UCLA basketball begins preseason

Tuesday, November 12, 1996

RECRUITING:

Uncertainty of coaching position affects decision of prospective
playersBy Hye Kwon

Daily Bruin Staff

The announcement of Jim Harrick’s firing came just one week
before the start of the early signing period, and as far as
recruiting is concerned, it couldn’t have come at a worse time.

Crossroads High School’s Baron Davis, who at one point gave
unequivocal affirmations of his oral commitment to UCLA, is now
having second thoughts about coming to Westwood next year.

"I’m reconsidering everything," Davis said. "It hurt me a lot
when coach Harrick got fired. I planned on playing for coach
Harrick for four years and leading the team to a national
championship.

"As long as there are speculations and searches for coaches, my
mind can change in a blink of an eye. I have other schools that are
stable."

Davis said that there’s still a possibility he’d sign with UCLA
in the early signing period which begins Wednesday, but now that
Harrick is gone, he will be carefully evaluating his decision.

"It depends on how I’m feeling at that time and whether I’m
comfortable with going ahead and signing with UCLA," Davis said.
"Also I’ll see how other high school recruits feel."

Chris Burgess, another marquee recruit that UCLA is hoping to
sign, could not be reached for comment. However, it has been
rumored that Burgess was close to giving Brigham Young the nod.

Another recruit, who had given Harrick an oral commitment but is
now having second thoughts, is Earl Watson. There are speculations
that even before Harrick’s dismissal, the 6-foot-1-inch Watson was
unhappy with the prospect of being Davis’ backup for four years at
UCLA.

In last Wednesday’s press conference, UCLA athletic director
Pete Dalis acknowledged that the men’s basketball program would
likely suffer a recruiting setback. That statement has led many
observers to question why Dalis would fire Harrick at this critical
point in time.

According to senior forward Charles O’Bannon, there was a
consideration in the athletic department about making the
announcement at a later date.

"There was a talk that they would put off the decision for a
while, waiting to see what the recruits would do," O’Bannon said.
"But that would be unfair to the recruits."

One possible way for UCLA to restore its recruiting leverage is
to hire a permanent head coach in the near future. Dalis has
remarked that interim head coach Steve Lavin is one of the
candidates for that position, and perhaps Lavin’s most important
lobbyist is Davis.

"If (Lavin) is the head coach, I would definitely sign with
UCLA," Davis said. "I’m comfortable with coach Lavin and I think
he’s a great coach."

SCOTT O/Daily Bruin

Toby Bailey and company will take on Athletes in Action tonight
for their first exhibition game of the season.