McCoy Practicing at High Level

Coach Steve Lavin made a point to praise the practice performance of Jelani McCoy in front of the team and to reporters this week, after a Tuesday workout that Lavin called “the best practice I’ve seen in the three years he’s been here.”

McCoy, the Bruins’ only center, returned to practice last week after an indefinite suspension, and is expected to be cleared for games by late December and in full game shape for UCLA’s Pacific 10 Conference opener at Arizona on Jan. 3.

“[It was] 2 1/2 hours of just the highest level of concentration and his attitude,” Lavin said of McCoy. “From the fundamental standpoint keeping the ball high and not bringing the ball down, rebounding, blocking shots and running the floor . . .

“I mean, it was 2 1/2 hours of a player with great ability who was realizing his potential. If he can sustain that kind of level, he’s going to make himself a better basketball player but also make us a better basketball team.”