Will UCLA Call On 2004 Prospect

UCLA coach Ben Howland hasn't been on his new job that long. But he is likely to make some calls in the next couple of weeks to see if the recruits he was involved with at Pittsburgh are now interested in the Bruins basketball program.

"If Ben Howland calls, I'm interested," said one of the 2004's top prospects, Dave McClure. "I have to see if he is interested."

Right now, McClure has a very short list. "Duke, Notre Dame, Villanova, NC State, Florida State, and Indiana are the schools I like a lot," McClure said. "I have already visited Duke and Notre Dame. I play on visiting Villanova at the end of the month. And I want to see if I can take trips to Florida State, NC State, and Indiana."

McClure, a 6-6, 200 pound small forward from Trinity Catholic H.S. in Stamford, Connecticut, helped lead the Playaz this past weekend to a tournament title. He was very effective in slashing to the basket and picking up offensive rebounds. He is much tougher than his frame looks.

"I want to make a decision by July," McClure said. "So I am going to set up some more visits before I make my decision. I don't have a leader until I have a chance to see all the schools."

Pittsburgh and Illinois were previously mentioned. "With Pittsburgh, things have changed a bit," said McClure, referring to Howland leaving the job for UCLA. "Once they name a new coach, maybe I can talk to them."

McClure, who hails from Ridgefield, Connecticut, shined this past summer and fall for Jimmy Salmon's Playaz basketball program. He helped the Playaz capture the crown at the prestigious Charlie Weber Tournament last October. McClure is a very well rounded basketball player who has great natural instincts for rebounding the ball. He is an alert passer and boasts a solid midrange shooting stroke.