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SoCal Recruiting News & Review

It's True. . .Ricky Anderson's a 'Cat--(November 15, 1997)

We questioned others for writing this earlier yesterday, but it seems it's true. We never doubted you for a minute Michael; it's also been confirmed by Frank Burlison at the Press-Telegram and by Jim Downs, according to Steve Finnamore at CHI. And apparently Arizona will issue a press release this afternoon.

Anyway, here's the straight story: Ricky Anderson (6'-8" Sr. F, Long Beach Poly) has in fact sent a National Letter of Intent to Arizona. Just a few weeks ago, Anderson had been told that his scholarship spot had gone to others because he had hesitated to commit verbally when he was first offered a spot.

There has been no official confirmation from Arizona yet, but that's understandable, since Anderson just sent his letter to the school on Friday; under NCAA rules, a university is not allowed to comment publicly on whether a prospective student has in fact committed by signing a LOI until the school actually receives the letter in hand.

Anderson told Frank Burlison of the Long Beach Press-Telegram "I'm stoked."

Anderson signed his letter after learning earlier Friday that he had qualified academically by achieving a sufficient score on the SAT to be eligible to receive a scholarship. "I'm pumped about my SAT," Anderson told the P-T's Burlison. "It's a relief. Now I can concentrate on getting ready for the season."

There is a correction that needs to be made to the P-T article: While the Press-Telegram article says that Arizona has signed "Five preps - including BIW selections Richard Jefferson, Luke Walton and Ruben Douglas. . .", the Official Arizona website, which has the official press release on Arizona's signings as of Friday morning, has Lute Olsen signing five not including Anderson.

The Arizona site lists "Richard Jefferson, Ruben Douglas, Michael Wright, Traves Wilson and Luke Walton" as having signed National Letters. Guess it'll now be six preps.

So, with only three seniors on the squad and two redshirt freshmen, the big question now is where are the six scholarships for the guys who've been reported as having signed letters? And the bigger question: Who's on the Wildcats this year who's going to get cut to free up a scholarship? Michael Miller of WestCoastHoops tells me this morning that they're giving him Josh Pastner's scholarship. Pastner is a 6'-0" 170 lb. Sophomore guard from Kingwood, Texas, who only played in 8 games last year. According to the offical Arizona website, he was "originally scheduled to walk-on to the program [but] he was offered a scholarship... A good outside shooter." From reading the other notes about him, seems he's a nice enough young man, but he'll certainly understand if someone else comes in and gets the scholarship next year.

Anyway, Michael Miller says he talked with Ricky and his dad last night, confirmed all of this, and swears it's true. Of course, we never doubted him for a minute. Sceptical maybe, but never actually doubted him.

Thanks Michael. And congratulations to Ricky and the family. Now go out and have a great year.

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