rush408.htm

SoCalHoops College News Report

It's Official Jaron Rush
Signs National LOI To Be A Bruin--(April 8,1998)

JaRon Rush (6'-7" Sr. F) Pembroke Hill School, Kansas City, Missouri, has made it official by signing his National Letter of Intent to play basketball at UCLA, according to an announcement by UCLA coach Steve Lavin.

Rush was named as a member of the McDonald's All-American Squad, and was also named to Parade Magazine's All-Americans list. Rush is one of the nation's top-rated players at his position. He is a finalist for the Naismith Prep Player of the Year Award and was named the nation's No. 1 wing forward by PrepStar Magazine. Rush was the Kansas City Star's All-Metro boys basketball player of the year, and is the first player to be chosen to the All-Metro first team four times. Rush broke a tie with Paseo's Anthony Peeler, who was first team from 1986-88.

Rush scored 3,387 points, second most in Missouri boys basketball. He led the Raiders this season to their second straight 2A championship, averaging 27.5 points (52-percent shooting percentage), 10.3 rebounds, 5.2 steals, 3.3 blocks and 2.6 assists.

"JaRon Rush is one of top high school players at his position in the country,"said UCLA head Coach Steve Lavin. "When you combine his signing with Ray Young and Matt Barnes, the two players who signed with us in November, it's easy to see why we are very excited about our incoming freshman class."

In 1997-98, he averaged 32.0 points, 13.2 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 4.0 steals a game. He led Pembroke, coached by Rick Allison, to the 1998 Missouri Class 2A State Championship. In the championship contest, Rush scored 26 points on 10-19 shooting from the field, including 6-11 from three-point range, with nine rebounds and six blocked shots.

Rush has excelled in recent prep All-Star games, including the Nike Hoops Summit Game, held March 29 during the Final Four weekend in San Antonio, as a member of the USA Junior Select Basketball team. On March 25 in Norfolk, VA in the McDonald's All-American game, Rush was a member of the West squad.

His high school career is amazing. As a senior he was named to the USA Today Super 25, CNN/SI National Top 10, first-team Street & Smith All-American and was named as Athlon's No. 2 high school forward. Last summer, Rush was named the top wing forward at the 1997 Nike All-American Camp for high school players. As a junior in 1996-97, Rush averaged 27.5 points, 12.3 rebounds and 4.0 steals, while shooting 59.3 from the field. In 1997, Pembroke was unbeaten at 32-0 overall and again won the Missouri Class 2A State Championship. At the conclusion of his junior season, Rush earned his first Parade Magazine All-America honor and also earned first-team All-State, All-Conference, All-Metro and All-District. As a sophomore in 1995-96, Rush led Pembroke to a 29-2 overall record and a third-place State finish. He averaged 27.3 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 3.0 steals a game, while earning first-team All-State, All-Conference and All-Metro honors. As a freshman in 1994-95, Rush averaged 27.2 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.0 steals and shot 69.6 from the field. Pembroke was 21-5 overall and placed fifth in the State. He again earned first-team All-State, All-Metro and All-Conference honors. During his prep career, Rush scored 3,387 points, the second-highest in Missouri state basketball history and led Pembroke to an overall record of 112-9 (92.6). He also recorded more than 485 assists and 540 steals.