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SoCal Prep Recruiting Report & News

Ruben Douglas Commits to Arizona (10/22/97)

Yeah, you've probably heard it already, but just in case you missed it, Ruben Douglas (6'-5" Sr. SG) from Bellarmine-Jefferson High in Burbank yesterday announced that he has committed to Arizona. He selected Lute Olson's team over schools such as Kentucky, New Mexico, Syracuse and Oregon. He had also made unofficial visits to UCLA (which is pretty heavy on guards at the moment), USC (doesn't anyone want to play for Bibby?) and Pepperdine. He made his official visit to Arizona after this last weekend and after speaking with Olson by telephone Monday night.

Douglas told the LA Times' Peter Yoon, in an article published today that "I liked every aspect of it. My parents and I had a list of things we were looking for: the need for a player at my position, playing time, closeness to home. Arizona fit the description."

Yoon also spoke with Douglas' coach at Bell-Jeff, Eli Essa, who told him "I've always though he was of the caliber that could play in the Pac-10. He's a much better prospect for the next level and beyond than anyone I've ever coached."

Remember, Essa also coached (as an assistant under Steve Miller at NoHo) Arthur Lee who's now at Stanford, Damon Ollie, who's now a senior at Montana State, and Dana Jones, who was Pepperdines all-time leading rebounder and WCC 1993 Player of the Year.

Douglas averaged 26.6 points per game last season, 3.9 steals, and 5.3 assists. Big time numbers. He was Santa Fe League player of the year for the last two years in a row. He's a two time All-Southern Section Division IV selection and All-State Division IV as well.

Douglas also told Yoon that he expects to continue to hear from those schools that he's turned down. "Now the pressure is going to get worse. The other coaches are going to try and pressure me to get out of that decision. But unless something big happens like the coach gets fired or they get put on probabtion, I'm going to sitck with the decision," Douglas told the Times.

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