Parents Looking For Beleaguered Bruin

Jelani McCoy, the suspended UCLA basketball center, has not been in contact with his family for several days, amid a report his suspension may not be lifted.

UCLA Coach Steve Lavin, however, said Tuesday that he spoke to McCoy on Sunday, when the player told him he “still wants to be part of the basketball team.”

Lavin and UCLA Athletic Director Peter Dalis said they did not know of any development that would keep McCoy, a junior, from rejoining the team.

“I called his mother and she’s just as mystified as I am - he hasn’t talked to either of us,” said his father, Fred McCoy. “Everybody’s calling us and telling us he’s been kicked out of school, but we haven’t heard from Jelani or anybody from the school.”

Bill Peterson, who was McCoy’s coach at St. Augustine High in San Diego, reported that McCoy had been unhappy in the UCLA program since the coach his freshman year, Jim Harrick, was fired, and was replaced by Lavin last season.