Knight Gives UCLA Verbal OK

UCLA received an oral commitment Sunday from Billy Knight, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard from Westchester High who said one of his first actions as a Bruin recruit would be to try to persuade Santa Monica Crossroads point guard Baron Davis to join him in Westwood.

“I know him real well,� Knight said of Davis. “I’m not sure if I can convince him, but we’ll see.�

Davis, considered one of the nation’s top prep point guards, orally committed to UCLA in September, but decided to bypass the Bruins during the November early signing period because of the chaos involved in the firing of Jim Harrick.

Davis, who could still sign with UCLA in the April late-signing period, apparently is also considering Kansas.

Knight said that UCLA interim Coach Steve Lavin did not try to hide the uncertainty over the status of the program, the coaching staff, and the non-seniors who may bolt to the NBA.

“It doesn’t matter who the coach is, I’ll just play hard,� Knight said, adding that he was also being recruited by USC and Miami (Fla.), but had not yet been offered a scholarship by either school.