prather leaves cal

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SoCalHoops Recruiting News

Brice Prather Leaves Cal Bears, Enrolls
At Azusa Pacific--(Sept. 25, 2002)

Ok, what has it been, a couple of weeks since there's been any brouhaha up at Cal? Things have been sort of quiet since the last flurry of stuff in August.....Gabe Hughes bolts, then Shantay, then Gabe comes back, but Shantay leaves. And now, Brice Prather (6'-9" Fr. F), who was slated to be a "recruited" walk-on at UC Berkeley has left Cal and returned back to SoCal, where he has officially enrolled at NAIA power Azusa Pacific University. Man, only in Berserkeley.....

We had not heard anything about this until today, and we were kind of surprised....shocked is more like it. But then, we're never really surprised when it comes to recruiting and basketball. Anyway, Azusa Pacific has issued an official press release. Here it is:

2002 Azusa Pacific Men's Basketball
Prather opts to transfer to Azusa Pacific

Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2002

AZUSA, Calif. -- Orange County high school basketball standout Brice Prather has announced that he has withdrawn from the University of California and will transfer to Azusa Pacific to play his initial collegiate season during the 2003-04 campaign.

Prather, a 6-foot-8, 220-pound center who led Villa Park (Calif.) High to 3 straight CIF quarterfinal appearances and Century League championships, committed as a walk-on to Cal this past summer after earning All-CIF first team and All-Orange County second team recognition. However, less than 2 weeks into classes at Cal, Prather indicated his intention to withdraw from school. Subsequently, he has signed with NAIA power Azusa Pacific.

While at Villa Park, Prather led the Spartans to a 3-year 76-16 record, including a 29-1 mark in Century League play. As a 2002 senior he was named league MVP after averaging 18.5 points, 10 rebounds, and 4 blocked shots a game. He set a Villa Park single-game record with a career-high 41 points vs. Norwalk High. Four times he earned all-tourney recognition for his play, and at the close of his senior season, he was named MVP of the North Orange County Championship games.

"I'm thrilled that Brice decided to transfer here," said Cougar coach Bill Odell. "His size and agility afford him the opportunity to be an impact player in the GSAC from the start of his career."

Prather will sit out the upcoming 2002-03 season while attending Azusa Pacific on a part-time basis. He will have 4 full years of competition when he begins play in the fall of 2003.

Since 1993, Azusa Pacific is the winningest 4-year program in California, carving a 290-63 (.822) record that includes 9 straight Golden State Athletic Conference championships (1993-2001) a trio of NAIA Final Four appearances in the past 5 years.