Loyola’s Bailey May Delay College Plans : Basketball: All-star guard decides again taking Portland scholarship offer. Instead, he may spend a year at an East Coast prep school, says his father.

Loyola star guard Moose Bailey has decided to put his college basketball career on hold, notifying the University of Portland last Tuesday night that he would not be accepting an athletic scholarship to the West Coast Conference school.

Bailey, who was named to the Times’ Central City all-star team, has received clearance from the NCAA rules committee to attend another school should he choose to do so. Bailey, 17, has met the academic and college entrance examination requirements for freshman eligibility.

However, Bailey also is considering attending an East Coast postgraduate prep school.

“Moose and I were very impressed with the professionalism of the Portland coaching staff and would have welcomed the opportunity to play there,” Moose’s father, John Bailey, said. “They are building a really good program. However, my son needs another year to physically mature and explore opportunities with other schools.”

In the interim, Moose Bailey has been invited to attend the ABCD Sports Festival in Teaneck, N.J. in July.

Bailey, who averaged 23 points and eight assists, is the younger brother of UCLA standout freshman Toby Bailey.