Haley, Richardson Impress in UCLA Intrasquad Game

Jack Haley, at 6-10 the only truly center-sized player on the team, looked a whole lot better as a junior than he did last season, and Pooh Richardson, the much-hailed guard from Philadelphia, seemed to live up to his billing in UCLA’s annual intrasquad basketball game Thursday night at Pauley Pavilion. The small turnout of 3,581 seemed pleased with what it saw.

Coach Walt Hazzard watched while assistants Jack Hirsch and Kris Jason coached a team made up of likely starters--center Haley, forwards Reggie Miller and Craig Jackson and guards Corey Gaines and Richardson--and assistants Andre McCarter and Sidney Wicks coached a team made up of Charles Rochelin, Kelvin Butler, Jerald Jones, Rod Palmer and David Immel, who will be redshirting this season.

The starters won, 95-89.

The starting lineup is not necessarily set at the guard positions. Montel Hatcher, who averaged 8.4 points a game last season as a sophomore, is sitting out with a pulled muscle in his leg.

“Montel will be back in there,” Hazzard said. “I think, probably, Corey has the inside track on the other position right now, but Pooh is an impact player who will play a lot of minutes for us.”

Richardson and Gaines each had 14 points for the winners. Jackson had 15. Miller, who was the most valuable player in the NIT last season, led the winners with 25 points.

Haley had 23 points and 11 rebounds, but the man he was guarding, Butler, had 27 points and 8 rebounds.

“I was impressed with Jack Haley’s play tonight at both ends of the court,” Hazzard said.

Each team had just six players to work with, so there wasn’t much time for anyone to rest. “I think we’re in good condition,” Hazzard said. “Much better shape than we were last year.”