By Greg Schain
Daily Bruin Reporter
The speculation is over.
On Wednesday, UCLA head coach Steve Lavin announced that Evan
Burns, a McDonald’s All-American from Los Angeles, will
become a Bruin next season.
“Evan Burns is another tremendous talent in a long list of
Los Angeles players who have chosen to stay at home and attend
UCLA,” Lavin said in a statement.
Burns is a 6-foot-8, 220-pound power forward who has the
potential to step right into the starting lineup for UCLA next
season, especially if junior Jason Kapono forgoes his senior season
and enters the NBA draft.
“Burns is a tremendous talent,” said Clark Francis,
a national prep recruiting expert. “He is one of the most
talented and athletic wing forwards in the U.S. He’s a heck
of a talent with tremendous upside.”
Playing for Fairfax High School, Burns averaged 22.7 points per
game and 10.5 rebounds per game as a senior. Recent reports
speculated that Burns’ academic scores might have prevented
him from playing collegiate basketball, but Wednesday’s
announcement puts that rumor to rest.
The signing also marks the seventh McDonald’s All-American
that Lavin has successfully recruited during his six-year tenure as
head coach. The others were Cedric Bozeman in 2001, Jason Kapono in
1999, Dan Gadzuric, JaRon Rush and Ray Young in 1998, and Baron
Davis in 1997.
“(Our coaches) work at recruiting as hard as any staff in
the country,” Lavin said.
Other incoming freshmen include center Michael Fey, who will
replace Gadzuric, as well as forwards Matt McKinney and Marcedes
Lewis.
McKinney will also play volleyball for the Bruins, and Lewis
will be a tight end for the football team.
“(We) have put together a balanced incoming freshman
class,” Lavin said.
UCLA is also interested in signing guard Brian Morrison, who has
played the last two seasons at North Carolina. Morrison, who
averaged 7.1 ppg in 16.9 minutes per game, is looking to transfer
in order to get more minutes.
Morrison made an official visit to UCLA on Wednesday, and will
also visit Cal, San Diego State and Gonzaga, according to the L.A.
Daily News.