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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

UCSB Gets New Big Man: Not Official
But Rainey's On The Way--(Nov. 11, 2000)

While there's been no official confirmation or word from UCSB that Coach Bob Williams has received a signed National Letter of Intent, the word is out now that one is apparently coming any day now from the Gauchos' top big man recruit, Scott Rainey (6'-10" Sr. C) from Portland' Astoria HS. Perhaps on the theory that the northwest took one of UCSB's prime recruiting targets (Dustin Villepigue (6'-9" Sr. F) had been one of Williams' prime targets, but he committed to Gonzaga last month), Santa Barbara has gone to the northwest itself for a little "fishing" of his own.

Rainey announced to Oregon Preps that he had committed and would sign with the Gauchos during the signing period, telling TJ of OP, "They want to build me up and have me play the center position." You can access the entire story by hitting the link. According to the report though, Rainey received a lot of interest following the summer during which he played for one of the Portland Legends. He took visits to Eastern Washington, and received some interest from Gonzaga, Santa Clara, Oregon and OSU. Rainey is a bit raw right now, but he's also got a ton of potential, and it's just hard to teach someone to be 6'-10", and Santa Barbara's starting center, Adama Ndiaye will be graduating in the spring, and JJ Todd, a redshirt freshman who will be playing this season after sitting out last year to develop some strength, will need to really step it up this season, so getting a big man has been the top priority for Williams this year.

According to a story last week in the Santa Barbara News-Press, "sources close to UCSB's program said that Williams had been tipped off about "this Brian Scalabrine lookalike," a reference to USC's leading scorer last year. Williams dispatched assistant coach Marty Wilson to watch Rainey play during a workout last month, and Wilson was so impressed that he had Williams call the Astoria center the next day, asking that he make an official visit.