Where to, Brothers Wear?

Wear twins to transfer from North Carolina and expect interest from UCLA

David and Travis Wear, who helped Mater Dei win two state basketball titles, will have three years of eligibility left but must sit out next season. Their dad cites 'geographic issues' for decision.

By Chris Foster and Eric Sondheimer
The LA Times
May 6, 2010 | 8:32 p.m.


David and Travis Wear, twin forwards who helped Santa Ana Mater Dei High win two state championships, are transferring from North Carolina and are expected to draw significant interest from UCLA.

The Wears, who are both 6 feet 10, will have three years of remaining eligibility. Both strongly considered UCLA and Arizona out of high school before signing with the Tar Heels.

North Carolina announced Thursday the Wears would transfer. Their father, David Sr., said he could not comment on potential landing places for his sons until North Carolina filed paperwork officially releasing them from their scholarships, but he added, "I would imagine UCLA would be interested."

UCLA has two open scholarships, though adding the twins would do nothing to improve next season's team. Both would have to sit out a year in accordance with NCAA transfer rules.

Travis, who weighs 235 pounds, averaged 3.5 points and 2.2 rebounds in 32 games for the Tar Heels last season. David, who weighs 225, averaged 2.9 points and 1.7 rebounds but missed the last five games with a hip injury. He should be 100% healthy in another month, his father indicated.

David Sr. cited "geographic issues" as the reason his sons were leaving North Carolina, a move Tar Heels Coach Roy Williams said left him "extremely disappointed."

If the Wear twins do transfer to either UCLA or Arizona, all five starters off Mater Dei's 2008-09 team would be members of Pacific 10 Conference programs.

Andy Brown is at Stanford, Gary Franklin at California and Tyler Lamb at UCLA.