12:31 PM Fri, May 23, 2008 | Permalink
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Posted by: Jeff Eisenberg
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Here's a quick online story on Morgan's commitment. I'll update as more becomes available.
The prolonged drama of J'Mison Morgan's lengthy recruitment finally ended on Friday when the highly touted Dallas South Oak Cliff High center announced he will attend UCLA.
Morgan originally signed with LSU in November, but the 6-foot-10 senior had a change of heart after the Tigers fired longtime coach John Brady in February. The visibility of the Los Angeles market was appealing to Morgan, as was the opportunity to contribute immediately at UCLA.
"It's a relief so now I can focus on working out really hard and getting ready to play at UCLA," Morgan said. "I was comfortable with the players. I was comfortable with the coaches. I like the fact that the media market is big enough that if I do something, it's going to get noticed right away."
Since Morgan is not allowed to sign another letter of intent this year, he will instead sign a grant in aid, which does not bind him to UCLA until he attends his first summer session class in late June. Kansas, Cincinnati and Oklahoma State were also recruiting Morgan, but he reiterated that his decision is final.
The UCLA coaching staff pursued Morgan aggressively through back channels once it became clear that he might be available because the Bruins needed a big man to help offset the near-certain loss of freshman Kevin Love. The coaching staff also got a big assist from incoming recruit Malcolm Lee of Riverside North, who developed a rapport with Morgan during AAU camps and repeatedly called the big man the past few months in hopes of persuading him to come to UCLA.
"Malcolm kept saying, 'You've got to come down here with me. I need a big man," Morgan said. "I was really comfortable with Malcolm, so that made a big difference."
By far the top available big man in the class of 2008, Morgan averaged 13.5 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots as a senior at South Oak Cliff. His addition fortifies the UCLA frontcourt and strengthens a guard-heavy recruiting class that many already considered the nation's best.
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