Sidney Wicks

Sidney Wicks, 39, former UCLA and National Basketball Assn. star, was listed in fair condition at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla after suffering a ruptured spleen when a cement truck ran a red light and crashed into his car Friday morning.

If you're a UCLA basketball fan of a certain age, your first glimpse of Artis Gilmore probably was at the Final Four. Forty years ago this week, looking every bit the heir apparent to former UCLA star Lew Alcindor as college basketball's dominant big man, the 7-foot-2 Gilmore led upstart Jacksonville to the championship game of the NCAA tournament. Once there, however, Gilmore and the Dolphins were cut down to size by Sidney Wicks and UCLA, the Bruins winning their fourth consecutive title and an unflattering image of Gilmore forming in the minds of skeptical fans from coast to coast.

Sidney Wicks, the former UCLA basketball All-American who was seriously injured last week when his car was struck by a truck, is improving but is not yet scheduled to leave the hospital, a spokeswoman said. "He's in good condition and he's getting stronger," said Shannon Bulman, spokeswoman for Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.

Sidney Wicks cannot imagine a more rewarding college experience than the one that ushered him into adulthood in the late 1960s and early '70s. It was an era of tumultuous social change in the United States, and much of it took root on college campuses. "It was probably one of the most critical times in our country's history," the former UCLA basketball star says from his home outside Wilmington, N.C. "There was student unrest, black awareness, a cultural and sexual revolution."

Former USC guard Mack Calvin was surprised to see his name in the news last week. Calvin, who played for the Trojans in the late 1960s, was an all-conference selection as a senior. After college, he spent more than a decade in professional basketball, starting with Los Angeles in the American Basketball Assn. and finishing his career in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He later was an interim coach of the Clippers.

Former UCLA and NBA star Sidney Wicks suffered abdominal injuries today when a car he was driving was struck by a cement truck, officials said. Wicks was listed in serious condition at Scripps Memorial Hospital after going into surgery. Police spokesman Bill Robinson said Wicks and a male passenger were in a Cadillac that was hit in an intersection about 9 a.m. "The truck may have run a red light at the intersection," Robinson said, adding that the unidentified passenger in the car was not injured.

When Sidney Wicks was a senior at Hamilton High, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dynamic players in City Section history, the thought of turning down a basketball scholarship to UCLA was all but unimaginable. John Wooden was the coach, Lew Alcindor the star. "At that time," said Wicks, a real estate developer based in Wilmington, N.C., "there was no question that UCLA had fantastic tradition.

Sidney Wicks, former UCLA and National Basketball Assn. forward, suffered a ruptured spleen Friday morning after a cement truck apparently went through a red light at a Mira Mesa intersection and plowed into Wicks' car, police said. After the 9 a.m. accident, Wicks, 39, who played for Portland, Boston and San Diego in the NBA, underwent three hours of surgery at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla to have his spleen removed, hospital spokeswoman Lynn Morra said. Wicks also suffered facial cuts and minor head injuries.

FIRST TEAM Forward Sidney Wicks UCLA 1969-71 Three-time national champion, twice as UCLA's leading scorer and rebounder after Lew Alcindor's departure. Most outstanding player of the 1970 Final Four. Forward Marques Johnson UCLA 1974-77 The final title under Wooden came with Johnson starting as a sophomore. Also reached Final Four in 1976 and won the first Wooden Award as national player of the year in 1977. Center Lew Alcindor UCLA 1967-69 The future Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the Bruins to three titles, an 88-2 record and remains the only player ever chosen most outstanding player of the Final Four three times.

GAME BY GAME * Vs. South Carolina State--In his worst game of the tournament, Sheppard scored only four points in 15 minutes during the Wildcats' 82-67 victory. * Vs. Saint Louis--Sheppard made seven of 11 shots, including three from three-point range, and scored 18 points during the Wildcats' 88-61 rout. * Vs. UCLA--Sheppard made seven of 14 shots, scored 16 points and grabbed four rebounds in another Wildcat rout, this one by a final of 94-68. * Vs.

When Sidney Wicks was a senior at Hamilton High, solidifying his reputation as one of the most dynamic players in City Section history, the thought of turning down a basketball scholarship to UCLA was all but unimaginable. John Wooden was the coach, Lew Alcindor the star. "At that time," said Wicks, a real estate developer based in Wilmington, N.C., "there was no question that UCLA had fantastic tradition.

FIRST TEAM Forward Sidney Wicks UCLA 1969-71 Three-time national champion, twice as UCLA's leading scorer and rebounder after Lew Alcindor's departure. Most outstanding player of the 1970 Final Four. Forward Marques Johnson UCLA 1974-77 The final title under Wooden came with Johnson starting as a sophomore. Also reached Final Four in 1976 and won the first Wooden Award as national player of the year in 1977. Center Lew Alcindor UCLA 1967-69 The future Kareem Abdul-Jabbar led the Bruins to three titles, an 88-2 record and remains the only player ever chosen most outstanding player of the Final Four three times.

Former USC guard Mack Calvin was surprised to see his name in the news last week. Calvin, who played for the Trojans in the late 1960s, was an all-conference selection as a senior. After college, he spent more than a decade in professional basketball, starting with Los Angeles in the American Basketball Assn. and finishing his career in the NBA with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He later was an interim coach of the Clippers.

GAME BY GAME * Vs. South Carolina State--In his worst game of the tournament, Sheppard scored only four points in 15 minutes during the Wildcats' 82-67 victory. * Vs. Saint Louis--Sheppard made seven of 11 shots, including three from three-point range, and scored 18 points during the Wildcats' 88-61 rout. * Vs. UCLA--Sheppard made seven of 14 shots, scored 16 points and grabbed four rebounds in another Wildcat rout, this one by a final of 94-68. * Vs.

As he embarked upon the task of restoring glory to the UCLA basketball program 1 1/2 years ago, Coach Jim Harrick faced doubts about the players who would provide the cornerstones in the rebuilding process. He wondered if Trevor Wilson, after two stormy years under former Coach Walt Hazzard, would be able to curb his temper. Would Wilson be able to blend his splendid individual skills into a team concept? Would Wilson react positively to a one-week suspension from preseason practice?

Sidney Wicks, the former UCLA basketball All-American who was seriously injured last week when his car was struck by a truck, is improving but is not yet scheduled to leave the hospital, a spokeswoman said. "He's in good condition and he's getting stronger," said Shannon Bulman, spokeswoman for Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla.

If you're a UCLA basketball fan of a certain age, your first glimpse of Artis Gilmore probably was at the Final Four. Forty years ago this week, looking every bit the heir apparent to former UCLA star Lew Alcindor as college basketball's dominant big man, the 7-foot-2 Gilmore led upstart Jacksonville to the championship game of the NCAA tournament. Once there, however, Gilmore and the Dolphins were cut down to size by Sidney Wicks and UCLA, the Bruins winning their fourth consecutive title and an unflattering image of Gilmore forming in the minds of skeptical fans from coast to coast.

Mammals from the same family and universities from the same school system, the Bruins of UCLA and the Bears of California haven't exactly been the best of friends lately. The last time the schools met in basketball, in the Pacific 10 tournament in March at Pauley Pavilion, Trevor Wilson of UCLA and Jon Wheeler of Cal got into a pushing match, a sidelight to the game which was aggravated when Bruin Coach Walt Hazzard tried to pin Wheeler's arms.

Sidney Wicks, 39, former UCLA and National Basketball Assn. star, was listed in fair condition at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla after suffering a ruptured spleen when a cement truck ran a red light and crashed into his car Friday morning.