Men’s Basketball Notebook

Bruins go mad

UCLA Head Coach Steve Lavin announced Tuesday the hiring of
former Bruin standout Gerald Madkins as an assistant coach and
recruiting coordinator. Madkins replaces recently departed Michael
Holton, the new head coach at the University of Portland. Last
season, Madkins was an assistant at Cal State Stanislaus.

“It’s great to come back to my alma mater and be
part of something special,” Madkins said in a statement.
“It’s the place where I matured, became a man and
played basketball under some very fundamentally-sound coaches.
I’m looking forward to getting started and working
hard.”

Madkins started 91 games in 123 appearances for the Bruins
between 1987-92. He ranks among the school’s Top 10 in career
steals, assists and three-point percentage.

“Gerald has a vast amount of basketball knowledge that I
feel will be an asset to our program,” Lavin said. “He
relates well to players and is an outstanding communicator. I also
feel that the time he spent playing pro ball, both in the NBA and
the CBA, has given him additional life experiences that he will be
able to pass on to our players.”

The No. 2 assistant coaching vacancy featured two highly touted
applicants: UCLA Adidas Representative Daren Kalish and former
Bruin point guard Cameron Dollar.

Kapono back in Sweet 16

UCLA junior-to-be Jason Kapono was selected Monday as one of 16
finalists to make the 2001 USA Basketball World Championship for
Young Men squad.

“This was my first time playing for (USA Basketball) so
I’m just truly honored,” Kapono said.

“Coming into trials, I just wanted to show them that I was
one of those guys who would sacrifice my game just for the
betterment of the team. I just tried to play hard throughout the
trials and prove to the coaches that I should be on the
team.”

Led by Syracuse Head Coach Jim Boeheim, only players 21 and
younger are eligible to participate. The final cut for the
12-member squad will be announced during training camp held July
22-26 in Dallas, Texas.

Kapono was the only West Coast player chosen to the Final
16.

Other notables still fighting for a spot include Boston
College’s Troy Bell, Duke’s Carlos Boozer, Michigan
State’s Marcus Taylor and Kansas’ Chris Duhon and Nick
Collison.

Join the club

Former Penn State guard Jon Crispin is expected to announce his
intention to transfer to UCLA following confirmation from the
admissions office.

Crispin, a two-year starter, averaged 7.2 points this season as
a sophomore while contributing 55 assists, 35 steals and 42
three-pointers. With his brother Joe, a potential NBA draftee, Penn
State reached the Sweet 16 of last year’s NCAA
Tournament.

With no scholarships available, Crispin will finance his own
education during his mandatory redshirt season in 2001-02.

Notes compiled by AJ Cadman, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.