How J’mison (BoBo) Morgan got his name(s)

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UCLA freshman center J’mison Morgan comes to UCLA slotted to play the same position as Kevin Love, who was Pac-10 player of the year as a freshman last season and who left the Bruins as the NBA’s No. 5 draft pick.

Morgan, 6-feet-10 and 248 pounds, may not have Love’s noted ability to throw court-length chest passes or Love’s well-regarded post footwork but Morgan does have Love beat on nicknames.

Even UCLA Coach Ben Howland calls Morgan ‘BoBo.’ It’s a nickname Morgan said he got as a baby. He said his hair came in around the edges, leaving him looking a little like Bozo the Clown. Morgan said adults in his family began calling him Bozo, but one of his brothers pronounced ‘Bozo’ as ‘BoBo.’ And it’s two capital B’s in BoBo, Morgan said.

As for the unusual spelling of his first name? Morgan said his aunt, an English teacher, wanted to give him the unusual spelling. It’s pronounced ‘Jame-mis-son.’

-- Diane Pucin