MacLean, Harrick Meet for 3 Hours, but Wait Goes On

Don MacLean, Simi Valley High’s 6-foot, 10-inch center, met for nearly three hours Wednesday with newly appointed UCLA Coach Jim Harrick to discuss the possibility of the All-American attending the school.

While neither party would discuss the particulars of the meeting held in Harrick’s office on the UCLA campus, both characterized it as a positive encounter.

“I came down to talk about some things,” MacLean said. “I wanted to talk to him, he wanted to talk to me.

“I have to make some decisions soon.”

Said Harrick: “It was good. We have a great relationship and I’m very positive about Don.”

MacLean set no timetable for his college choice, saying he would decide within “the next week or so.”

MacLean, who averaged 31.4 points and 12.3 rebounds in his senior season, said Tuesday that he had trimmed his preferences to UCLA and Georgia Tech.

The decision apparently eliminated Pitt, Nevada Las Vegas and Kentucky--originally included among MacLean’s top five choices--from consideration.

Georgia Tech Coach Bobby Cremins said he was aware that the derby was down to two schools but refused further comment. “We have a rule that we don’t talk about our recruits to anybody but our own staff,” Cremins said.

Steven Fleischman contributed to this story.