UC IRVINE NOTEBOOK / JOHN WEYLER : Some Global Ties Wrap Up This Recruit

It’s not too often that Irvine beats Arkansas, Cal and Seton Hall for a blue-chip basketball recruit. But the Anteaters did just that when Raimonds Miglinieks, the point guard from Latvia who averaged more than 400 assists a season at Riverside Community College, signed a letter of intent last week.

There are two reasons Miglinieks chose Irvine, one compelling and the other clearly a factor. So, every time Miglinieks creates a scoring opportunity next season, Anteater fans can thank first, the Southland’s large and gregarious Latvian community and second, the dedication of Irvine assistant Greg Vetrone.

“I live here for two years and I have lots of friends now, so it would be hard for me to leave,” Miglinieks said. “That is my biggest reason. There are a lot of Latvians and a Latvian Church in L.A.

“When I came to United States two years ago, it was like I have to start my life again. And if I moved somewhere else, it means I have to start over again.”

Miglinieks and his wife, Krista, left the turmoil of Latvia two years ago to try to make a new life in the United States. He had met former Irvine standout Wayne Engelstad while touring this country with the Latvian national team and stayed at Engelstad’s house for the first four months he was here.

While playing pick-up games in Irvine’s campus gym, he met Riverside assistant Maz Trakh, who asked him if he wanted to play there. The rest is history in the Riverside record books.

Irvine, in the person of Vetrone, watched Miglinieks’ community college career closely.

“(Vetrone) did a really great job,” Riverside Coach Bob Schermerhorn said. “He’s been at it since Raimonds was a freshman here and came to every game he could. I think Raimonds understands loyalty and puts importance in that.”

Miglinieks: “He’s a good guy. Vetrone and Coach (Rod) Baker are nice guys and good coaches, I think. Maybe they didn’t have luck or whatever last season, but they are good coaches.”

Miglinieks believes the Anteaters, 10-20 last season, will be a good team and says he is looking forward to helping them rebound from a disappointing 7-19 regular season and build on the momentum gained when they swept into the final of the Big West Tournament.

Much of Irvine’s regular-season woes can be traced to the sometimes spectacular, but often out of control, play of point guard Lloyd Mumford. Miglinieks figures to be a more stable force. He’s 23, made the dean’s list at Riverside and has served two years in the Soviet Red Army.

Schermerhorn says Miglinieks is the most unselfish player he has ever coached and his presence on the court seems to make everyone else play at a higher level.

“First thing I want to do, I want to win game,” Miglinieks said. “It doesn’t matter who scores what. I like to pass more than score.

“And defense is most important thing you have to do on court, I think. If you play defense, you win games.”

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Going, going . . . Junior Jermaine Avie, a 6-foot-7 forward who transferred from College of Eastern Utah and was a starter most of the season before his role was reduced to reserve status, is considering quitting.

Avie averaged seven points and seven rebounds and was among the top three players in minutes played, but he lost his starting job to LaDay Smith and scored only 11 points in the Anteaters’ four-game march to the Big West final.

The available playing time at the power forward spot was further reduced this week when Michael Tate, a 6-6 forward from Ventura College who Irvine coaches believe can have an immediate impact, signed a letter of intent to play at Irvine.

After saying he would have a statement about his decision this weekend, Avie was still hedging Monday.

“Coach Baker and I talk all the time, but I haven’t talked to him about talking to the papers,” Avie said. “Really, it’s not a big deal yet. Nothing has come to a conclusion. I haven’t made up my mind one way or the other.”

Anteater Notes

The men’s tennis team, two-time defending Big West champions and winners of six conference titles in the last seven years, has been ravaged by injuries recently. The Anteaters lost to San Diego State last week when three of their top players--Julian Foxon (ankle), Carlos Bustos (knee) and Fredrik Bach (hamstring)--were sidelined. All three players expect to play in the Big West Conference Championships, which begin Friday at the Ojai Valley Racquet Club. Irvine is seeded No. 2. The Anteaters (11-11) have lost three dual matches in a row and dropped to No. 30 in the national rankings. . . . The women’s tennis team is seeded sixth in the Big West Championships, which began Wednesday in Ojai. Irvine (9-12, 4-4 against Big West opponents) has never finished higher than third in the tournament. . . . The UCI Track & Field Invitational, featuring university and club teams, will be Saturday at UCI Track Stadium. . . . The golf team will compete in the U.S. Intercollegiate Tournament at Stanford University Saturday and Sunday. Senior Drew Sells leads the Anteaters with a 75.91 stroke average, followed by freshman Darren Humphrey (76.10). Irvine will compete in the Big West Championships May 2-3 at Stockton’s Elkhorn Country Club. . . . The 1994 Anteater Golf Classic, which benefits the UCI Athletic Scholarship Fund, is scheduled June 27 at SeaCliff Country Club in Huntington Beach. Cost per player is $175 and includes green fees, cart, continental breakfast, hospitality bag, competition package and dinner. For more information, phone 856-5550.