McKnight Cleared by Administrators

Coach Steve Lavin was not alone in clearing the way for Geoff McKnight to gain admittance to UCLA as a basketball walk-on. The school’s athletic department had to approve the decision.

The situation has caused a stir because McKnight, a marginal high school player, is the son of Mater Dei’s Gary McKnight, who coached two star players heavily recruited by the Bruins: Jamal Sampson and Cedric Bozeman. Bozeman signed a letter of intent with UCLA, Sampson with California.

Walk-on players do not receive a scholarship but benefit from relaxed admission standards. McKnight was admitted as a basketball walk-on this year, although he never tried out and now has no connection with the team. Reportedly, he is recovering from a knee injury and might try out next season.

Lavin said Saturday that his list of potential walk-ons had to be cleared by senior administrators in the athletic department. The list of walk-ons for every sport is submitted to the special-action committee for student-athlete admissions by associate athletics director Betsy Stephenson, who oversees Academic and Student services.

Asked if the recommendation of McKnight raised any red flags among administrators, Lavin said: “We were aware that Geoff McKnight was Gary McKnight’s son. . . . You always analyze situations. But from our perspective, it wasn’t anything to be alarmed about because we’ve gotten other coaches’ sons into UCLA as walk-ons.”