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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

More Santa Barbara Recruiting Notes--(Aug. 26, 1998)

Like a lot of other guys who follow recruiting stuff, we've gotten several e-mails "tipping" us off that that the UCSB coaching staff is looking at BJ Ward (6'-1" Sr. PG) and his Santa Clara Oxnard High teammate Nick Jones (6'-3" Sr. SG), and we also hear that the two have made several unofficial visits to the campus, which is not surprising because Santa Barbara is only about 40 miles up the coast from Oxnard. We also hear that UCSB is involved with (or wants to get involved with) Marquis Poole (6'-2" Sr PG/SG) from Compton Centennial (who was earlier rumored to be transferring to Compton High for his senior year, which would make Compton an incredibly strong team with Tito Maddox and the rest of the returners and the newcomers like freshman Darius Sanders (6'-6" Fr. SG/SF) who is still expected to enroll), and that the Gauchos will take a run at Aaron Abrams (6'-3" Sr. G) from Rancho Buena Vista, who, at least for our money, is one of the most under-recruited top quality players in the senior class this year, at least next to Gilbert Arenas who has generated attention from DePaul, ASU (which is where we predict he'll end up), and a few others. Aaron has been mentioned with Cal, Notre Dame, De Paul, San Jose, and ASU, and if his Pump-N-Run teammate Arenas ends up as a Sun Devil (he and Donnell Knight (6'-8" Sr. F) who has already verballed, are great friends) look for Aaron there as well.

Hey, wasn't this about Santa Barbara when we first started writing? Oh well.