Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 22, 1997

Sidelines

The Arizona basketball team received a verbal commitment late Monday night from guard Ruben Douglas of Burbank, Calif.

The 6-foot-3 Douglas was at McKale Center Friday for Midnight Madness and his signing brings Arizona's list of potential signees to five. Verbal commitments are non-binding and the first day recruits can sign letters of intent is Nov. 12.

Douglas' commitment makes life tough for much-sought after recruit Chris Richardson of Corpus Christi, Texas.

The 6-8 forward said yesterday that he will make his decision on Nov. 12 while his coach, Bobby Taylor, said Arizona and Texas are the front runners.

"I really liked Eugene Edgerson," Richardson told the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. "I could tell Arizona was really interested in me."

The Arizona recruiting class, which could be in the top 5 in the country also includes Traves Wilson of Moline, Ill., Richard Jefferson of Phoenix, Michael Wright of Chicago, and Luke Walton of San Diego, Calif.

Briefly

Arizona senior Rory Sabbatini shot a third round total of 3-under-par 210 to win the Jerry Pate National Intercollegiate title yesterday at the Old Overton Golf Course in Birmingham, Alabama. Sabbatini, the No. 2 golfer in the nation, defeated Auburn's Scott Weatherly by two strokes.

Sabbitini's first place finish marks the first individual title he has won at the UA and is his fourth top 5 finish in as many tournaments this season.

In team standings, fourth-ranked Clemson beat out Arizona to claim the title.

Clemson shot a combined 12-over-par 864, while the Wildcats finished 23-over-par 877. Arizona had won its last two tournaments.

By the Numbers

13:

Consecutive years that the Arizona Icecats, which open its season Friday night, have appeared in postseason play.

Over that span the Icecats have won one national title, were the runners-up three times and have appeared in nine final fours.