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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

DeShawn Stevenson Update:
More On Duke, UCLA--(Sept. 7, 1999)

This past Saturday, we reported on DeShawn Stevenson's (6'-5" Sr. SG/SF) home visits for the month of September, and we also reported that Duke was not among those listed. Well, we've found out a bit more about why: It seems that Duke called and wanted to set up a visit with DeShawn, but they were trying to defer the visit until after the Duke coaches met with Chris Duhon (6'-1" Sr. PG) Slidell, Lousiana, who is their No. 1 target in the senior class at the point. Apparently, the Duke coaches thought that this wouldn't bother DeShawn but it was apparently interpreted by Deshawn and those advising him as an indication that Duke was concerned about what Duhon would think if the coaches visited DeShawn prior to Duhon's commitment. So, at least according to our sources, DeShawn felt that if they had that worry, how would he be able to play with Duhon. And Duke's recruitment of Duhon also poses another dilemma for a school recruiting DeShawn, who has point guard skills, and who ultimately projects out as a point in the NBA.

So why do we think the same concerns won't surface at UCLA and deter their recruitment of Stevenson, notwithstanding the information contained in Frank Burlison's article on the commitment of Cedric Bozeman, and more importantly, the comments Lavin reportedly made to Bozeman? Well, here's why: For those who don't recall, Burlison reported that Lavin told Bozeman that in exchange for Bozeman's commitment, Lavin would not recruit any other point guards from this year's class of seniors. Actually, what Burlison wrote was that "Lavin told him UCLA would cease recruiting point guards among current high school seniors."

So, what does this mean for a potential UCLA recruit like DeShawn? In our view, nothing. Not a thing. And here's why we think so:

While both players are combo guards, ultimately, DeShawn is not currently being recruited to play over Earl Watson or Moose Bailey at the one, and assuming Lavin even viewed him as a point, we don't see him playing that position primarily until the year 2001-2002 season, after Earl and Moose have graduated; while DeShawn has the ability and certainly the skills to play the point (so do a lot of other guys already on the Bruin team, most notably Jason Kapono (6'-8" Fr. PG/SG/SF/PF), we think ultimately at the college level, at least for the first year of his eligibility, that he'll wind up at the two spot primarily, at least if we're talking about UCLA. Call us crazy, tell us we don't know what we're talking about, but that's how we view the situation. And even if DeShawn does come in right away and play the point, and even assuming that he winds up as the starter, he'll be there at least a year ahead of Bozeman, who would likely come into the lineup behind Stevenson for only one year (after Earl is gone), and groom Bozeman for the next season, i.e., the one in which Stevenson winds up leaving for the NBA (if not sooner).

So does the commitment of Bozeman to UCLA impact the Bruins' recruitment of DeShawn Stevenson? In our view, no. But then the only view that counts, really counts, especially given what our sources tell us was DeShawn's view of the Duke situation, is the guy who's being recruited. And we're willing to bet that since these published reports of the "no recruitment of point guards" came out on Saturday, that the UCLA coaches have been busy on the phone saying what they need to say to DeShawn to ease any concerns he might have. Count on it.