LAKE ELSINORE — Dave Meyers has come back to basketball at the same moment basketball was looking for him.

He teaches the game, the way \o7 Coach Wooden\f7 did. For an hour a week the last four weeks at the Temecula Recreation Center, it's drills and more drills--the same ones from Meyers' salad days at UCLA.

Meyers enjoys these Friday afternoons working with kids, some of whom are literally knee high. He can pass along knowledge in the sport he loves in a setting he loves.

"A lot of people have asked me about coaching," Meyers said. "But I don't like the competition part. I like the teaching side. I can see why Coach Wooden got such a thrill. When we did those drills, it was part of the overall picture."

Twenty years after leading UCLA to the national championship and 15 years after walking away from the NBA, Meyers is a picture of contentment. He is a husband, father and teacher--the roles he cherishes most.

But his life includes basketball again, for better and worse.

Meyers, 41, walked away from the Milwaukee Bucks after five tumultuous seasons. That road led to back to the classroom. He has been a sixth-grade teacher at Railroad Canyon School in Lake Elsinore the last eight years.

He was happy to smother his playing career the way he once smothered opponents. But his past lingers.

UCLA has returned to the Final Four, trying to win its first national championship since Meyers and Co. sent Wooden off to retirement in style in 1975. Meyers was captain of the team that beat Kentucky, 92-85, for the Bruins' 10th title in 12 seasons. Those memories have been heavily recruited lately.

"People have called the last couple weeks wanting to talk with me about 1975," Meyers said. "Most cultures are fascinated by anniversaries."

Meyers has one of his own to celebrate this year, his 20th wedding anniversary, which is approaching. But it's tough being an inconspicuous ex-Bruin when UCLA is in the Final Four.

Even former teammates can unknowingly betray you.

"I look at (UCLA forward) Ed O'Bannon and he reminds me of Dave Meyers in 1975," said Marques Johnson, who started at forward opposite Meyers in 1975. "Ed's a senior, pushing the team toward the national championship, just like Dave did with us."

A compliment, but one Meyers can do without. "This is their season, not mine," he said.

His is etched in history and people remember.

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