Dollar, Guard From Maryland, Signs Letter of Intent With UCLA

The UCLA men’s basketball team landed its first recruit of the year Thursday, when point guard Cameron Dollar of Frederick, Md., signed a letter of intent.

The addition of the 6-foot-1 Dollar addresses the Bruins’ need for a capable point guard to spell starter Tyus Edney, who will be a junior next season.

Dollar led St. John’s at Prospect Hall High to a 23-2 record and No. 8 ranking in the final USA Today prep poll last season. He averaged 11 points and 12 assists, setting a Maryland high school record for assists in a season (302). He had a single-game high of 21 assists, and shot 57% from three-point range.

Miami, North Carolina State, Temple, Providence and some Ivy League schools also were interested in Dollar. Although St. John’s, an East Coast powerhouse, usually sends players to Big East and Atlantic Coast Conference schools, Dollar said he was more comfortable with the Bruin coaching staff.

“Cameron is the type of player who can come in right away . . . and help us immediately,” Coach Jim Harrick said in a statement.

UCLA is awaiting word from Lakewood Artesia’s Charles O’Bannon and Avondre Jones, who are expected to announce after a team banquet on April 22. UCLA also has an outside chance at signing Jerald Honeycutt, a 6-9 forward from Grambling, La. Honeycutt, who also is considering Arkansas, Louisiana State, Louisiana Tech and Tulane, visited UCLA last weekend.