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By Arlie Rahn
Arizona Daily Wildcat
November 14, 1996
Last season, Mike Bibby chose Arizona over UCLA because he wanted to stay near his home, in Phoenix. This season the Collins twins gave the Wildcats a taste of their own medicine.Six-foot-11 Jason and 6-10 Jarron Collins of Harvard-Westlake High School in North Hollywood, Calif., decided on Stanford over Arizona yesterday, the first day of the early signing period for basketball recruits.
"It came down to having family in the Bay Area, which made Stanford the best choice for them," Harvard-Westlake basketball coach Greg Hilliard said. "The brothers have a maternal grandfather who is wheelchair-bound and he lives in the San Francisco area. They really want to play in front of him and this choice allows them to."
The Collins brothers had originally decided on UCLA, but the recent events surrounding the firing of coach Jim Harrick dropped the Bruins below Arizona and Stanford.
"The brothers were originally looking at UCLA, then Stanford, then Arizona. But after the situation at UCLA and a positive visit to Arizona, they changed to Arizona and Stanford, then UCLA," Hilliard said. "Also, having the young point guard Mike Bibby excited them about coming to Arizona."
With 7-foot sophomore center Tim Young at Stanford, Jarron and Jason Collins might have a tough time breaking the Cardinal lineup. Add that to the shady point guard position after senior guard Brevin Knight leaves this season, and Stanford is not the most attractive school for a big man.
"That did concern them, but they figured that Young might leave early for the NBA," Hilliard said. "Even if he stays there, Jason could play a four position and Jarron can play the swing spot."
The Collins twins' decision means Arizona's two open scholarship spots are still up for grabs.
That's good news for 6-8 forward Ronnell Blizzard of Sacred Heart High School in Connecticut. Blizzard had been high on Arizona for the last couple of weeks but would only commit if the scholarship was available.
"Ronnell wanted to go to Arizona, but we didn't know if that would be a viable option until we saw the spots were open," Sacred Heart basketball coach Joe Frescador said. "He also really liked the campus after a visit a couple of weeks ago. In Arizona, he would be a three or four man. He has good outside shots and once he improves on his 200-pound frame, he will be a strong inside player."
The real plus for Blizzard, his coach said, is his work ethic and positive attitude.
"When he goes to Arizona, the fans and coaches will really like him," Frescador said. "He is an exciting young man that is a joy to coach."
If Arizona doesn't opt to hold the remaining scholarship for high school star Stephen Jackson, it might go to either 6-9 forward Atilla Cosby, from Virginia's Oak Hill Academy, or 6-8 forward Dion Broom, from Westwood High School in Mesa. Both players have talent, but, like Jackson, have not passed their SAT or ACT tests.
Cosby has verbally committed to Pittsburgh, but is still looking at Arizona. Broom is also considering New Mexico.
"He went to New Mexico last weekend and liked it, but he is still undecided," Westwood basketball coach Buddy Doolan said. "After he goes down to Tucson next week, I think the decision will be a little easier."
The Harrick situation, which may potentially cost UCLA three top recruits, has made other schools more cautious.
"I think the only way to deal with the NCAA regulations is to constantly educate your coaching staff," UA athletic director Jim Livengood said. "We have staff meetings every month in which we go over the situation of our program."
In addition to the Collins twins, the Bruins are also in danger of losing point guard Baron Davis of Crossroads High School in California. While Davis has orally committed to UCLA, he has recently questioned the state of the program and is now also looking at Duke.
As to Arizona's own situation, the entanglement at UCLA has taught the Wildcats to be careful.
"We have always tried to handle situations internally," Livengood said. "Luckily, we haven't had anything as serious as what UCLA went through. But that doesn't mean it can't happen."
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