UCLA basketball snares top prospects

Thursday, April 9, 1998

UCLA basketball snares top prospects

SINGINGS: McDonald’s All-Americans will join Bruin team next
season

By Emmanuelle Ejercito

Daily Bruin Senior Staff

It’s official.

JaRon Rush, the prep standout from Kansas City, MO, announced
his intention to sign with the UCLA men’s basketball team last
month. Yesterday, the first day of the signing period, Rush put his
commitment on paper, signing a National Letter-of-Intent.

The Pembroke Hill High School senior is considered by many to be
one of the best at the forward position. The 6-foot-7-inch athlete
has earned many accolades in his prep career.

Rush is a first-team McDonald’s All-American and was named to
Parade Magazine’s All-American first team for the second year in a
row. He is also a finalist for the Naismith Prep Player of the Year
and was named the nation’s No. 1 wing forward by PrepStar
Magazine.

In his senior season, Rush averaged 32.0 points, 13.2 rebounds,
4.6 assists and 4.0 steals a game, helping his school to the 1998
Missouri Class 2A State Championship.

Before his impressive senior year, Rush was named to USA Today’s
Super 25 and CNN/SI National Top 10.

Rush, however, is not UCLA’s only McDonald’s All-American in the
incoming freshman class.

Ray Young, who signed in November, has also earned that honor.
The 6-foot-5-inch guard is from St. Joseph Notre Dame in Alameda
and was also named to Parade’s All-American team.

Another early signee is Matt Barnes, a 6-foot-7-inch forward
from Del Campo High School in Fair Oaks.

"JaRon Rush is one of the top high school players at his
position in the country," UCLA head coach Steve Lavin said. "When
you combine his signing with Ray Young and Matt Barnes … it’s
easy to see why we are very excited about our incoming freshman
class."

* * *

Team awards were given out at the annual Bruin Hoopsters’
banquet. And surprise, surprise, the three seniors – Toby Bailey,
J.R. Henderson and Kris Johnson – received the Coach John Wooden
Award for the Most Valuable Players.

The senior trio led the team in scoring. Henderson was the
leading scorer with 19.0 points per game, followed by Johnson
(18.4) and Bailey (17.9).

Henderson and Bailey also led the team in rebounding, averaging
7.8 and 5.9 respectively.

Other awards included the Bob "Ace" Calkins Memorial Trophy that
went to Johnson, the team free-throw champion at 83.3 percent.

Meanwhile, Baron Davis earned the Seymour Armond Memorial Award
given to the most valuable freshman player.

Fellow freshman Rico Hines earned the Elvin C. "Ducky" Drake
Memorial Award for competitive spirit, inspiration and unselfish
contribution.

The award for most outstanding defensive player went to Earl
Watson, while the most improved player was Travis Reed.

Matt Harbour was honored for his academic achievement and team
contribution and Vince McGautha won the Bruin Hoopsters J.D. Morgan
Memorial Award for outstanding team play.