14-The Michigan DaiySummer Weekly-Wednesday, May5,1993
Blue makes notable French connection
Fisher acquires heralded Saint Jean of Versailles after losing Californians Jones, O'Bannon
By KEN DAVIDOFF the Atlantic to snare -foot-7 Olivier School and Sylvester Ford of Mem- announced yesterday thathewouldjoin of Jones to the Trojans. Jones woulk
QLsXM~WFM Saint Jean of Versailles, France. phis - were tossed around as possi- his father's good friend Larry Finch at have taken front court time left open
The world is Steve Fisher's oyster, To most Michigan fans, Saint bilities to join early signee Bobby Memphis State. by Eric Riley's graduation and Chris
or at least his recruiting map. After Jean's signing will likely come as a Crawford oflHouston. However, both All of these occurrences led to Webber's possible departure to the
losing California frontcourt player surprise. Throughout the entire sea- Jones and OBannon elected to stay Fisher's search formorebodies, andhis NBA.
Avondre Jones to USC, the Michigan son, the same three names - Jones close to home, with O'Bannon join- tracking down of Saint Jean. The "It was a big loss to the programr
men'sbasketbalbcoachreachedacross andCharlesO'BannonofArtesiaHigh ing his brother Ed at UCLA. Ford Frenchman had made plans to attend nottogetJones,"Gibbonssaid."Whal
North Carolina, but the Tar Heels ran was the most formidable line in the
out of scholarships when they signed country is now down to Juwar
renowned center Rasheed Wallace of Howard.
Philadelphia. Fisher had not contacted "It's a good recruiting class, but
Saint Jean at all until a few weeks ago. not a great one. If (the Wolverines)
"I didn't know if he would be in- had gotten Jones, they would have
terested, but I decided to give it a try," moved up to the No. 2 or 3 (recruit-
Fisher told the Detroit News. ing) spot in the Big Ten." Now, Gib-
Fisher and other coaches saw Saint bons said, Michigan would wind up
Jean perform at the Converse ABCD around seventh or eighth in the con-
..__amplastsummer. Only 17 years oldat ference.
at3 CEr l the time, the small forward impressed Whenhevisited the Detroit areaa
10 M aynard *a995- many ith his quickness and slashing fw weeks agotopay in Magc'
310 M a n r * 995w0 0 abilities. Roundball Classic at the Palace of
"He's a very gifted athlete," Bob Auburn Hills, a high school all-star
_-Gibbons of All-Star Sports in Lenoir, game, Jones indicated that Michigan
N.C., said of Saint Jean. "He reminds was his first choice. Nevertheless,
--me of Ray Jackson. He's garded as whensigning timecamearound,Jones
one of the top young players in Europe opted to stay close to home.
and the No.1 junior player in France." "I guess when it came right down
Nevertheless, Gibbons stressed, to the dotted line, distance came into
Saint Jean doesnotmake up for the loss play," Gibbons said.
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