UCLA sophomore libero Tony Ker, named an Asics All-American a
year ago, was named to the U.S. Junior National Team on Friday.
Ker’s U.S. team will compete in the under-21 World Volleyball
Championships in India from Aug. 6 to 14, hosted by the
International Volleyball Federation. The team will be coached by
former UCLA assistant coach John Speraw and will be competing in
the tournament for the first time in 24 years. Last year, Ker was
the first UCLA freshman to be named to the MPSF All-Conference and
All-American teams since fellow libero Adam Shrader accomplished
the feat five years ago. Ker will be one of three starters
returning from the Bruin men’s volleyball team that finished
runner-up in the NCAA championships last year. Also competing for
the junior national team are Pepperdine setter Jonathan Winder and
Ohio State setter Daniel Matthews.
MEN’S BASKETBALL: UCLA sophomore Lorenzo
Mata is still recovering from a sprained ankle he suffered nearly
three weeks ago. The 6-foot-8 center, who said he hurt his ankle
coming down with the ball in a pick-up game with NBA players, was
sporting an air-cast on his left ankle Sunday at West Los Angeles
College. Mata, who had been playing well in the Nike College
ProCity League of Los Angeles before he got injured, said he plans
to begin rehabilitating the ankle today and expects to be back on
the court within three weeks, “It’s still bruised up
and swollen,” Mata said. “It hurts when I move it one
way or the other. But it’ll be OK.” Sinclair’s
Bruins, a summer league team that is mainly composed of current
UCLA men’s basketball players, saw its season come to an
abrupt end Sunday. The second-seeded team, which featured current
Bruins Jordan Farmar and Josh Shipp and incoming Bruins Darren
Collison, Ryan Wright, Michael Roll, Luc Moute and Alfred Aboya,
lost to Hank’s Top Prospects 86-82 on Sunday at West Los
Angeles College.
FOOTBALL: Former UCLA running back Manuel
White, a fourth-round draft pick in this year’s NFL draft,
agreed to a four-year, $1.81 million contract Wednesday with the
Washington Redskins. White, a 6-foot-2, 239-pounder from Valencia
High School, will receive a $420,000 signing bonus, and is expected
to be used as a versatile halfback in the Redskins’ offense.
White caught 20 passes for 115 yards for the Bruins last season,
and is expected to move to the halfback position in the NFL after
predominantly being used as a fullback for UCLA. In an article by
the Washington Times, White said he plans to donate a part of his
signing bonus to UCLA.
PERRY SIGNS: Former UCLA wide receiver Tab
Perry signed a three-year deal with the Cincinnati Bengals on
Wednesday. The 6-foot-3, 215-pounder was the team’s
sixth-round draft pick. He had 84 career receptions and 1,547 yards
for the Bruins. Perry is expected to play immediately on special
teams, where he averaged 22 yards on 67 kickoff returns at UCLA.
“They have a couple of guys established as receivers,”
Jeff Sperbeck, Perry’s agent, told the Cincinnati Enquirer.
“He’ll get his opportunity to compete on special teams
and on offense.” Perry was readmitted to the Bruins his
senior year after sitting out the previous season when he was
academically ineligible.
Compiled by Seth Fast Glass and Bruin Sports senior
staff.