Morrison eyes UCLA





Brian Morrison, right, wants to 'be at a good school and compete for playing time,' his mother says.

File Photo By John White





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Ex-UNC guard also considers Cal, Gonzaga, San Diego St.
From Staff And Wire Reports

Former North Carolina guard Brian Morrison, who announced last month he was transferring from the school, is considering UCLA.
Morrison, a 6-foot-2 shooting guard from Redmond, Wash., was scheduled to visit UCLA this week. He left UNC in hopes of getting more playing time.

Morrison also has scheduled a visit to California on April 26 and is considering trips to Gonzaga and San Diego State, according to his mother, Kathleen Morrison. He would sit out next season, as required by the NCAA, and have two more seasons of eligibility remaining.

"He wants to go some place where he can get a scholarship, be at a good school and compete for playing time," his mother said.

Morrison plans to attend UNC through summer school. He probably won't make a decision until mid-May, his mother said.

NBA ON MIND: Freshman guard Dajuan Wagner, who led Memphis to the NIT championship, said Wednesday he will make himself eligible for the NBA draft. ...

Although Connecticut sophomore forward Caron Butler appears ready to declare himself eligible for the NBA draft, his coach said it's not 100 percent certain.

"He wants one more night to sleep on it," Huskies coach Jim Calhoun said.

Butler and Calhoun have scheduled a news conference for today. A news release said Butler "will address his future plans."

WTNH-TV in Hartford, Conn., and ESPN.com reported Wednesday that Butler has decided to leave school. ...

Theron Smith, Ball State's leading scorer, has decided to enter the NBA draft.

Smith, the 6-foot-8 forward who averaged 19.6 points and 10.6 rebounds last season as a junior, said he would not hire an agent, leaving open the possibility of returning to school for his senior season.

BRIEFLY: Former Minnesota basketball coach Clem Haskins will not be prosecuted for his role in an academic scandal that led to his dismissal, his attorney said. Ron Meshbesher, said he spoke with Justice Department prosecutor Joe Walker and was told: "The government is not intending to prosecute Clem Haskins."

Good luck in la la land bmo!!!

Morrison to UCLA

Former Lake Washington and University of North Carolina guard Brian Morrison has given TheFinalScore.tv the word first. "I'm going to UCLA." He has made a verbal commitment to become a Bruin. Morrison will be eligible in the 2003 season.

Why UCLA? “When I visited UCLA I felt it was the right fit for me. I really liked the coaches, players and the overall environment that UCLA has to offer," Morrison said, adding, "it was important to me that with all my conversations with UCLA, everyone of them was with Coach Lavin."

Morrison also considered Oregon, Cal and Gonzaga among others.

Brian said of his plans for the summer, “I’ll probably just stay back here in Carolina and work some camps, spend some time at home and head to UCLA in August.”

At UCLA he'll join former Capital star Mike Fey. The two played AAU ball together for two summers.

By Bill Nance

Looks like he will be going to UCLA, good luck to him there. Hopefully we won't meet UCLA in the tournament in a few years (I guess we would have to get there first) and then get torched by Morrision. But I doubt it, because McCants will beast him!

It's a good decision by BMo. Steve Lavin has the reputation of being a good teacher and (to a degree) tolerant of player mistakes. UCLA players make enough of them, so he ought to be! Funny that Lavin, like Doherty, is taking a lot of heat from some diehard fans.

Good luck Brian! (Smiley Face turning into UCLA Bruin -> <img border="0" alt="[pooh]" title="" src="graemlins/pooh.gif" /> )