On the Spot, Utah’s Jessie Provides Points

Several stern tests in the opening week of school isn’t the best way to ease into new surroundings, but the results can be revealing.

In Week 1 of Brandon Jessie’s basketball career at Utah, the junior guard faced some of the game’s best programs. The Utes played Indiana, Maryland and Michigan on three consecutive nights in the Maui Invitational during November, enabling Jessie to learn a lot.

His findings?

He belongs.

Jessie scored a team-high 23 points in Utah’s 77-72 season-opening victory over Indiana. He had 19 points in a 90-78 loss to Maryland a night later. Utah closed the tournament with a 73-69 loss to Michigan as Jessie had 12 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

And all this while adjusting to a major position change. Jessie, a former Edison High standout, is not in over his head.

“Everything is going real good,” he said.

Jessie, son of former Ram receiver Ron Jessie, is among the Utes’ leaders in statistics and spirit.

His 13.8 scoring average ranks second on the team. He leads Utah (6-2) in assists with 25, steals with 10 and is third in rebounding average at 5.5.

Jessie’s numbers are especially impressive considering he is a novice at his position, shooting guard, and considering the leadership role he has been thrust into.

Jessie played power forward last season and averaged 22 points and 11 rebounds while leading Ventura College to the finals of the State tournament. He was selected state co-player of the year.

However, Utah Coach Rick Majerus moved Jessie outside. At 6 feet 5 and 225 pounds, Jessie is the most physically gifted Ute player. Majerus needs scoring from the wing, and Jessie is the best he has.

“It’s a big difference,” Jessie said. “At Ventura, I was wrestling with all those big dudes inside. Now I’m playing defense against shorter, quicker guys like (Michigan’s) Jimmy King and (USC’s) Burt Harris.

“I’m struggling with it a little bit, but they’re being patient with me.”

No problem, though, because Majerus expected Jessie to encounter growing pains.

“For one, you’re talking about a different level of basketball,” Majerus said. “It’s also difficult to adjust to a whole new environment, and then he’s adjusting to the backcourt.

“He goes from playing (power forward) for (Ventura Coach) Phil (Mathews) to (guard) for us. But I think he’s coming along.”

The development process has been hurried somewhat because of the Utes’ problems.

Utah had one of its best recruiting classes in Majerus’ six-year tenure last season, signing Salt Lake City Community College forward Silas Mills and point guard Andre Miller from Los Angeles Verbum Dei High. Majerus expected the trio to join forward Keith Van Horn--the Western Athletic Conference freshman of the year last season--in the starting lineup, helping to form what would have been one of the nation’s best teams.

But Mills lived with a Ute booster last season and the NCAA did not allow him to transfer to Utah, deeming his living arrangement an unfair advantage. He transferred instead to Utah State. After several attempts, Miller failed to earn a qualifying score on the Scholastic Aptitude Test and is ineligible to play this season under NCAA guidelines.

“We’re playing two and three freshmen at a time,” Majerus said, “so (Jessie’s) had to provide leadership.

At 21, Jessie is the Utes’ oldest starter. Moreover, junior point guard Mark Rydalch is the only player who entered the season having played more than one year in the program. And Rydalch is returning from a torn anterior cruciate ligament.

“(Miller and Mills) were basically the reason I came,” said Jessie, who also took recruiting trips to Arizona State, Georgetown and Nevada Las Vegas.

“I hung with Silas when I came out on my trip and Andre is from where I am. It’s tough because we’ve got a really young lineup now, but I think we’ll be OK.”

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Running out of fingers: Maureen McLaren, a junior volleyball player and swimmer at Stanford, has been a member of four national championship teams.

The Cardinal (32-1) defeated UCLA for the NCAA women’s volleyball title last week at Austin, Tex. Stanford also defeated the Bruins in 1992, McLaren’s freshman year.

McLaren (6-1), from Newport Harbor High School, finished tied for eighth on the Cardinal in kills with 48 this season, and was eighth in digs with 41. McLaren, who swims the 100 and 200 meters, helped the Cardinal swim team win a national championship as a freshman and a sophomore.

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Sister act: Sisters Ashley and Rachel Wacholder were among the nation’s best outside hitters this season.

Ashley, a 5-9 senior at Duke, led the Blue Devils in kills with 467 and was selected first-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference. A co-captain, Ashley was the ACC regular-season and tournament MVP as a junior.

Rachel, a 5-8 sophomore who was The Times Orange County player of the year in both 1990-91 and 1991-92, finished second at Colorado in kills with 371 and digs with 318. She was selected second-team All-Big Eight as Colorado finished 23-8.

Keeping Track is a regular column in The Times following the progress of former Orange County athletes competing for colleges elsewhere.