PG Franklin Jr. commits to Cal

Gary Franklin Jr., a top 100 point guard in the Class of 2010 out of Mater Dei High in Santa Ana, Calif., verbally committed to Cal on Friday, a coup for Bears as they beat out UCLA, Arizona State and several other schools.

Franklin, 6-foot-2, visited Cal last weekend and the Cal coaches were at Mater Dei on Friday when Franklin gave him his commitment. He verbally committed to USC a year ago but the dismissal of Tim Floyd led him to reopen his recruitment.

"I think he felt really comfortable with what coach [Mike} Montgomery is doing up there and he has always wanted to play in the Pac-10," his father, Gary Franklin Sr., said Friday.

Franklin's commitment surprised some, including UCLA assistant coach Donny Daniels. He called Franklin Sr. on Friday to ask when he could get Gary Jr. to Westwood for an official visit when he was told that his son had chosen Cal.

In fact, the Bruins were never seriously considered and if any school was going to beat out Cal it would have been Baylor. "Gary really liked Baylor, the coaches and the school and the program," his father said. "I think it came down to having to move to Texas. He really considered it and at times I think he was leaning that way, but at the end he decided to stay in California."

Franklin Sr. said his son will sign a binding letter of intent with the school during the November signing period.