It Looks Like a New Wave for Pepperdine Under Romar

As a UCLA assistant the past four seasons, Lorenzo Romar was given much of the credit for the Bruins’ recruiting success.

Nothing has changed in his new job as Pepperdine’s basketball coach.

A week after UCLA was jettisoned from the NCAA tournament by Princeton, Romar appears on his way to a recruiting coup at Pepperdine, one that could include two or more transfers from Pacific 10 Conference schools.

A source said Romar has been contacted by at least eight Pac 10 players, inquiring about transferring to Pepperdine.

Sophomore guard Jelani Gardner, who is transferring from California to Pepperdine, said he will travel to Southern California today during spring break and sign a scholarship with the Waves, probably this weekend.

That would leave Pepperdine with four available scholarships and speculation is running wild on who will end up with them.

Among the players rumored as possible transfers to Malibu include UCLA sophomore center omm’A Givens and two of Gardner’s teammates at Cal--junior center Michael Stewart and sophomore forward Tremaine Fowlkes, Pac-10 freshman of the year for the 1994-95 season.

Fowlkes’ father, Ronald, said he doesn’t believe his son is considering transferring after talking to him last weekend.

“He informed me he’s going to adhere to his commitment and he would be remaining at Berkeley,” the elder Fowlkes said.

When pressed, however, Ronald Fowlkes said he wasn’t sure of his son’s plans.

“I really can’t say,” he said. “Tremaine has to make his own decision, this is his thing. I have enough faith, confidence and trust in him that he will make the right decision. If it was up to me, I would like him to stay at Berkeley.”

Cal Coach Todd Bozeman was unavailable for comment.

Tremaine Fowlkes also could not be reached. The 6-foot-7 forward played on back-to-back state Division I championship teams at Crenshaw High in 1993 and ’94. He was recruited for UCLA by Romar, who spoke at the Cougars’ awards banquet.

Gardner, who has known Romar since the eighth grade, said he was unaware of plans by any Cal teammates to transfer to Pepperdine.

Gardner said he decided to transfer after his playing time was drastically reduced by Bozeman late in the season.

After being suspended for the Washington game Feb. 22 for violating a team rule, Gardner was replaced in Cal’s starting lineup and averaged only 11.6 minutes in the Golden Bears’ final five games, including a 74-64 loss to Iowa State in an NCAA tournament opener last week.

“I figured out that Cal and Jelani Gardner wasn’t a good match,” said the 6-6 Gardner, a former All-American at Bellflower St. John Bosco High. “I decided it was time for a change.”

Gardner said he isn’t bothered by the prospect of having to sit out a season at Pepperdine.

“I look it as positive,” he said. “I’ll have a year off to improve my academics and improve my game as much as possible.

“I’ve known [Romar] for awhile. I feel comfortable with him as a person and a coach.”

Romar also has a close relationship with Givens, who has been the subject of transfer rumors for much of the season.

The 6-10 Givens came to UCLA as the most touted of a 1994 freshman class that included Toby Bailey, Kris Johnson and J.R. Henderson, but he has not started a regular-season game for the Bruins and probably will remain a reserve for as long as freshman center Jelani McCoy stays at Westwood.

A source said Romar has not pursued Givens out of respect for Bruin Coach Jim Harrick and Athletic Director Peter Dalis, but would not turn away Givens if the player expresses interest in coming to Pepperdine.

Two weeks ago, after Romar was hired as Pepperdine’s coach on Feb. 20, Givens denied rumors that he was planning to transfer.

Givens is taking finals this week and could not be reached for comment, and Harrick was out of town.

Romar is restricted from talking about potential transfers and recruits.

Of course, Romar isn’t about to give all his available scholarships to Division I transfers, who must sit out a season under NCAA rules.

With the graduation of 7-foot Gavin Van Der Putten, Pepperdine needs to fill an immediate void at center. Romar made a visit Monday to the home of Matt Pinkney, a 6-10 center at Salt Lake Community College in Utah.

Salt Lake Coach Norm Parrish said Pinkney, a sophomore who showed great improvement this season, will take a recruiting trip to Pepperdine.

“We absolutely have to get a big guy for next season,” Romar said.

Romar’s top assistant, Randy Bennett, has spent this week scouting the National Junior College tournament in Hutchinson, Kan.

“We’re out there beating the bushes,” Romar said. “We’ve got to look at as many players as we can. My ideal would be to sign a high school guy, but we need guys who can contribute right away.”

Pepperdine’s top high school recruits include 6-8 forward Pero Vasiljevic, an Australian exchange student at Simi Valley High, and 6-6 1/2 forward Kelvin Gibbs of Bellflower High.

The Waves’ need of frontcourt players is no secret. Of eight players expected to return next season, only two are 6-6 or taller. The team’s tallest player is 6-8 forward Bryan Hill, who will be a junior.

Romar’s objective is to use all of his scholarships. The signing period for high school and junior college players begins April 10.

“It’s extremely tough because we’re starting so late, but I’m confident [all our scholarships] will be filled,” Romar said.

After suffering through UCLA’s 43-41 loss to Princeton last week, Romar said taking over his own program has served as a pleasant diversion.

“I haven’t lost any games yet, but up to this point it’s been great trying to put your own program together, to put your own stamp on it,” he said. “When you’re an assistant, you say, ‘One day, this is how I’m going to do it.’ Now that day is here.

“There’s so much I want to do, the days can’t come fast enough.”