McCoy returns to action after suspension

Published: Thursday, December 4, 1997

Wednesday, December 3, 1997

M. BASKETBALL:

Restoration of center to practice doesn't guarantee eligibility to playBy Mark Shapiro

Daily Bruin Staff

The UCLA basketball family has gone from having an "Empty Nest" to a "Full House" with Monday's reinstatement of junior center Jelani McCoy.

McCoy, who was suspended from the team along with senior Kris Johnson on October 29th, fulfilled the necessary criteria set for his return by the athletic department and has brought the UCLA team fully together for the first time this season.

"We all make mistakes," McCoy said. "It's about getting over it and looking at the positive. I'm a stronger person for this."

The reinstatement came only a few days after the Bruins were thrashed by North Carolina by 41 points, the second worst defeat in the program's history. UCLA head coach Steve Lavin stated that this was not a consideration in the reinstatement of the 6 foot 10 inch center, and that the meeting that led to this shift was scheduled before the North Carolina game.

"It's fine for people to speculate," Lavin said. "We have the player's best interests in mind. We can't be concerned with people's perception."

McCoy, like Johnson, has regained his eligibility to practice with the team, but will not return to game action until an undetermined date. Neither player has been given a timeline for their return to the lineup, and neither will compete at the Wooden Classic this weekend.

"We were careful about not saying when they'd be back in terms of games, that's a mixed message," Lavin said. "If we were thinking about trying to win games, we would have reinstated them earlier. That's not what UCLA is about."

While Johnson returned to the team three weeks ago, McCoy took a bit longer in meeting the undisclosed requirements for reinstatement. During this delay, speculation raged as to whether McCoy would return at all and to his demeanor regarding the situation.

"It's not like he came out of the dark," Lavin said. "He's been making progress over the past three weeks. He moved at a quicker speed once Kris came back. I was pleased to see that.

"It's about actions, that's why Kris came back first. Jelani, instead of pouting, decided to take care of the criteria set forth."

During their suspensions, the two players had been part of periodic meetings with the athletic department, their families and the coaching staff over the course of their suspension. At these meetings, the players' progress towards reinstatement was assessed.

"When you talk to student athletes and their families, they want to know what they have to do to get back and we would tell them," UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis said. "I've seen a marked improvement in the last week and a half for Jelani. He understands the consequences to his actions."

The return of McCoy will add a dimension of size to the Bruin lineup, one that is sorely needed in light of the beating UCLA took at the hands of the huge front line of the Tar Heels. He is the Bruins' single season and career leader in blocked shots and averaged nearly seven rebounds a game last season.