Bruin digest

Standout women’s basketball recruit Charde
Houston announced at a press conference Tuesday that she
will sign a letter of intent to play at the University of
Connecticut. Houston, a 6-foot-2 forward out of San Diego High, was
one of the most sought-after recruits in the nation. The decision
comes as a slight blow to UCLA, which was believed to be in the
final running to obtain Houston’s services. “I’ll
be much better off leaving and getting out on my own,”
Houston told the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I’m an
independent person ““ I don’t get homesick ““ and
this will help me develop life skills.” As a junior, Houston
averaged 35.6 points per game and, barring any injury this year,
will likely surpass Cheryl Miller as California’s all-time
leading scorer in women’s basketball history.

MEN’S BASKETBALL: Vermont, UCLA’s
first regular season opponent, lost its season opener to Nevada
69-49 Monday night in the first round of the Preseason NIT. The
Catamounts will visit Pauley Pavilion to take on the Bruins on Nov.
29.

FOOTBALL: Former UCLA standout J.J.
Stokes recently signed on with the New England Patriots.
Stokes, who had spent the previous eight seasons in the NFL with
the San Francisco 49ers, has 340 catches for 4,245 yards and 30
touchdowns in his career. He was drafted 10th overall in 1995 after
a stellar collegiate career, but never quite lived up to
expectations. After Stokes was released by the 49ers following a
few sub-par seasons, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars. The
Jaguars also released Stokes, but a rash of injuries to the
Patriots receiving corps has given Stokes a chance to find a place
with an NFL team once again. WOMEN’S
VOLLEYBALL: USC’s junior outside hitter Keao Burdine
was named Pac-10 player of the week after recording 40 kills on
.544 hitting in two wins over No. 9 California and No. 7 Stanford.
The No. 8 UCLA team will travel to the Lyon Center to take on
crosstown rival and defending national champion No. 1 USC Friday in
its final Pac-10 game of the year.

Compiled by Seth Fast Glass, Colin Yuhl and Jeff Eisenberg,
Bruin Sports Senior Staff.