After signing on to coach the Michigan basketball team through the year 2003, coach Brian Ellerbe set out to secure other future plans - those of his team.
Less than two weeks after inking the long-term deal, Ellerbe received a commitment from Kevin Gaines, a blue-chip point guard from Las Vegas.
Gaines, a 6-foot-3, 185-pound point guard out of Edward Clark High, is considered among the top 10 players in the nation at his position by national recruiting publications. His August 25 commitment to Michigan ended a recruiting battle that included Duke, Arizona, Kentucky and Connecticut.
Although Michigan won the quest for Gaines, Duke and Arizona received verbal commitments from Jason Gardner and Jason Williams, respectively, also top 10 point guard prospects.
With his early commitment, Gaines can now spend his senior year concentrating solely on basketball.
The former Los Angeles native, who averaged 23 points, eight rebounds and eight assists as a junior at Clark last year, saw his stock soar after strong performances in many camps this summer.
Gaines was rated the sixth-best player at Nike's All-America Camp in July, which featured more than 200 of the nation's best prospects. Gaines was also the leading scorer at the Adidas Big-Time Tournament, also held in July in Gaines' home town of Las Vegas. He averaged 29.8 points per game in six games, scoring 46 points in one contest.
Neither Gaines, who began school two weeks ago, nor Clark coach Brad Query could be reached for comment.
Ellerbe declined comment as well, as NCAA rules prohibit a coach from speaking about a recruit until a National Letter of Intent has been signed.
09-08-98
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