CSUN Creates a Crowd

By JEFF FLETCHER

Jan. 29, 1997 12 AM PT

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TIMES STAFF WRITER

NORTHRIDGE — In his first year as the Cal State Northridge men’s basketball coach, Bobby Braswell has done nothing to harm his reputation as a prolific recruiter. In fact, he might be a little too good.

With the addition this week of transfer Brian Hagens from the University of New Orleans, Northridge has 14 basketball players expecting scholarships for the 1997-98 season.

One problem: The NCAA maximum is 13.

Splitting one scholarship among two or more players is not an option in men’s basketball, as it might be in another sport. NCAA rules prohibit men’s basketball scholarships from going to more than 13 players.

Revoking an athlete’s scholarship is relatively rare, but it is within NCAA rules. Athletic scholarships are, in essence, one-year contracts, renewed at the discretion of the coach. Athletes must be notified by July 1 if their scholarship is being revoked, according to Judith Brame, Northridge’s compliance expert.

Of course, Northridge’s problem could take care of itself without Braswell doing a thing if a player quits the team, transfers or becomes academically ineligible.

For now, Braswell isn’t offering any solutions.

“We just have to take it one day at a time,” he said. “I don’t look too far into the future.”

Hagens will not be eligible to play for Northridge until mid-December. Three other players--transfers Mike O’Quinn and Greg Minor, and Prop. 48 freshman Jeff Parris--are sitting out this season.

Northridge also has five juniors on scholarship--Trenton Cross, Derrick Higgins, Kevin Taylor, Sha-Ron Elzy and Brady Mertes--and five incoming freshmen who signed letters of intent in November.

If Braswell’s use of his personnel this season is any indication, Elzy’s scholarship is perhaps the most tenuous.

The shooting guard, the last player signed by former Coach Pete Cassidy, has played in only six of 17 games, averaging less than four minutes. He did not make the 12-man travel squad in Northridge’s first Big Sky Conference trip, with four walk-ons going ahead of him.

Braswell indicated that any adjustments made to accommodate Hagens, a 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward, will be worth it.

“We’re happy about having him here and he’s going to give us a threat that I don’t think we have right now,” Braswell said. “He’s another skilled player who can really shoot the ball from the outside. He handles the ball well, rebounds; he can score from everywhere.”

Hagens enrolled at Northridge on Monday.

He will start practicing with the Matadors this week, but will not be eligible to play until after the fall semester.

Braswell recruited Hagens for Oregon when the player was at Long Beach Poly High.

Hagens instead went to Porterville College, leading the team with averages of 17.4 points and 10.4 rebounds in 1995-96, before transferring to New Orleans.

After having knee surgery in October, Hagens never played for the Privateers.

Hagens said he had a disagreement with New Orleans coaches about his playing status--he wanted to redshirt--and other personal reasons prompted him to return to Southern California.

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Commitments for 1997-98

Cal State Northridge has commitments from 14 basketball players:

Current juniors on scholarship:

Trenton Cross, guard, former starter, averages 17 minutes and 6.6 points

Sha-Ron Elzy, guard, has played in only six games, averaging four minutes

Derrick Higgins, guard, tied for second in scoring (9.9 points), started last 13 games

Brady Mertes, No. 3 center, averaging 12 minutes, 2.8 points

Kevin Taylor, forward, started 14 games, averages 9.9 points and team-high 6.1 rebounds

Sitting out this season, but eligible next fall:

Mike O’Quinn, senior forward, transfer from Loyola Marymount

Greg Minor, sophomore guard, transfer from South Plains (Texas) College