O’Bannon Makes It a Brother Act at UCLA : College basketball: Lakewood Artesia High forward picks Bruins over Kentucky.

Charles O’Bannon, hounded by college basketball recruiters for the past year, wasted little time after finally selecting a school in the early-morning hours Friday.

The Lakewood Artesia High senior called UCLA Coach Jim Harrick at home to inform him he would be playing for the Bruins next season.

“It was about 2 o’clock in the morning when I called Coach Harrick,” O’Bannon said at a news conference Friday night. “I don’t think he was sleeping, but he didn’t seem to mind that I called. He was calm on the phone, but I could tell he was excited.”

Harrick, who recently signed a three-year contract extension, would not comment Friday, citing an NCAA rule that prohibits coaches from talking about recruits before they sign a letter of intent. O’Bannon, a 6-foot-6 forward, said he planned to sign a letter Friday night at his home.

But Harrick said Thursday night at Artesia’s basketball awards banquet that his anticipation of signing O’Bannon was great because of the impact it might have on his recruiting efforts in Southern California.

O’Bannon, a four-year starter on an Artesia team that won three State Division II titles, chose UCLA over Kentucky, Michigan and USC. He said it eventually came down to UCLA and Kentucky and decided it would be better to stay closer to home.

“In the end, it was too hard for me to say goodby,” he said. “The family bond we have is so strong.”

After sleeping on his decision, O’Bannon called his older brother, Ed, a starting forward at UCLA, to tell him of his plans.

“I’ve tried to play a big brother role all along in the recruiting process,” said Ed, who played with Charles at Artesia during the 1989-90 season. “But I was a little surprised when he told me he chose UCLA. It was something I wanted and hoped for, but I know Kentucky had been his top choice on many occasions.”

Kentucky Coach Rick Pitino visited the O’Bannons’ home Thursday and was the keynote speaker at the Artesia banquet. O’Bannon said he could not reach Pitino on Friday, but informed an assistant coach of his decision.

O’Bannon, 18, is regarded as one of the top prospects in the nation and is expected to have an immediate impact at UCLA. He probably will join his brother as a starting forward, with Tyus Edney and Shon Tarver at the guards and Rodney Zimmerman at center.

UCLA was 22-11 last season, losing to Michigan in the second round of the NCAA tournament.

Harrick was criticized most of the season for failing to recruit top local players. Many of his critics said he should lose his job unless he signed O’Bannon.

“When Coach Harrick received his contract extension, it took a lot of pressure off of me,” said O’Bannon, who averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds as a senior. “I knew whatever I decided wouldn’t affect his status.”

O’Bannon is the second player to select UCLA this month. Guard Cameron Dollar of Frederick, Md., signed with the Bruins last week.

Artesia’s Avondre Jones, a heavily recruited 6-11 center, is still undecided but is considering UCLA among others. O’Bannon said he would do everything he could to persuade Jones to sign with UCLA.

“I will do all I can to help recruit every top player who is still considering UCLA,” O’Bannon said.

In other recruiting news, Claude Green of Dunbar High in Washington, D.C., signed with USC on Friday.

Green, a 6-3 guard, averaged 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals in leading Dunbar to a 33-1 record last season.