Mason, 6-7 UCLA Forward, Switches to Loyola Marymount

UCLA forward Zan Mason will transfer to Loyola Marymount, where he enrolled for summer classes Monday.

Mason, a 6-foot-7 junior who was a star at nearby Westchester High, will sit out next season, then will have two seasons of eligibility. Mason went to UCLA as part of Jim Harrick’s 1989 recruiting class, which also included Tracy Murray and Mitchell Butler, who have played ahead of Mason the past two seasons.

Mason, 20, played in 22 games as a freshman, averaging 1.5 points, and saw action in 27 games last season, averaging three points and 2.3 rebounds. He had his season highs of 14 points and eight rebounds in a blowout victory over Loyola in December.

Mason follows in the footsteps of Corey Gaines, a former Bruin who finished his career at Loyola, winning all-league honors at point guard in 1988.

Loyola Coach Jay Hillock hopes Mason will provide the rebounding last season’s 16-15 team lacked.

“He is an impact player who completes a very good recruiting class for us,” Hillock said.

Mason, who also visited UC Santa Barbara and UC Irvine after being released from his scholarship at UCLA, said he was looking forward to playing in Loyola’s fast-break system.

“I feel quite confident that there will be an easy transition period,” he said.