KAPONO JOINS EXODUS UCLA FRESHMAN DECLARES, BUT KEEPS OPTION TO RETURN.Byline: Lee Barnathan Staff Writer Jerome Moiso and JaRon Rush JaRon Maurice Rush (born April 12, 1979) is an American former college basketball player from Kansas City, Missouri. He played at UCLA and is the older brother of NBA basketball player Kareem Rush and college basketball player Brandon Rush. are gone. Jason Kapono Jason Alan Kapono (born February 2 1981 in Long Beach, California) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA, currently with the Toronto Raptors.[1] His previous team was the Miami Heat in 2006-07. took the first step Saturday to join them. Saying he wants to ``test the waters,'' the UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX freshman announced he has declared for the NBA Draft The NBA Draft is an annual North American event in which the National Basketball Association's (NBA) thirty teams (29 in the United States and one in Toronto, Canada) can select players who wish to join the league. . That doesn't mean the Bruins' leading scorer and Pacific-10 co-Freshman of the Year is gone, however. Kapono, a 6-foot-7 McDonald's All-American from Artesia, has no plans to sign with an agent, meaning he can declare for the June 28 draft but still return to school if he's not satisfied for any reason (read: he doesn't think he'll be drafted high enough). Some scouts think he will be chosen in the first round. Others think Moiso and Rush will be selected ahead of him. Moiso and Rush, both sophomores, declared for the draft May 2. Kapono had until today to declare. He now can attend NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= tryout camps and withdraw from the draft by June 21 without jeopardizing his eligibility. ``Playing in the NBA has been a lifelong dream of mine,'' Kapono said in a statement released by the school (he was unavailable for comment). ``I feel that now is the appropriate time to explore that option. After the next few weeks, I will be able to accurately decide what will be my future plans. My first year of college and playing for Steve Lavin Steve Lavin (born September 4,1964), a San Francisco, California native is a former college basketball coach and current ABC and ESPN TV analyst. As UCLA head basketball coach from 1996-2003, Lavin compiled a record of 145-78. and the UCLA Bruins The UCLA Bruins are the sports teams for University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). The Bruin men's and women's teams participate in NCAA Division I-A as part of the Pacific Ten Conference. Athletic alumni Jackie Robinson, Rafer Johnson, Yang Chuan-kwang (C.K. has been a great experience. That's why I have left open the door to return.'' Kapono averaged 16 points - second all-time among UCLA freshmen - and was one of just two players to start all 33 games. He also set the school single-season 3-point record with 82 made. UCLA coach Steve Lavin also was unavailable for comment but said in a statement he understood Kapono's decision. ``Jason has been very deliberate in his approach to exploring his future in basketball at the next level,'' Lavin said. ``Obviously, I'm happy he's left open the option of returning to UCLA. If he decides to enter the NBA Draft, it's because he will be a first-round selection. If he decides to come back to us at UCLA, we will welcome him with open arms.'' Should Kapono elect to turn pro, it will be the first time three underclassmen have left early from UCLA. UCLA has sent numerous players into the NBA, but very few have stuck in recent years. Ed O'Bannon Edward Charles O'Bannon, Jr. (born August 14, 1972 in Los Angeles, California) is a former basketball player, who was a star small forward for the UCLA Bruins, where he was known as "Ed-O," but had a less-than-illustrious career as a professional basketball player. , Tyus Edney and George Zidek, who played on the Bruins' 1995 national championship team, no longer are in the league. CAPTION(S): photo Photo: JASON KAPONO He joins sophomores JaRon Rush and Jerome Moiso in leaving Steve Lavin's team early for the NBA. |
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