Lavin Frets Over Watson

Coach Steve Lavin acknowledged Tuesday that, almost from the day freshman guard Earl Watson committed to UCLA, he has constantly worried that Watson was unhappy at Westwood and could return home to Kansas.

“I did the best job of recruiting him ever--I’ve signed him four times,” Lavin said. “Before he left for Christmas, I said, ‘Earl, I don’t want you calling and saying you aren’t coming back.’ ”

Watson has been the surprise of the pre-conference season, starting all 10 games and averaging 33.4 minutes, five rebounds and three steals.

Watson, who has traveled back to Kansas several times since school started to visit his sick mother, apparently came closest to leaving the Bruins in September--before the suspensions of Kris Johnson and Jelani McCoy were announced.

“I think when he called at that point, I knew Kris and Jelani were going to be suspended,” Lavin said. “He didn’t know that. We hadn’t announced it.

“I said, ‘Earl, you’re walking away from a starting position . . . you’re not buried on the bench. I don’t understand how you could walk away from something like that.’ ”