UCLA Loses Fairfax’s Burns

Evan Burns, a McDonald’s All-American basketball player from Fairfax High, was released from his letter of intent by UCLA on Tuesday after the NCAA determined that he did not meet initial eligibility requirements.

Burns will attempt to enroll at San Diego State as a partial qualifier, sources said, which would make him ineligible for one year. He can appeal to attempt to gain immediate eligibility

Burns had been admitted to UCLA provisionally because his grade-point average and SAT score were acceptable. However, the NCAA Clearinghouse--which determines eligibility--is embroiled in a dispute with Fairfax over Burns’ required “core” classes.

Burns attended summer school at UCLA and could have remained bound by his letter of intent while appealing the NCAA ruling. But he decided to cut ties with UCLA because fall classes at San Diego State began Sept. 3 and he must gain admittance in the next few days.

San Diego State judges partial qualifiers case by case. There have been no partial qualifiers in Coach Steve Fisher’s three seasons, although a few Aztec football players have been admitted as partials, among them running back Larry Ned, now with the Oakland Raiders.

If Burns is not admitted at San Diego State, he might try to gain admittance at Fresno State or could play professionally in Europe and make himself eligible for next year’s NBA draft.

The loss of the 6-foot-8 Burns, who averaged 23.5 points and 8.3 rebounds at Fairfax, is another blow to UCLA’s front line, which will be without sophomore forward Andre Patterson at least for the fall semester because of academic problems.

The Bruins top rebounders last season, Dan Gadzuric and Matt Barnes, were seniors. Freshmen post players Michael Fey and Ryan Hollins will be expected to contribute immediately, backing up a small starting lineup of 6-10 center T.J. Cummings and four perimeter players--seniors Jason Kapono and Ray Young, and sophomores Cedric Bozeman and Dijon Thompson.

Losing Burns opens a second scholarship for the 2003-04 season and improves UCLA’s chances of landing highly touted Trevor Ariza, a 6-7 Westchester High forward who plays the same position as Burns.

Ariza and Aaron Brooks, a point guard from Seattle Franklin High, are the top players on Coach Steve Lavin’s wish list.