downs

SoCalHoops College Recruiting News

Jim Downs Says Gadzuric To Sign With
UCLA This Week--(April 27,1998)

We make no predictions. We don't have a crystal ball. And schools obviously are not permitted to comment on players who have not signed letter of intent to play for them.

That's where all the fun begins. People have "sources". There are "insiders", people who will speak, but not for attribution. At least that's what some of the recruiting gurus want us to believe.

It may be true, it may not. Who's right and who's wrong? We don't know. We only report it. Here's what Jim Downs (of UCLA Basketball website and College Hoops Insider, is saying: Dan Gadzuric (6'-11" Sr. PF/C) from Gov. Drummer Academy will sign with UCLA next week.

Here's the article from Downs' site, verbatim, just so we don't get anything he said wrong:

Gadzuric Cleared, Will Announce for UCLA

April 24, 1998

Dan Gadzuric, a 6-11, 250-pound center who was named to the McDonald's All-American Team and has been rated by most recruiting services as the top center prospect in the nation, has been cleared by the NCAA Clearinghouse, and will sign a National Letter of Intent to play basketball at UCLA, according to sources.

Gadzuric, who has been attending Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, Mass, scored an 880 on his SAT. His approval by the clearinghouse comes as a surprise, as Gadzuric had expected to take the exam again to become academically eligible.

A native of Holland, Gadzuric has played at Dummer, the oldest prep school in the United States, for the past five years. Reported by many to be leaning towards the NBA, Gadzuric informed UCLA weeks ago that he would sign with the Bruins if he passed NCAA academic eligibility requirements. Gadzuric is expected to sign a National Letter of Intent to attend UCLA by the May 15 deadline, giving UCLA what many experts rate as the best recruiting class in the country.

UCLA officials cannot comment on unsigned players.

When he signs, Gadzuric will be the fifth Bruin basketball recruit for the upcoming season and UCLA's third McDonald's All-American. This week, 6-11 forward Jerome Moiso of Milford Prep signed with the Bruins. Earlier this month, 6-7 forward JaRon Rush, from The Pembroke Hill School in Kansas City, MO and a first-team Parade Magazine and McDonald's All-American, signed with UCLA. Last November, 6-5 guard Ray Young, another McDonald's All-American, from St. Joseph Notre Dame in Alameda and 6-7 forward Matt Barnes, who was also a prep football standout, from Del Campo HS in Fair Oaks, signed with the Bruins.

We'll belive it when he really signs. For now though, it's fun playing the guessing game.