Jabari Bird, five-star prospect, commits to Cal Bears

Five-star high school standout Jabari Bird won't have to travel far when he leaves for college next year. The Richmond, Calif. product announced Tuesday evening that he will attend the University of California next year and play for the Bears, according to Ryan Gorcey of BearTerritory.net:

"It was just hanging out with the team," Bird said. "It was getting to know them a little bit better. I got to be on campus a lot more. I just knew that Cal was the place for me to be."

The commitment won't become official until the early-signing period begins on Nov. 14. Bird is the first five-star player since former NBA star Leon Powe to commit to Cal. Gorcey said that Pac-12 coaches believed as far back as January that Bird would go to Cal. His last visit to the school was Sept. 1, and he was reportedly set to make visits to three other schools in September, including one to Washington.

"I'm not going on any more visits; I'm committed," Bird said.