By Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 24, 1997

Jefferson continues UA's in-state recruiting dominance

Phoenix Moon Valley star Richard Jefferson has given a verbal commitment to the Arizona men's basketball team, bringing it's list of potential signees to three.

Jefferson, a 6-foot-8 forward, is the second highly touted Arizona native to commit to the Wildcats, Mike Bibby of Shadow Mountain was the first in 1996.

Jefferson is joined by University of San Diego High's Luke Walton and Traves Wilson of Moline, Ill.

With two scholarships left to offer and six weeks left until the formal signing the period begins on Nov. 12, the front-runners for the last spots appear to be Seattle O'Dea's Doug Wrenn and Long Beach Poly's Ricky Anderson.

Anderson visited UA with Jefferson and Walton over the weekend but has said he will not make a decision until he visits UCLA on Oct. 3-4.

Wrenn chose to reschedule his visit to UA and should visit in the coming weeks.

Jefferson, who averaged 17 points, 10 rebounds and three blocked shots for the Rockets last season, emerged as one of the top players from the Nike Camp in Indianapolis and was selected most valuable player in a 51-team national tournament that his Arizona Stars won in Las Vegas in July.

Another possible recruit now that Jefferson has decided on UA is 6-7 Chris Richardson of Corpus Christi, Texas, with whom Jefferson developed a friendship during the summer tournament play.

Arizona coaches are forbidden by NCAA rules from commenting on recruits until they have signed their letter of intent.