'-8" So. PF), another McDonald's All-American, is reportedly still interested in UCLA. Several reports had him at UCLA this past weekend, and still others say it will be this weekend.

Adam Harrington: A former McDonald's All-American, the North Carolina transfer (6'-4" Fr. SG) is also reportedly interested in UCLA, but we'd say he's probably a longshot.

Shea Anderson: Reports on Friday from Mike Miller at PacWestHoops have Shea Anderson (6'5" G/F) of Long Beach Poly walking on to the team, or at least trying to walk on. We're pretty sure that Shea will attend UCLA, and he told us that was his intention a long ago as last fall at the Compton Reebok TipOff last November. Whether there's room for him beyond being a practice player is pretty uncertain.

Jason Bow: Finally, there were reports today from several sources, including again Miller/Pierson, that Rancho Buena Vista senior Jason Bow (6'3" Sr. SG), who transferred from Fresno's Clovis West to play his senior season in San Diego alongside Aaron Abrams (6'-3" Sr. SG ) who signed with Wyoming, might also walk onto the team, or he might not. Apparently it all depends on how many scholarship players sign, because there really won't be any current walk-ons (e.g., Todd Ramasar) leaving, so there might not be a spot for Bow.

Things are pretty busy in Westwood. See what procrastination can do for you.