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SoCalHoops College Recruiting News

Bradley Jackson Skips Out
On CSUN; To Prep School--(June 23, 1998)

The Daily News today reported that Bradley Jackson (5'-11" Sr. PG) from Inglewood High has failed to graduate from high school and plans to attend prep school in Main instead of attending CSUN this fall. Apparently he failed a test in a class which was taught by Inglewood assistant basketball coach Harvey Pevzner. Bob Gottlieb of Branch West Basketball Academy, an instructional league, reportedly also helped Jackson with his contacts last month with several prep schools after the Daily News reported that Jackson was considering reneging on his LOI with CSUN. While the article claims that Jackson was rated at the "top" point guard by "Recruiting SoCal" we don't recall that Dave Benezra or Mark Mayemura had him ranked that highly, but it's possible they did last year; since he signed with CSUN during the early signing period, and his Inglewood team didn't finish that well this year losing in the playoffs, Jackson sort of drifted off most people's radar screens. He is lightening quick, a great passer, and can drive and penetrate well. In our opinion, he would have been an instant starter for CSUN, and still could be if he is compelled to retake the final and allowed to graduate.

Because the Daily News doesn't have a website, and thus most people can't get access to the story, we're reprinting it here (Fair Use, please) for purposes of commentary. Here's the story:

Recruit Breaks Commitment

By Marc J. Spears
Daily News Staff Writer

Bradley Jackson, Cal State Northridge's top basketball recruit, failed to graduate from high school and plans to go to a prep school in Maine instead of attending CSUN in the fall. Jackson failed a geography class during his last semester at Inglewood High missing the final exam. The class, taught by Inglewood assistant basketball coach Harvey Pevzner, kept him from graduating.

Jackson, who is a B-average student, has scored 880 on the Scholastic Aptitude Test. He never failed a class perivously and was eligible to play at Northridge. But since he didn't graduate, the letter of intent with CSUN is voided. Pevzner was not available for comment

"Jackson wasn't doing his work, so (Pevzner) had to fail him," said Inglewood head coach Pat Boy. "Just because he is a basketball coach doesn't mean he can't fail a student. I'm not saying (Jackson) did or did not (fail purposely). If the kid purposely does no no work to fail, the teacher should fail him. It may have been (Jackson's) prerogative to not go to Northridge."

On April 19, the Daily News reported that Jackson-was considering going to a prep school and breaking a CSUN commitment that he signed last fall. The next day, he said he would honor his scholarship. A source said that Jackson recently received information on five different prep schools and has decided to attend Bridgeton Academy in North Bridgeton Maine.

"We've learned from the information that we've been given that he has failed a class," CSUN coach Bobby Braswell said. "I have not seen a transcript or a report card to know that it was official or not. If.it is true, it is a very, very sad commentary for this young man and those adults that are around him who should be giving him proper guidance. Whether it be his parents or his coaches, teachers, administrators or whoever it is."

Inglewood High athletic director Jimmy EIlis said Jackson will be allowed to take the final at a later date. Eflis, who is president of the Inglewood Teacher's Association, also said he was disappointed with Jackson's actions and that Jackson should honor the letter of intent "The implication is that it doesn't look good, said Ellis. "It concerns me greatly, because it puts a negative light on our school."

Braswell would not comment onwhether he would take Jackson back on theteam if he is cleared to graduate. He also said Jackson was noncommittal about CSUN when he last spoke with him last Friday. The 5'-9" Jackson is ranked as the nation's eighth best prep point guard by Athlon and tops in Southern California by Recruiting SoCal. AAU coach Bob Gottlieb, of Branch West Basketball Academy in Orange County, said "a couple weeks ago" Jackson asked if he would help him contact some prep schools. Gottlieb gave him a list of five schools and phone numbers.

"Under no circumstances was my role to encourage him," said Gottlieb, whose son Gregg is an assistant coach at Sacramento State. "My sole role was to help him get to a prep school when he asked. He took it from there."