ucla notes & news

SoCalHoops Recruiting News

UCLA Recruiting Notes
& News--(Aug. 21, 1999)

We've consulted various sources, called around to our friends, and cruised the 'net, all in an effort to catch up on what we've missed during the last week, and here's what we know:

UCLA Gets Visits From 4 Top Juniors

Jim Downs reported early last week that Tyson Chandler (7'-1" Jr. C), Jamal Sampson (6'-11" Jr. C/F), Cedric Bozeman (6'-5" Jr. PG) and Josh Childress (6'-6" Jr. SG) were all going to visit UCLA last week. According to Tracy Pierson, it looks like they actually made the visit, and Pac-WestHoops actually has a picture of the four (if you can manage to log in that is, now that they've gone to a format which only allows the most advanced browser versions (IE5.0, Netscape 4.5) to view the site. . . this is progress?). Pierson reports that his sources said the visit went well, so we suspect the photo was not taken by him on the unofficial visit, but sometime prior thereto. We know from our own prior conversations with Tyson Chandler, that Tyson is a big Bruin fan, and would like nothing better than to wind up in Westwood, and we've seen him in the locker room after games on several occasions visiting with some of his friends. If Tyson can also persuade his SCA-teammates Sampson, Bozeman and Childress to become Bruins, UCLA would be set for at least the next three years thereafter, at least that's our humble opinion.

According to other sources (Mike Miller and Dave Telep), it looks like UCLA is backing off, or at least not very publicly going after either Wesley Stokes or Travon Bryant, as neither has any UCLA home or official visits scheduled for the fall open period which begins on September 9. Travon is reportedly set to see the coaches from Cincinnati (Sept. 9), Kansas (Sept. 10), South Florida (Sept. 11)--which is also reportedly recruiting Ellis Myles; Missouri (Sept. 13), Utah (Sept. 14), California (Sept. 15 or 16), Oregon State (Sept. 17)--which is also recruiting Stokes and will visit him on an a date yet to be announced; UConn (Sept. 19) and a second visit from Missouri (Sept. 21). In addition to Missouri and OSU, Wesley has also reportedly set up visits with UMass, Texas and Miami (Florida), which also likes Ellis Myles, whose name also keeps popping up among the college coaches we've chatted with.

According to Jim Downs, UCLA is also looking at Chris Walton (6'-8" Sr. F), who is the son of Bill Walton, who played for the Bruins long ago in the glory days under coach Wooden, although we'd be very surprised if Lavin actually offers him. Chris is a big, strong agile power forward, who can play facing up or with his back to the hoop, and he's got great footwork too, but we just don't see the Bruins offering him. . . yet. Chris had a good summer and played really well at the Nike National Summer Championships even if his High Five team didn't have the best overall results. Downs also says that UCLA is starting to recruit Omar Cook (6'-0" Sr. PG) from New York's Rice and the Riverside Church team, but again, we'd be very surprised if the Bruins get him. . . not that they wouldn't want to now that their primary point guard targets seem to be just fleeting memories, but because Cook is the prime target of several ACC schools, including UConn who have been following him everywhere this smmer, and the eastern schools are thought to be the big leaders for him at this time.

According to Clark Francis at Hoop Scoop, Dan Gadzuric (6'-11" So. PF/C) has already reportedly told the Bruin coaching staff that he won't return after this coming season. Whether there is any substance to the report hasn't been confirmed, but we're betting that even if he hasn't said so, Gadzuric and his teammate Jerome Moiso (6'-10" So. PF) are both bound for the NBA after next year. Period. Hence the Bruins are busy courting big men wherever and whenever they can find them, including guys like Jair Veldhuis (6'-11" Sr. PF) from Marin County's Mt. Tamalpais HS, and at least two other JUCO potential recruits, Phillip Ricci (6'-8" So. PF) and Jamal Davis (6'-8" So. PF) --the latter two according to Jim Downs. And it also explains why the Bruins would be willing to take an early commitment from Ominiyi Makun (6'-8" Sr. PF) from Nigeria, who needs to qualify before he can play next year. However, the Bruins would likely take a pass on all but the most talented players from this year's class in order to insure enough scholarship spots for the loaded and extremely talented rising junior class this year. . . which brings us right back to where we started: Chandler, Sampson, Childress and Bozeman. . . .