N.Y. Prep Basketball Standout Drops UC Irvine from His List

UC Irvine has fallen out of the running for New York City prep basketball star Ed Elisma, said Bill Aberer, Elisma’s coach at LaSalle Academy.

Elisma, the 6-foot-10, 200-pound center who recently narrowed his choices to Georgia Tech and Irvine, now will choose either Georgia Tech or South Carolina.

Georgia Tech Coach Bobby Cremins has been considering the coaching vacancy at South Carolina, his alma mater.

“If Cremins stays, he’ll (Elisma) go to Georgia Tech, simple as that,” Aberer said. “As of now, Irvine is out of the running.”

Elisma committed to Irvine coaches last fall but later changed his mind, saying he would make his decision in the spring. April 14 is the first day of the late basketball signing period.

Elisma averaged 12.7 points, 16.5 rebounds and 5.8 blocked shots.

Aberer said Elisma is taking his college entrance exams for a third time this weekend. He failed to meet NCAA requirements on the first two exams, Aberer said.