RUSH-ED PAST NBA EX-UCLA GUARD SIGNS WITH ABA FRANCHISE.

Byline: Vincent Bonsignore Staff Writer

It looks like JaRon Rush will play professional basketball this year, only it won't be in the NBA as he'd hoped when he left UCLA after his sophomore year.

Instead, Rush will begin his post-Bruins career with the Kansas City Knights of the upstart ABA. Rush, the Knights' first-round pick in the ABA's inaugural draft, signed a contract with the club Monday and will begin play when the eight-team league opens its first season sometime after Christmas.

Rush, a 6-7 guard, grew up in Kansas City and attended Pembroke High before signing with the Bruins in 1998.

Rush played only nine games with the Bruins last season after serving two NCAA suspensions, then left school at the end of the year to apply early for the 2000 NBA draft. He did so against the advice of many scouts and coaches, who felt Rush was making a mistake by leaving school early.

Rush hopes to get his career on track with the Knights.

``It's a professional league and that's something I've looked forward to for a long time,'' Rush said. ``It's not the NBA, but it's a start.''

The Knights agree.

``We've had several very good meetings with JaRon and we're willing to give him a second chance,'' Kansas City coach Kevin Pritchard said. ``He knows he's made some poor decisions in his life. He's not going to put the blame on anyone else but him. I think he's been humbled by what's gone on around him the last couple of years, and especially the last couple of months.''

Rush was suspended by the NCAA for accepting money from L.A. sports agent Jerome Stanley and former AAU coach Myron Piggie. He was originally suspended for 29 games but was reinstated after his appeal and played the final nine games, averaging 12.1 points.

Rush averaged 11.6 points in two years at UCLA.

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Photo: JARON RUSH

Guard who left UCLA after his sophomore year signed first pro contract - with ABA's Kansas City Knights.