Olympic Trials May Be Held at UCLA

UCLA’s Pauley Pavilion is the leading site being considered for the trials to select the men’s team for the 1988 Summer Olympics, sources close to the American Basketball Assn. of the USA said Thursday.

The sources said that United States Olympic Coach John Thompson of Georgetown and his assistant, USC’s George Raveling, have endorsed Pauley for the trials, tentatively scheduled for next May 15-20.

A UCLA spokesman would not confirm the report but said he was aware that Pauley is under consideration. An announcement is expected soon.

Thompson said Wednesday that players selected for the U.S. team will report to a training camp in June at a site yet undetermined and then will play several exhibition games against international teams and teams composed of National Basketball Assn. players before the Summer Olympics in Seoul, South Korea, scheduled for Sept. 17-Oct. 2.

One of the players expected to participate in the trials is center David Robinson, the first-round draft choice of the San Antonio Spurs who has had to delay his entry into the NBA while fulfilling a five-year commitment to the Navy.

Asked if there is any way for the 7-foot 1-inch Robinson to play himself off the U.S. team at the trials, Thompson said: “I think it would be hard for him to do it. He’d have to work at it.”