Pac-10 Studies UCLA’s Recruiting of Fairfax Basketball Star Higgins

The Pacific 10 Conference is conducting an informal investigation into the recruiting and subsequent signing of basketball star Sean Higgins by UCLA.

The result could be that the Fairfax High School senior, rated one of the top prospects in the country, will never play for the Bruins.

According to one source, Higgins recently called UCLA Coach Walt Hazzard and asked to be released from the letter of intent. The Bruins have not released him, though, and are making no comments on the matter.

A source close to the situation, requesting anonymity, said it is doubtful the school would even take Higgins at this point, anyway.

Hazzard said Tuesday: “It’s in the hands of the Pac-10.”

It is known, however, that UCLA stopped leaving Higgins passes for Bruin games more than a month ago. When he was being recruited, Higgins, the No. 1 prospect on the West Coast, was viewed as the player who would replace graduating star Reggie Miller.

The Pac-10 acknowledged that it is investigating UCLA’s pursuit of Higgins before his signing Nov. 18 but would say little else.

“We’re looking into it,” said Jim Muldoon, director of public relations for the Pac-10. “We have no comment past that.”

The informal investigation may only be the first step.

“You look into something to see if a (formal) investigation is needed,” he said, adding that there is no timetable for a conclusion.

According to one source in the athletic department, UCLA requested the inquiry once it learned that Higgins was unhappy.

It has long been known that Higgins had doubts regarding the Bruins.

The morning he signed the letter of intent, Higgins said that he talked at 12:30 a.m. with his father, who lives in suburban Detroit, and told him he would attend Michigan. Then, when it was time for the press conference, Higgins was a no-show, leaving it to Fairfax Principal Warren Steinberg to announce the youngster’s decision to go to UCLA.

From the start, there were claims by Earl Higgins, a former member of the Indiana Pacers of the ABA, that his son signed “under duress. . . . He made up his mind what he wanted to do, and then someone changed it. I don’t know who and I don’t know why.”

The elder Higgins wanted his son to attend Michigan. And, in a later interview, Sean admitted: “My mother changed my mind. She wanted me to stay home. I still have some doubts. But you know, somebody told me, you never know if its going to be the right choice until you get there.”

Higgins has since moved out of his mother’s house and is believed to be living with relatives of his father but has been silent about his situation.

“That’s something between him and the people involved and he would rather keep it that way,” Fairfax Coach Harvey Kitani said Tuesday. “He doesn’t have any comment. He wants to go on with school. He’s in finals now, and that can be tough enough for anyone.

“He’s still shooting 64% from the field and 92% from the free-throw line. Of course, I think any number of things could have a mental effect on him one way or another. But on the whole, he’s playing OK.

“Once he steps on the court, he’s ready to go. His stats are very similar to last year. His assist totals are even up a bit. He’s averaging 3.6.”

Higgins is averaging 24.8 points and 10.8 rebounds a game, second on the Lions to junior Chris Mills’ 26.7 and 14.1. Fairfax is 16-0 and has been the No. 1 team in the state since the start of the season.

A two-time All-City selection, Higgins was the 3-A player of the year as a sophomore, when Fairfax went 25-2 and won the championship. He came back last season, after the Lions had been moved up to the 4-A, and averaged 25.4 points a game.