In 1969-70 he was joined in the starting lineup by four other future NBA players, forwards Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe and guards Henry Bibby and John Vallely. For the season he averaged 12.5 points and 10.0 rebounds per game, with a field goal percentage of .496 and free throw percentage of .741. He scored 17 points as UCLA defeated Jacksonville University 80-69 in the 1970 NCAA championship game. After the season, UCLA honored him with the J.D. Morgan Memorial Award presented by the Bruin Hoopsters for the outstanding "team player."