McCoy Could Play by Next Week

In his most direct comments on the matter, Bruin Coach Steve Lavin suggested Monday that suspended center Jelani McCoy could be activated for games by next week--in time for McCoy to be in uniform Dec. 27 when UCLA plays at Nevada Las Vegas.

That would give McCoy at least two games--the Bruins play host to Illinois on Dec. 30--before their Pacific 10 Conference opener at Arizona on Jan. 3.

Lavin said that McCoy, who was indefinitely suspended Sept. 29 for unspecified violations of athletic department and team rules, and was allowed back to practice earlier this month, has a meeting with athletic department officials next week.

UCLA entertains Northern Arizona on Thursday, Saint Louis on Saturday and Boise State on Monday.