Wayne McKoy '77
Everybody and they brother wanted him.
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WARNING - DISCUSSION OF UCLA FOLLOWS * * * * * * * * *
Except that they already had 6'10 David Greenwood, 6'8 Kiki Vandweghe, 7'0 Brett Vroman, 6'10 Darrell Alums, 6'8 James Wilkes on the roster thru at least 1979 in the frontcourt (All 5 would reach the NBA), also HS All American center 6'10 Gig Sims had been sigend the year before, and California player of the year 6'7 Chris Lippert was only a soph (neither lived up to their billing). It was a crowded frontcourt. The roster was full. Future NBA guards Roy Hamilton, Brad Hollard, Ray Townsend were also locked in on the roster, as were Marv Thomas, Rennie Kelly and Bill Leonard. Yes, that Bruin squad in 1978 had 8 future NBA players).
Really WANTED Wayne, yes. He'd been targeted as an underclassman. Bjt the timetable got thrown off when 1975 NCAA Tourney MVP Richard Washington became UCLA's first "early entry", and left after the 1976 season. Focus changed from recruiting 1977 bigs like McKoy to be frosh in 1978 to the 1976 class, to fill the roster needs in 1977 - and Allums and Sims were signed.
Then, to top it off, Gene Bartow couldn't take the pressure of following John Wooden and quit after the 1977 season, and former Wooden assistant Gary Cunningham came back to take over in 1978.
"Losing" McKoy was a matter of no scholarships (however as we know that can be "gotten around"), no PT available (McKoy was all world in HS, but he wasn't beating out Greenwood, Vandweghe, Allums, and Vroman - certainly not as a frosh), and the coaching change.
THIS loss (of Rysheed), is the first time the Bruins have lost a player they NEEDED to St Johns. Bruin fans don't realize it yet. They've drunk so much of the local media Kool-Aid (Howland abandoned "local" recruiting in favor of national players and that's what has "destroyed" UCLA basketball) that they seem to think losing 'Sheed is a good thing, as it gives them a better shot with local 2014 PG 6'0 170 Jordan McLaughlin - who's being heavily pimped by the UCLA SCOUT.Com Gurus. They don't get that the 6'4 200 lb Rysheed is likely BETTER - and would CERTAINLY be better as a Soph in 2015 than McLaughlin would be as a frosh that year. Plus, they'd have actually HAD a point guard in 2014. Unless Steve Alford pulls a rabbit out of his hat, UCLA is going to run a freshman Shooting guard at the PG spot next season (albeit REALLY good freshman shooting guards).