Petruska to Leave Loyola, May Transfer to UCLA

Richard Petruska, a 6-foot-10 center who was the leading rebounder and No. 2 scorer for the Loyola Marymount basketball team last season, has been granted a release from his scholarship and is thought to be interested in transferring to UCLA.

Believed to be the first Czechoslovakian citizen to play basketball at a Division I college, Petruska was the only sophomore named to the All-West Coast Conference team last winter after averaging 16.4 points and 7.5 rebounds a game and making 58.9% of his shots in his only season at Loyola.

Petruska, who also had 55 blocked shots in 28 games, recorded season highs of 29 points against San Francisco and 15 rebounds against San Diego, and in a game against UCLA last December at Pauley Pavilion, he had 21 points and nine rebounds in 19 minutes.

A former member of his country’s national team, the 220-pound Petruska was approached last summer by UCLA, which sent assistant coach Tony Fuller to Czechoslovakia to watch him play.

But last August, after 6-8 forward Ed O’Bannon reconsidered an oral commitment to Nevada Las Vegas and announced that he would enroll at UCLA, Bruin Coach Jim Harrick decided not to offer a scholarship to Petruska.

A few weeks later, however, 6-11 Rodney Odom announced that he was transferring from UCLA--he will play next season at North Carolina Charlotte. And in October, O’Bannon injured his left knee, which required reconstructive surgery and caused the former national high school player of the year to miss the season.

Harrick mentioned more than once last season that, considering the circumstances, he probably made a mistake by passing on Petruska.

Neither Harrick nor Petruska could be reached for comment, but a statement released by Loyola indicated that Petruska will approach two unnamed Southern California schools. A source said if neither school is interested, Petruska could return to Loyola.

He would join another Czechoslovakian player, 7-foot freshman Jiri Zidek, if he transfers to UCLA. Last May, Zidek, 18, signed a letter of intent to play for the Bruins. Petruska is 4 1/2 years older than Zidek, and because of his age--he will be 23 on Jan. 25--he would retain only one season of eligibility under NCAA rules after sitting out next season.

Times staff writer Alan Drooz contributed to this story.