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What Does Future Hold for Rush?

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Friends and family expressed confidence that JaRon Rush will return to UCLA next season rather than turn pro in the wake of NCAA penalties that ended his 1999-2000 season and also put his junior campaign in doubt.

The Bruins concede there is no chance Rush will play again this season but are hopeful an appeal will reduce the sanction that he miss the first 17 games of 2000-01, a number that will be dropped for every postseason game they play this spring. That appeal will be heard in the next week or two.

“He’s talked a lot about next year,” guard Earl Watson said.

In the meantime, Rush will practice with the Bruins, as he had for the last three weeks while awaiting word on his fate. They hope the continued contact will help him feel part of the team at a time when he will be distanced from actual competition--and encourage him to stay in school.

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“I would like to say that I am sorry that all of this has created problems of worries for people who care about me--especially my team, the coaches and athletic staff at UCLA, and my family,” Rush said in a statement issued by the university.

“My goals right now are to succeed in school and to play basketball for UCLA as soon as I can.”

TONIGHT

vs. Stanford, 7:30

Fox Sports Net 2

* Site--Pauley Pavilion.

* Radio--KXTA (1150).

* Records--Bruins 12-6, 3-4; Cardinal 17-1, 6-1.

* Update--Stanford is No. 2 in the nation but part of a four-way tie for the Pacific 10 Conference lead.

* Tickets--(310) UCLA-WIN.

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