Anteater Center Plans Short Stay

Greg Ethington, the 6-foot-8, 235-pound freshman center for the UC Irvine basketball team, will play only one season for the Anteaters before going on a two-year Mormon mission.

Ethington said he will likely return to Irvine but did not rule out transferring. He averaged 14 points and nine rebounds last season Gilbert High School in Chandler, Ariz. Ethington is expected to play a great deal for the Anteaters this season.

Ethington, who chose Irvine after being released from his commitment to Pepperdine, might be lured back by baseball, which returns to Irvine in 2001. He was a pitcher at Gilbert and had a 5-3 record last season.

The Anteaters other three freshmen, 7-foot center Adam Parada, 6-7 forward Matt Okoro and 6-3 walk-on guard Aras Baskauskas, will redshirt this season.