Mann Opts to Enroll at Cerritos

Olujimi Mann, considered one of the country’s most talented high school point guards while playing for Santa Ana Valley High, has enrolled at Cerritos College in Norwalk.

Mann, who recently made an oral commitment to attend the University of New Mexico, failed to meet the school’s academic requirements for incoming freshmen, sources confirmed.

This marks the second time Mann has been denied admission to a Division I basketball school because of poor grades.

The former All-Southern Section pick made an oral commitment to UCLA in his junior year, only to have the Bruins withdraw their scholarship offer when they learned of his academic problems.

Mann was unavailable for comment Monday.

According to Cerritos Coach Jack Bogdanovich, Mann’s decision to enroll at Cerritos was made at the last minute.

“[Mann] thought he was going to New Mexico,” Bogdanovich said. “His father called Friday night and I told him they would have to enroll the next morning to beat the enrollment deadline. We signed him up for 13 units on Monday.

“He’s coming here to turn his life around.”

Bogdanovich also said Mann intends to honor his commitment to New Mexico next year.