Monday, 6/9/97 Charles O’Bannon Basketball
When the UCLA men’s basketball team takes to the court next
season, it will mark the first time in seven years that an O’Bannon
won’t be donning a Bruin jersey. Coming out of Artesia High School
in 1993, Charles O’Bannon was a wanted man. Courted by colleges
from both coasts, O’Bannon selected UCLA over Kentucky, Michigan
and USC and joined his older brother Ed on the hardwood of Pauley
Pavilion. In his first year, the younger O’Bannon lived up to his
hype. He was the first true freshman to start an entire season
under former UCLA head coach Jim Harrick. O’Bannon ranked fourth on
the team in scoring, averaging 11.6 points; third in rebounding,
with 6.8 per game; and led the team in blocked shots with 1.4
points per game. O’Bannon’s sophomore year improved on his freshman
effort. The forward led the team in blocked shots per game (1.2)
and in field-goal percentage among the starters, shooting 55.4
percent as he averaged 13.6 points. But perhaps O’Bannon’s biggest
contribution came during the 1995 championship stretch. While Ed
may have been the O’Bannon named as the Final Four’s Most
Outstanding Player, Charles also had a considerable impact. In the
semifinal game against Oklahoma State, Charles scored 19 points,
grabbed six boards and had two assists and one steal, numbers that
earned him the CBS/Chevrolet Most Valuable Player of the Game. With
Ed O’Bannon graduating after the 1995 season, it was time for
Charles to climb out of the shadow of his older brother and
establish himself as a leader of the team. But things don’t always
go as planned. O’Bannon’s numbers dropped his junior season. He
picked up technicals for hanging on the rim. He was benched for the
first half of the Duke game because he missed morning practice
after celebrating his 21st birthday and the game-winning shot
against USC. However, the 1996-1997 season saw the metamorphosis of
O’Bannon. Game after game, O’Bannon was the difference for UCLA. He
proved that there was more to his game than just ability. "People
always knew he had skills," UCLA head coach Steve Lavin said at a
press conference Feb. 18. "But this year he has shown a more
mature, sustained effort. He’s putting back-to-back solid efforts."
In whatever capacity the team needed him, whether it was scoring,
rebounding or defense, O’Bannon was happy to oblige. He was the
main reason the Bruins made it to the Elite Eight, after being
ruled out of play-off contention by critics for losing in the
pre-season NIT. He averaged a team-high 17.7 points and 6.9
rebounds. O’Bannon scored in double figures in 31 out of 32 games.
A likely first-round NBA draft pick, O’Bannon will graduate from
UCLA as one of the school’s best-ever basketball players. He is
seventh on the all-time list in scoring with 1,784 points, tenth in
rebounds (797) and second in blocked shots with 118. By Emmanuelle
Ejercito, Daily Bruin staff. Charles O’Bannon