GOODRICH'S PLACE CEMENTED FORMER BRUINS STAR'S NO. 25 JERSEY FINALLY WILL BE RETIRED.

Byline: Brian Dohn Staff Writer

Former UCLA coach John Wooden sat in a gym watching the City Section tournament, completely enthralled with some 5-foot-7, 130-pound rail of a kid with a quick step and ability to play smart.

Wooden said he was seated with a very good friend and commented about how he impressed he was with the player, who was a junior.

``Well, his parents, and I didn't know they were sitting right behind me, they heard me make that statement, and they tapped me on the shoulder and asked if I meant that,'' Wooden said this week.

In no time, Wooden had Gail Goodrich's transcripts. By the following January, Goodrich had graduated early from Poly High of Sun Valley and enrolled at UCLA.

The following fall, Goodrich led the Bruins' freshman team to a 20-0 mark, the start one of the greatest college and professional basketball careers.

What has been a touchy subject for many folks associated with UCLA comes to an end today, nearly 40 years after Goodrich's last college game, as his No. 25 becomes the seventh men's basketball jersey retired by the university.

``After all these years, I didn't think it was going to happen,'' said Goodrich, who is lives in Connecticut and does work for NBA TV. ``I was shocked when I got the call.''

The ceremony takes place at halftime of UCLA's game against Michigan, the school against which Goodrich played his final college game, in 1965. He scored 42 points as the Bruins beat Michigan 91-80 to claim UCLA's second successive national championship.

``I think it's a special day,'' said Bruins coach Ben Howland, who grew up watching UCLA basketball. ``It's long overdue. Gail has really been great to me and reached out and really has great pride in being a national champion here at UCLA, and being a part of those first two teams and helping really get the program turned.''

As a junior in 1963-64, Goodrich led UCLA in scoring (21.5 points per game) en route to the Bruins' first perfect season (30-0) and first national title. The following season, Goodrich led the Bruins in scoring (24.8 ppg) and took them to a second NCAA championship.

There has been consternation within the UCLA community since Goodrich's No. 25 jersey was retired by the Lakers. His No. 12 jersey was retired last year at Poly.

``The only surprise is that it took so long,'' said Keith Erickson, who co-captained the 1964-65 team with Goodrich. ``Here's a guy that's in the basketball hall of fame. His number has been retired by the best pro franchise in the NBA and it hadn't by his college team, and he led the team to two NCAA championships. Somebody wasn't thinking, it seems like.''

The pressure to do something mounted, so UCLA altered its stringent requirements for jersey retirement. What was reserved solely for three-time consensus All-Americans evolved into an honor for players in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Erickson will speak at the halftime ceremony. He said his message about Goodrich, whom he described as ``5-feet-2, and he weighed 99 pounds'' as a sophomore in high school, is simple.

``There were sophomore girls that could take him in the post and pound on him,'' Erickson said. ``So, who in the world ever would have thought he had any chance whatsoever to become one of the greatest basketball players in our country's history?''

Goodrich's slight size, even as his high school days progressed, kept nearly every college away except UCLA.

Goodrich's father, Gail P. Goodrich, was captain of USC's 1938-39 team, but Trojans coach Sam Barry had limited interest, and it wasn't until late the Trojans offered a scholarship.

Wooden, impressed with Goodrich's knowledge of the game, continued to pursue him heavily.

``He was very quick,'' Wooden said. ``He never had great speed, but he was quick. And I think quickness is the most valuable asset in almost any athlete, in my opinion. He was a very spirited player, very courageous.

``He could go right in against the big guys. He had a quick release. He wasn't a great jumper, but he had a quick release.

Erickson described Goodrich as the consummate clutch player, capable of making the tough outside shot with the game on the line, yet calm enough to make free throws in the closing seconds in hostile venues.

By the time Goodrich left UCLA, he was 6-1, 175 pounds and the school's all-time leading scorer (1,690 points, currently 13th all-time).

He went on to star with the Lakers and averaged 18.6 points per game in 14 seasons. He was a five-time All-Star. The Lakers won an NBA-record 33 successive games in 1971-72 - en route to a league-record 69 wins (broken by Chicago in 1995-96) and the NBA championship. Goodrich was the top scorer, averaging 25.9 points per game.

``My days at UCLA were the most enjoyable days of my basketball career,'' Goodrich said. ``I say that, maybe, because at that time in my life I couldn't wait to get to the gym to practice. The gym was like my home. It's really where I developed my passion for the game. I was able to learn the game the right way.''

Brian Dohn, [phone]

brian.dohn(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

photo, 2 boxes

Photo:

Gail Goodrich led UCLA to its first two NCAA titles. His number will be retired today at the Bruins' game against Michigan.

Daily News File Photo

Box:

(1) SEVEN NUMBERS

(2) UCLA vs. MICHIGAN

- Brian Dohn