W.Basketball ‘Say No Classic’ attracts plethora of Bruin talent
By Daily Bruin Staff
July 28, 1996 9:00 p.m.
Sunday, July 28, 1996
Summer league presents opportunity to maintain game, reunite old
teammatesBy Grace Wen
Summer Bruin Senior Staff
Oenning drives the ball down the court. She dishes the ball to
Pearson who dribbles, turns and fires a shot over her defender.
Swish. Their teammates cheer as the players set up for defense.
Although Jamie Oenning and Melanie Pearson aren’t household
names, Bruin fans could be seeing a lot of the Oenning-to-Pearson
combo during the upcoming UCLA women’s basketball season. For now,
the two can be seen at the "Say No Classic" women’s summer
league.
The league runs every Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
at USC and features talent from all around the country.
There are current, former, and future Bruins participating in
the league. Oenning, Tawana Grimes, Carla Houser, and Aisha Veasley
make up the list of current UCLA players in the league. Former
Bruins include Kellie Bennett, Althea Ford, Detra Lockhart, Ricarda
Kuypers and Sandra VanEmbricqs. Pearson and Marie Philman, both
incoming freshmen, also play in the league.
The 36 teams are broken down into three divisions. The Open
Division, with 14 teams, is comprised of current and former college
players along with a handful of college freshmen possessing the
accolades necessary to compete in this division. The 18-team Rookie
Division consists of college freshmen and high school players,
while the Developmental Division features four teams made up solely
of high school athletes.
Run by Rhonda Windham, a former Trojan basketball player, the
five-year-old league gives college players a good opportunity to
play competitive basketball and keep in shape during the summer
months.
"It’s good because it gives us a chance to compete against other
college players and keep up our game  (in terms of) quickness
and strength-wise," said Oenning. But she noted that the league was
a far cry from regular season basketball, "where you have plays and
coaches and some semblance to reality."
Games, however, are officiated by Pacific 10 officials who
conduct their training camp during the summer. In addition, most
teams do have practice at least once a week and everybody gets some
playing time.
Being on the same team was nothing new for former high school
teammates, Oenning and Pearson.
"It’s going to be a reunion and I’m really excited. I’m looking
forward to it," said Oenning. "Both personally playing with her and
what she can do for our team."
PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin
Melanie Pearson (#5)
