Lavin Is Looking Into Crystal Ball

With UCLA slogging through a 3-3 February, and the prospect of a tougher time in March, Coach Steve Lavin on Tuesday could not help taking an eager look into a Bruin future he predicts can only get brighter.

“Recruiting, for whatever reasons, is at a high point, at least since I’ve been here during the seven years at UCLA,” said Lavin, who this week received an oral commitment from JaRon Rush, a highly regarded 6-foot-7 forward from Pembroke Hill High in Kansas.

The late signing period begins April 8.

UCLA has signed two high-level recruits: swingman Ray Young from St. Joseph’s Notre Dame Alameda and forward Matt Barnes from Fair Oaks Del Campo. The Bruins apparently are in the lead for the top remaining center, Dan Gadzuric, from Governor Dummer Academy in Byfield, Mass.

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Bruin Athletic Director Peter Dalis said he was surprised that Duke Coach Mike Krzyzewski criticized UCLA for letting the two teams’ six-game series expire with Sunday’s Duke blow-out victory.

“You know, [former North Carolina coach] Dean Smith was unhappy when we ended that series [in 1988] and started with Duke, but he was gracious about it,” Dalis said. “He didn’t say anything.”

Dalis said he has never favored locking up his schedule with the same nonconference opponents year after year, adding that UCLA is dropping its long series with Louisville after next season, starting one with Syracuse for 1998-99 and hoping to start one with North Carolina in the near future.

Dalis said he especially was bothered to hear Krzyzewski imply that UCLA was dropping Duke because the Blue Devils have recently recruited successfully on the West Coast.