Tuesday, 4/29/97 UCLA lands the Baron High school star point
guard turns down Kansas, NBA, decides to play for UCLA
By Emmanuelle Ejercito and Melissa Anderson Daily Bruin Staff
Baron Davis has tipped his hat in the ring for the UCLA men’s
basketball team. The 6’2" point guard from Crossroads High School
in Santa Monica announced his decision live on the Clippers
pre-game show on Fox Sports West Monday night. The audience, which
included Davis’ family and friends, waited with the rest of the
country as Davis discarded hats from the Clippers, Georgia Tech and
Kansas before donning a UCLA cap to indicate his choice. His
family, who was kept in the dark about his decision, erupted in
roars of approval and an eight-clap. "Kansas looked like an ideal
situation for me, but UCLA is the same situation," Davis said, "I
can have everything that I would have had in Kansas right here and
more." The more for Davis was his family. The high school senior
was ready to commit to Kansas until Friday night when after a
two-hour talk with his grandmother, his older sister Lisa and his
brother-in-law, he changed his mind. Though he had made his
decision, no one, with the exception of his grandmother whom he
told late Sunday, knew about his choice until his announcement. "I
had to decide between being home or going away, whether to grow up
fast or take steps," Davis said. Davis had made an oral commitment
to the Bruins earlier in November, but after the dismissal of
former UCLA head coach Jim Harrick, he retracted his commitment and
opened up his options to include the Jayhawks and the Yellow
Jackets. There were even rumors that Davis would skip college all
together and head straight to the NBA. Instead Davis, realizing the
importance of a college degree, decided to take his route to the
NBA through UCLA. "I’m going to college for four years, that’s why
I’m going to college," Davis said. "Right now I’m definitely not
leaving early, the NBA will be there one day hopefully. I just want
to go play college ball." Davis is considered to be one of the best
point guards in the nation and should fill in the gap left by the
graduation of Cameron Dollar. Davis led Crossroads to the Division
IV State Championship averaging 26.5 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2
assists, and earning him numerous distinctions, including being
named as USA Today’s California Player of the Year, an All-USA
First Team member and a 1997 McDonald’s All-American. Although UCLA
head coach Steve Lavin cannot officially comment until Davis signs
his letter of intent, Davis’ announcement coupled with the receipt
of Schea Cotton’s letter of intent on Monday afternoon bodes well
for Lavin’s 1997-1998 Bruin squad. "I’m very excited about our
recruiting class," Lavin said. "We’ve attracted what we feel is one
of the top recruiting classes in the country which is something
that is going to help us stay an elite program." Davis also has
high expectations. "Winning the national championship is my first
goal as a freshman," he said. PATRICK LAM/Daily Bruin Baron Davis
speaks to reporters after announcing his intentions to enroll at
UCLA next year. Davis revealed his choice of UCLA on the Clippers
pre-game show by discarding the hats of his other possible
universities.