Friday, November 22, 1996
M. HOOPS:
Kansas City point guard Earl Watson puts decision in writingBy
Hye Kwon
Daily Bruin Staff
On the same night it suffered a disheartening 77-76 overtime
loss to Tulsa in the first round of the National Invitational
Tournament, the UCLA men’s basketball team received its first bit
of good news in a very long time.
According to the Los Angeles Times, Earl Watson, a recruit who
orally committed to play for UCLA next year, reportedly mailed in
his letter of intent just hours before the end of the early signing
period Wednesday night. Watson was a no-show at a press conference
at his school Wednesday afternoon, but he later told local media
that he had signed and mailed the letter from his home.
As of press time, the UCLA athletic department had not received
the letter from Watson, but a member of the sports information
department explained that the Bruins would be able to claim Watson
as an early signee if his letter was postmarked by Nov. 20.
It has been rumored in recent weeks that the 6-foot-1-inch point
guard from Kansas City had doubts about signing with UCLA, first
because of the oral commitment of Baron Davis, who plays the same
position, and later because of Jim Harrick’s dismissal.
With top prospects Chris Burgess, Lamar Odom and the Collins
twins already signing with other schools, the Bruins desperately
needed a recruit to set a precedent of commitment to the team,
which is still in search of a permanent head coach.
Watson’s signing is especially important to UCLA because Davis,
who is perhaps the nation’s top point guard prospect, told the
Daily Bruin two weeks ago that he would wait and see whether other
recruits would sign with UCLA before deciding where to play next
year.