Moiso Is Bound for Boston

Jerome Moiso, who gave up his final two years of eligibility after an up-and-down career at UCLA, was selected by the Boston Celtics with the 11th pick in Wednesday’s NBA draft, joining a team that hasn’t qualified for the playoffs the last five seasons.

Moiso, a 6-foot-10, 235-pounder, doesn’t figure to be a savior for Coach Rick Pitino, but his spurts of athleticism for a player his size will be a welcome sight for the Celtics, who have lacked an inside presence for years.

“Depending on what my role is going to be on the team, I know that when I get on the court, I will produce,” Moiso said. “I’m pretty sure I have the talent and the skills, and I know where I’m going now.”

Moiso’s UCLA teammate, JaRon Rush, can’t make the same claim.

Rush, a 6-5 sophomore swingman who missed much of the 1999-2000 season because of an NCAA suspension that led to him entering the draft, was not selected among the 58 players during the league’s two-round process. Rush is now free to negotiate with any team.

The lack of an intimidating center has been a problem for the Celtics, notably last season. Six-foot-10 Vitaly Potapenko was the starter, averaging 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds but only .37 blocks. Tony Battie, a 6-11, 240-pounder, came off the bench to provide shot blocking, but he was inconsistent offensively.

Moiso won’t necessarily change things dramatically, but he can be a force inside when he wants to be, averaging 13 points and a team-leading 7.6 rebounds and 1.7 blocks last season.

Moiso, who was born in Paris and attended prep school in Milford, Conn., before coming to UCLA, said since arriving in Westwood he had an eye on the NBA. Some observers questioned how much Moiso’s game grew under Coach Steve Lavin and his staff.

“I got the experience I needed,” Moiso said. “The coaches pushed me all the way through. They knew my mind was on the NBA. They were behind me and I had their support, so that was good.”

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UCLA in Round 1

Bruin first-round draft choices:

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Year Players Pick Team 1964 Walt Hazzard 1 Lakers 1965 Gail Goodrich 1 Lakers 1969 Lew Alcindor 1 Milwaukee 1969 Lucius Allen 3 Seattle 1970 John Vallely 14 Atlanta 1971 Sidney Wicks 2 Portland 1971 Curtis Rowe 11 Detroit 1973 Swen Nater 16 Milwaukee 1974 Bill Walton 1 Portland 1974 Keith Wilkes 11 Golden State 1975 David Meyers 2 Lakers 1976 Richard Washington 3 Golden State 1977 Marques Johnson 3 Milwaukee 1978 Raymond Townsend 22 Golden State 1979 David Greenwood 2 Chicago 1979 Roy Hamilton 10 Detroit 1979 Brad Holland 14 Lakers 1980 Kiki Vandeweghe 11 Portland 1984 Kenny Fields 21 Milwaukee 1987 Reggie Miller 11 Indiana 1989 Pooh Richardson 10 Minnesota 1992 Tracy Murray 18 San Antonio 1992 Don MacLean 19 Detroit 1995 Ed O’Bannon 9 New Jersey 1995 George Zidek 22 Charlotte 1999 Baron Davis 3 Charlotte 2000 Jerome Moiso 11 Boston

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