UCLA’s O’Bannon and Edney Sign NBA Contracts

Ed O’Bannon and Tyus Edney, who helped UCLA to the NCAA basketball title last spring, signed contracts with NBA teams Tuesday.

O’Bannon, the ninth player selected in last June’s NBA draft, signed a three-year contract that will pay him $3.25 million to $3.9 million with the New Jersey Nets, according to terms of the NBA’s new rookie salary scale.

Edney signed with the Sacramento Kings, who picked him in the second round. He was the 47th player chosen in the draft.

Said New Jersey General Manager Willis Reed of O’Bannon, “Ed is a young man who has gone through some adversity and has proven to be a winner. I think he will bring a lot to this team this year. We look forward to having Ed on the floor for a very long time.”

O’Bannon, a 6-foot-8 forward, averaged more than 20 points a game as a senior and was the outstanding player of the Final Four.

“I feel lucky and blessed to be going to the NBA,” O’Bannon said. “The Nets are a great organization and they are well coached and have a lot of talent. I look forward to going out and playing as hard as I can to help the team get better.”

Edney drew similar compliments.

“He has an opportunity to make an immediate contribution to the success of this team,” King Vice President Geoff Petrie said.

Edney, a 5-10 point guard, averaged 12.1 points, 5.2 assists and 1.8 steals a game in his UCLA career. He averaged 14.3 points a game last season, and is the UCLA career leader in steals with 224.

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The Portland Trail Blazers signed first-round draft picks Gary Trent and Randolph Childress to three-year contracts. . . . Sacramento reportedly has reached a three-year agreement with top draft choice Corliss Williamson. . . . Pete Myers, released by the Chicago Bulls after they traded for Dennis Rodman, joined the Charlotte Hornets. . . . Center Jon Koncak, who has spent his career with the Atlanta Hawks, signed with the Orlando Magic. . . . The Indiana Pacers released Vern Fleming and LaSalle Thompson, re-signed Haywoode Workman and signed free agents Eddie Johnson and Ricky Pierce.

Gymnastics

Romania’s Gina Gogean, defending world champion in the vault, hit a 9.825 in that event and a 9.875 in the floor exercises, the highest marks yet in the World Gymnastics Championships that began Monday at Sabae, Japan.

Tennis

Martina Hingis of Switzerland, who just celebrated her 15th birthday, defeated Amy Frazier of the United States in the first round of the European Indoor tennis tournament at Zurich, Switzerland.

Miscellany

Manchester United, England’s most storied soccer team and playing with just-returned striker Eric Cantona, was eliminated in the second round of the League Cup by York City of the second division. Manchester United won the game, 3-1, but was eliminated, 4-3, on total goals after a startling, 3-0, loss two weeks ago in Manchester in the first leg.

Cal State Sacramento and Cal State Northridge will join the Big Sky Conference, the league announced. They will begin competing in the conference next year.

After the changes next summer, the Big Sky will include Portland State, Northridge, Sacramento, Eastern Washington, Idaho State, Montana, Montana State, Northern Arizona and Weber State.