Men's basketball notebook
By Daily Bruin Staff
Sept. 26, 2002 9:00 p.m.
Former Bruins make the grade
According to an NCAA report released Thursday, UCLA graduated 50
percent of its 1995-1996 freshman men’s basketball players
within six years, good enough for second in the Pac-10.
The figure was above UCLA’s 36 percent average for
freshman classes between 1992-1993 and 1995-1996.
The national Division I-A average was 36 percent.
Bruins lose another possible newcomer
The Los Angeles Times reported Thursday guard Brian Morrison,
who was expected to transfer to UCLA from North Carolina, will now
enroll at Washington.
Morrison, who would have had to walk on at UCLA, allegedly told
UCLA players that he would begin classes at UW on Monday.
A native of Redmond, Wash., Morrison led the Tar Heels with 42
three-point baskets last season and was expected to make a
significant contribution after sitting out the 2002-2003 season, as
per NCAA rules.
“The bottom line is that he’s not coming,”
UCLA sports information director Marc Dellins said. “There
was nothing really binding him to us because he didn’t sign a
letter of intent.”
The news comes in the wake of recent disappointing revelations
that incoming freshman Evan Burns, the Bruins’ most prized
recruit this year, failed to meet academic standards and will
transfer to San Diego State, and sophomore Andre Patterson will be
academically ineligible for at least the fall quarter.
Barnes signs with Cavaliers
Former UCLA forward Matt Barnes signed with the Cleveland
Cavaliers Wednesday, general manager Jim Paxson announced.
Selected by Memphis with the 46th overall pick in the June NBA
Draft, Barnes was traded along with Nick Anderson on draft day to
Cleveland in exchange for Wesley Person.
Barnes played for the Cavs this summer in the 2002 Rocky
Mountain Revue in Salt Lake City, averaging 8.2 points, 4.8
rebounds, and 2.3 assists in six games.
A staple of the Bruin front line during his junior and senior
seasons, Barnes averaged 13.5 PPG in his senior year.
According to team policy, terms of the contract were not
released.
