Tuesday, 4/29/97 UCLA lands the Baron Prep sensation Cotton
signs letter of intent, but eligibility hinges on SAT
By Zach Seal Daily Bruin Contributor Poof! In two days, UCLA’s
basketball program has been transformed from a flailing team whose
nucleus is slowly eroding from its 1995 championship squad to a
team that can now look forward to one of the strongest recruiting
classes of 1997. Not only did Baron Davis finally put an end to the
circus surrounding his decision about which college to attend when
he chose UCLA on Monday, but earlier Monday, the university
received a letter of intent from high school sensation Schea
Cotton. Cotton is part of this year’s senior high school crop of
basketball stars that recruiters can’t stop boasting about. During
the past year, however, recognition of Cotton’s basketball skills
has faded, while Davis of Crossroads, Chris Burgess of Woodbridge
(Irvine), and the Collins twins of Harvard-Westlake have hoarded
most of the accolades. But head coach Steve Lavin glows when he
talks about Cotton. "He’s what coaches call a ‘difference-maker’
… Schea Cotton is as big of a recruit that you can land," he
said. With the addition of Cotton and Davis, UCLA completed a
recruiting class reminiscent of the 1994 class that brought in Toby
Bailey, J.R. Henderson and Kris Johnson. "It’s sunny in Westwood
again," Lavin said. Although Cotton was once a highly touted high
school basketball prospect, excitement about Cotton’s basketball
talents fizzled because nagging injuries and low grades allowed him
to play in only 11 games last season as a junior and none in his
senior season. Nonetheless, colleges across the country, including
UCLA, deluged Cotton with letters and phone calls begging him to
display his talents at their school. Only one school ever had a
realistic shot, though. Last November, Cotton signed a letter of
intent to play at Long Beach State alongside his older brother,
James. But when James announced he would forego his senior year at
Long Beach State in order to become eligible for the NBA draft,
Schea immediately asked Long Beach State to exempt him from his
commitment. Long Beach State obliged, making Cotton’s decision to
play at UCLA possible. Cotton’s acceptance to UCLA will be revoked,
however, if he cannot meet NCAA academic requirements by scoring a
qualifying SAT or ACT score early this summer. Cotton, who was
featured in a Sports Illustrated article when he was 14, enjoyed a
stellar freshman year in high school even though he transferred
from St. John Bosco to Mater Dei during the middle of the season.
In The Times, Pat Barrett, Cotton’s youth coach, said, "Schea is a
playground legend. I talk to all the college coaches around the
country. Everyone’s talking about how good Schea is." Cotton lived
up to Jordanesque expectations the following year when he led Mater
Dei to the high school Division I state championship – averaging 24
points and 10 rebounds per game. Cotton was also named the
California Interscholastic Federation Southern Section’s Division I
player of the year. The following year, feeling out of place in
Orange County, Cotton returned to St. John Bosco. Unfortunately, as
a result of playing only 11 games over his two seasons there,
Cotton never lived up to what many expected of him. Perhaps
discouraged by injuries and low grades, he once considered skipping
college to declare himself eligible for the NBA draft. Considering
the promise Cotton once showed, Bruin fans are eager to see if he
can regain his basketball prowess at Pauley Pavilion.