By Greg Schain
Daily Bruin Reporter
Another recruit is in the bank for UCLA head coach Steve
Lavin.
The new Bruin is Brian Morrison, a guard who has played the last
two years at North Carolina, but now is transferring in hopes of
more playing time.
Morrison averaged 7.1 points and 16.9 minutes per game for North
Carolina, which finished the year a dismal 8-20.
He will not be eligible to play in the 2002-03 season for the
Bruins, because NCAA rules require players who transfer to sit out
a year.
Morrison also looked at schools like Gonzaga and Oregon, but he
told the Seattle Times that he decided on UCLA because he was
impressed with Lavin.
“I’m very excited,” he said. “I just
feel real comfortable with all the other players and I liked the
coaches.”
It is difficult to tell how prolific Morrison’s role will
be in the UCLA lineup in 2003-04. Ray Young and Jason Kapono, if he
stays in school, will be the only seniors leaving after next
season, creating little space in an already crowded backcourt for a
newcomer whose role has yet to be defined.
So it is questionable whether Morrison will see much more
playing time at UCLA than he did at North Carolina.
Morrison is considered an elite three-point shooter, and his
scoring ability certainly can’t hurt the team.
Morrison is one of several blue chip players whom Lavin has
signed to play at UCLA this off-season. Others include Evan Burns,
Michael Fey and Matt McKinney, all of whom are incoming
freshmen.