Walton, Gardner named to Wooden preseason list

UA basketball players Jason Gardner and Luke Walton were among 50 players named Friday to the 2002-03 John R. Wooden Award Preseason All-America Team.

Each will be considered for college basketballâs player-of-the-year honors.

Gardner, a 5-foot-10, 181-pound senior guard, made the Wooden Award preseason list for the third consecutive season.

The Indianapolis native averaged a team-leading 20.4 points, 2.9 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game, while logging 38.2 minutes per contest. He and the Wildcats have amassed a 79-25 (.760) record over the past three seasons.

Walton, a 6-foot-8, 241-pound senior forward, is the only member of the 2002 Wooden Award All-America Team on this yearâs preseason list.

The native of San Diego averaged 15.7 points, 7.3 rebounds and a Pac-10 Conference-leading 6.3 assists in 31 games last year.

He led the Wildcats with nine double-doubles and a triple-double while shooting 47.0 percent from the floor.

The Pac-10 Tournamentâs Most Outstanding Player, Walton scored in double figures 24 times in 2001-02 and had five double-figure assists games to his credit.

Arizona, one of just seven programs nationally to have two players on the Wooden list, returns nine letter winners from a 2001-02 squad that finished with a 24-10 record and advanced to the NCAA Tournament West Regional Semifinals.

Newcomers report to camp today

UA head football coach John Mackovic will get his first look at his 25-man recruiting class today when newcomers report for fall camp and take physicals.

The rookies will practice at 8:45 a.m. and 7:45 p.m. for three days before starting workouts with the veterans Aug. 10.

One member of the 2002 recruiting class ö RaâShawn Mosley ö is expected not to enroll at UA. Mosley a native of San Antonio, Texas, is expected to attend Butler (Kan.) Community College after not meeting UA academic requirements.

Many of the rookies have been in Tucson working out with veterans all summer trying to get a jump-start on fall practice.

The veterans will report to camp Thursday.

Report: Six Ducks broke NCAA rules in rent scheme

Six Oregon football players violated NCAA rules by exchanging complimentary football tickets for breaks on their rent, the Eugene Register-Guard reported in its Saturday edition.

The university learned of the allegations in May.

It then began its own investigation and concluded that some players had participated in the scheme, Athletic Director Bill Moos said.

The UO forwarded its findings to the Pacific 10 Conference, which is expected to further investigate before making a decision on possible penalties.

"Our record is very good, and I hope that continues, but this serves as a lesson for us ... that when youâre in the spotlight, there are more and more temptations out there, and we need to be cautious and not fall into any ruts," Moos told the paper.

At least one current player was involved and "a handful, four or five" former players, Moos said.

He declined to name them on the advice of the universityâs attorney.

The UO investigation indicates that the arrangement lasted at least two seasons, Moos said.

NCAA rules prohibit players from receiving any financial gain from complimentary tickets, even selling them at face value, which ranged from $29 to $42 at Autzen Stadium last season.