DelaCruz narrows
picks to UH, TCU

The talented point guard
says he will decide today

By Pat Bigold
Star-Bulletin

One day before the deadline to sign a binding letter of national intent, Hawaii finds itself in a battle with conference rival TCU for a talented New York-raised point guard.

Roy DelaCruz, a 6-footer who starred at John F. Kennedy High in the Bronx, and then San Jacinto Junior College (Pasadena, Tex.), said he would decide this morning between the Rainbows and Horned Frogs after eliminating about seven other schools that are pursuing him.

DelaCruz averaged 10.3 points and 8 assists a game for San Jacinto. At Kennedy, he led the team to two straight Bronx 1A championships

Wallace had wanted a point guard in the current recruiting class to allay the burden of 6-0 junior Johnny White, who averaged 37 minutes a game. But his efforts have thus far fallen short.

Last week, WAC defector UNLV scooped up Mike Garrett, a slick ballhandler the 'Bows had ardently recruited from Fresno City College.

"Roy's (DelaCruz) a great player," said Johnny Mathis, DelaCruz's coach at Kennedy in New York. "He can handle the ball, he can pass, he can play defense and he can shoot the '3.' "

DelaCruz flew back to New York on Wednesday from Paris, Texas, where he was attending Paris Junior College. He wanted Mathis to help him make up his mind. DelaCruz had been recruited by Hawaii, TCU, USC, Oregon, Rutgers, Alabama, Texas, Mississippi State and Texas-El Paso.

Mathis said he was surprised when DelaCruz narrowed his selections down to Hawaii and TCU because he had always wanted to play in the east.

""It's a major step for him going out there (Hawaii,)" said Mathis. "Because I know he had wanted to play in the east."