Feb. 2, 2000 SportsLine wire reports

LOS ANGELES -- UCLA forward JaRon Rush, suspended a total of 44 games by the NCAA on Tuesday for taking money from a sports agent and AAU coach, today issued a statement regarding his future.

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"At this time, it is not appropriate for me to comment on the NCAA's ruling," Rush said. "Mr. Dalis (UCLA athletic director Peter Dalis) and his staff are the ones to talk about that.

"I would like to say that I am sorry that all of this has created problems or worries for people who care about me -- especially my team, the coaches and athletic staff at UCLA, and my family. I am very grateful for the encouragement I have received from my teammates, my family, and friends in Los Angeles and at home in Kansas City. My goals right now are to succeed in school and to play basketball for UCLA as soon as I can."

The NCAA informed UCLA on Tuesday that Rush would be suspended through the first 17 games of the 2000-01 season. He has already missed the Bruins' last 15 games as part of the school's self-imposed suspension and must repay the $200 he received from a sports agent during the 1998-99 academic year.

In addition to missing the final 12 games of this season, Rush must repay $6,125 for the value of benefits he allegedly received from an AAU coach. The last 27 games of the suspension were handed down today as the second part of Rush's punishment.

"Given the facts of the case as we know them, we will appeal the second penalty on JaRon's behalf," Dalis said following the NCAA's ruling.

The 6-7, 207-pound Rush was fourth on the Bruins in scoring at 11.3 points per game when he was suspended December 10.

Rush started 22 games as a freshman last season, averaging 11.4 points and a team-leading 7.4 rebounds. He scored a career-high 23 points in a 93-69 victory over Syracuse on February 21.