Bruin Basketball Report | UCLA Basketball

Howland Inks New 7-Year Agreement With UCLA

By Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA head men’s basketball coach Ben Howland and the University have agreed on a new seven-year contract, athletic director Dan Guerrero announced today. The new contract, which runs through the 2014-15 season, includes guaranteed compensation of $1.97 million for the 2008-09 season and escalates to $2.3 million for the 2014-15 season. It also includes the incentive package from his previous contract that has a maximum value of $235,000.

In 2007-08, UCLA set a school record for victories en route to a mark of 35-4 and a third consecutive Final Four appearance. Since the NCAA Tournament bracket expanded to 64 teams in 1985, UCLA is one of just four schools to earn three straight Final Four berths (Michigan State in 1999-01 was the last to do so). UCLA has also won three straight Pac-10 titles, making Howland the first Bruin coach since John Wooden to win three straight league championships, and two of the last three Pac-10 Post-Season Tournaments.

Howland is also one of just three coaches in the history of college basketball to win at least 30 games in three consecutive seasons. He has also produced four NBA first-round draft choices in the last three seasons, including the fourth and fifth selections in the 2008 draft.

“Ben Howland and UCLA are a great combination,” said Guerrero. “Ben is at the top of his profession and is deserving of this commitment by the University. He has returned UCLA to the nation’s elite, as illustrated by three straight Finals Fours and three consecutive 30-win seasons. He is an outstanding recruiter, and the foundation Ben has built for our program promises to keep us at the forefront for the foreseeable future.”

“I have said this before, but there is no place I would rather be coaching than UCLA,” said Howland, 51. “I grew up a Bruin basketball fan and this is my dream job. We have great young men in our program, both on and off the field, and they are the real reasons for our success. UCLA is a special name in college basketball thanks to Coach Wooden and I am proud to be the caretaker of his program. I am also grateful to Chancellor (Gene) Block and Dan for the faith they continue to show in me.”

[UCLA Press Release]

(photo credit: AP)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (6/30)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

J'Mison Morgan attended his first class at UCLA, meaning he is officially enrolled in school. Morgan was released from his letter of intent with LSU and signed scholarship papers with UCLA but those weren't binding until he attended his first class. LA Daily News 6/24

Recruits

A senior-to-be at Fairfax (Los Angeles), Renardo Sidney, has attended three high schools in three years. In 2006, his parents, Renardo Sr. and Patricia, uprooted the family's Delta stakes in Jackson, Miss., for Lakewood, Calif., enrolling their son at Artesia High before transferring to Fairfax last summer. Sidney, who says the family migrated west to market both his basketball skills and his 17-year-old sister Tiarra's modeling career, expects to whittle away his list of potential college landing spots while shrinking his waist. "I'm trying to work on some package deals," says Sidney, who includes Louisville, Texas, USC, UCLA, Kansas, Florida and Texas A&M as his top suitors. "Antonio Bigelow, Kawad [Leonard], Eric [Swoopes], Lance [Stephenson], and Jordan [Hamilton] are all guys I'd like to play with." Sports Illustrated 6/24

Tyler Honeycutt scored 29 points and grabbing 19 rebounds as Sylmar went on a 19-4 second-half run. Honeycutt burst onto the scene this spring playing extremely well at travel ball tournaments and receiving six scholarship offers. "All the guys leaving Sylmar I guess really helped me out because I can now shine more," Honeycutt said. "Now I know I'm the first option. We really wanted to win this game bad. I knew I had to do more in the second half after I saw it was tied at halftime." More is exactly what he did, scoring 16 points in the second half and continually beating Van Nuys defenders to offensive rebounds and putbacks. LA Daily News 6/24

Golden already has been credited with one assist for the 2009-10 UA basketball season. Due in no small part to his friendship with Golden, Vallejo (Calif.) Bethel High power forward Greg Smith orally committed to Lute Olson's Wildcats on Monday, making the highly touted senior-to-be the first member of the 2009 hoops recruiting class. "Robert is my boy," Smith said. "He loves it there and that was a big reason I knew it would be a place I want to go." That and the fact Smith expects to compete for more than just Pac-10 championships Tucson Citizen 6/24

Renardo Sidney spent most of Wednesday's Fairfax tournament game against La Canada shooting jump shots. He was one for nine at one point. Fairfax was able to come away with a 66-62 victory. Sidney finished with 12 points on five-of-15 shooting. Lance Bailey led Fairfax with 18 points. LA Times 6/25

Taft overwhelmed Sylmar with its defense and size. The Toreadors jumped out to a 19-6 lead after one quarter and made things difficult for everyone except Tyler Honeycutt. Honeycutt, who has sixscholarship offers on the table, including three from Pac-10 schools, had 18 points and 17 rebounds. LA Daily News 6/24

Single moms, he said, sometimes make themselves easy targets to "the parasites," self-serving coaches and advisors trying to work their way into a player's inner circle. "A lot of the moms don't really know too much about the game, or the sport, and they think, 'Wow. Here's a positive male role model for my kid,' and they hand them over," he said. "Sometimes, if you show a little bit of interest, they say, 'Take him. He's yours." Xavier Henry has seen those kids, too, and feels fortunate to have his family engaged in his decisions. The 6-6 swingman from Oklahoma City attended the camp for the second time this season, even though a cracked bone in his ankle prevented him from playing hard. "I don't listen to anybody else other than my family," he said. "Just my immediate family, too, not branching out to all my cousins that I supposedly have." He chuckled at the ridiculousness, but has seen others who weren't as savvy. "You can tell when kids have an entourage or just somebody that's the main man or something like that," he said. "They're trying to get something out of them." USA Today 6/25

Jeremy Tyler, a 6-foot-9 forward from San Diego, has the highest ceiling of any of the prospects in the country at this stage. He also might be one of the toughest players to read. Immensely talented, Tyler can split the middle with outstanding performances and dubious duds on the grand stage. "To be honest, we are still waiting for someone to establish himself as the top prospect in the class," national basketball recruiting analyst Jerry Meyer said. "Tyler has been up and down in the last year, but when he is on his game, he is a dominant player. He has a great blend of athleticism and physicality to his game. "His explosiveness around the basket and his upside are intriguing. The question is whether he can develop the mentality to produce day in and day out and to develop his game to what it could be." Rivals 6/26

Renardo Sidney, considered one of the elite players in the Class of 2009, will likely explore the possibility of going overseas as well. "Brandon's decision will definitely have an effect on the younger kids," said Sidney's father, Renardo Sidney Sr. "For us, it's definitely an option." The elder Sidney said he feels it's unfair that the NCAA earns revenue off its players, while the players get little in return. "Kids feel like they're a victim of the NCAA and I don't think anyone is happy with it," he said. "You can't have someone buy a kid a hamburger, but you can sell their jerseys and fill the arenas and it's fine." What Sidney seems to forget is that the kids do get a free education. That's worth about $50,000 per year in many places these days. But let's face it. That's irrelevant to many of these kids. Fox Sports 6/27

The Toreadors couldn't hold on to a 10-point first-half lead Friday night and suffered a 69-58 loss to Dominguez of Compton in the quarterfinals of the Nike/Fairfax tournament. Jordan Hamilton, who is appealing for a fifth year of eligibility, led Dominguez with 25 points off the bench. Thurman Woods added 17 for Dominguez, which led 30-27 at halftime. LA Daily News 6/27

After saying he was wide open throughout the recruiting process, Bishop McGuinness forward Daniel Orton named seven schools as his favorites. Kentucky leads for Orton's services followed by UConn, Ohio State, Kansas, UCLA, Texas, and Oklahoma. News Ok 6/27

Jordan Hamilton scored 31 points to help Dominguez defeat Fairfax, 66-56, Saturday night in a semifinal game of the Fairfax tournament. It was an impressive victory considering that Fairfax was finally at full strength, with Renardo Sidney and Solomon Hill both playing. LA Times 6/28

Jordan Hamilton scored 32 points to help Dominguez defeat Westchester, 85-78, in the championship game of the Fairfax tournament. Hamilton was chosen the tournament's most valuable player. He scored five consecutive points to break a 69-69 tie with slightly more than three minutes left. Jordin Mayes led Westchester with 23 points. LA Times 6/29

(photo credit: SI)

Love Traded To Minnesota For O.J. Mayo

By The Associated Press

Minnesota Timberwolves fans went to bed wondering how O.J. Mayo would fit in with their guard-heavy team.

Memphis Grizzlies backers hit the hay hoping that Kevin Love would open things up for Rudy Gay in the frontcourt.

Both groups woke up Friday morning to a totally different reality, thanks to an eight-player blockbuster trade in the wee hours of the night that changed the faces of both teams.

Hours after the draft concluded, the Wolves sent Mayo, forward Antoine Walker and guards Greg Buckner and Marko Jaric to Memphis for Love, shooter Mike Miller and frontcourt retreads Brian Cardinal and Jason Collins.

Timberwolves vice president of basketball operations Kevin McHale said he thought the deal was dead early in the night, but the Grizzlies reopened negotiations as the first round came to a close, and Memphis finally relented and included Miller in the transaction.

"Actually no one was more surprised than we were when the deal came back," McHale said. "We were all sitting around there looking at each other saying, 'Wow, I guess it's back on.' There were just too many components in it that fit our needs not to do it."

The deal allows the Timberwolves to dump Walker, who was unhappy riding the bench on a rebuilding team, and Jaric's contract, which has three years and more than $21 million remaining.

Miller also fills a huge hole on the team as a perimeter shooter and gives them Love, a 6-foot-10 power forward who will play down low next to Al Jefferson, who will stay at center in this revamped lineup rather than move to his more natural power forward position.

"This deal really set us up on so many levels," Minnesota GM Jim Stack said. "We couldn't pass it up."

The Grizzlies, in turn, get a dynamic guard in Mayo who was widely thought of as the third-best player in the draft behind Memphis guard Derrick Rose and Kansas State forward Michael Beasley, who went first and second, respectively.

Mayo averaged 20.7 points in his lone season with the Trojans and also dealt with controversy when a former friend alleged that he took money and gifts from an agent while in high school and college.

Mayo denied the allegations and impressed the Timberwolves with the way he handled questions on the topic during a workout in Chicago last weekend.

"We felt it was a chance to take a player who we had ranked as the third best player in the draft," Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace said. "That I think almost all the league felt was third behind Beasley and Rose. And if anybody has the chance to break in and have the type of impact in the NBA that Rose and Beasley seem certain to have, it would be O. J. Mayo."

Timberwolves fans will likely be reminded of another lottery-swapping move two years ago, when Minnesota selected Brandon Roy, then traded him to Portland for Randy Foye and cash.

Roy went on to become rookie of the year in 2006-07 and an All-Star last season, while Foye has struggled with injuries while showing promise as a floor leader and playmaking perimeter threat.

With Foye and Rashad McCants -- two smallish scoring guards -- already on the roster, the Wolves started their evening by drafting the 6-foot-5 Mayo out of USC with the third pick.

Memphis took Love, the fundamentally sound Bruin, with the fifth overall pick.

Despite the apparent similarities between Mayo, Foye and Rashad McCants, assistant GM Fred Hoiberg told hundreds of fans gathered at Target Center for a draft party that he thought Mayo would fit in just fine with the guard-heavy Timberwolves.

"We thought there was a realistic chance Miami would take him at No. 2," Hoiberg said of the Heat, who chose Beasley. "We think that he'll come in and be able to help us out right away."

Hoiberg raved about Mayo's outside shooting and competitive spirit, calling him "a complete player, a complete person" and someone who can "come in and be able to help us out right away."

Westbrook, Love See Lottery Green, Mbah a Moute Goes In 2nd Round

By Bruin Basketball Report

Two Bruins became the first lottery picks of the Ben Howland era when the duo of Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love were selected No.4 and No.5, respectively, in the NBA draft on Thursday.

They become the first UCLA players to be drafted in the top five of the same draft since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Lucius Allen were the No. 1 and No. 3 overall picks in 1969. In addition, the pair are the first college teammates to be picked back-to-back in the lottery.

Westbrook joins 2007 Rookie of the Year Kevin Durant and company in Seattle. Westbrook's climb up the draft ladder was fast and furious. After announcing his intention to enter the draft at the end of the season, he was expected to be a low first round pick, but after workouts his stock climbed significantly. The Sonics were enamored by his ability to handle the point and his off-the-chart athleticism.

"I worked so hard to put myself in the best position possible and I'm really excited and happy that it worked out," Westbrook said. "I just kept working on my game and I've been playing point guard all my life, so I think I'm ready."

Freshman Kevin Love was the fifth pick by the Memphis Grizzlies. He has slimmed down 15-20 pounds since the end of the season and surprised scouts with his skill performance at the NBA combines. Love helps to fill a hole along the frontline for the Grizzlies who traded power forward star Pau Gasol to the Lakers late in the season.

"I didn't know how I was going to react coming into the Draft," Love said. "It was a surreal moment and it actually hasn't set in yet that I'm an NBA player. It is going to be a fun team to play on and I'm hoping I can contribute right away."

"I'm so excited and elated for them," UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland said. "Both Russell and Kevin have worked so hard and I'm not surprised that they went as high as they did. They are both great kids and great players and both the Sonics and the Grizzlies are very fortunate to have them join their franchises."

Mbah a Moute became the third Bruin selected in the 2008 NBA Draft when he was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second-round and was the draft's 37th overall pick. It is the first time three Bruins have been drafted in the same season since 1998.

"I'm very happy and very excited," Luc Richard Mbah a Moute said. "I'm going to a great organization and going to play for a very good head coach who understands me and really values the things I bring to the table, like defense and rebounding. I'm very excited for the opportunity to compete at the highest level."

(photo credit: AP)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (6/23)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

Turns out, quite a few of our guys will, in fact, have the opportunity to make the squad after the USA Basketball Men's Collegiate Committee -- chaired by Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim -- announced the participants last week. Malcolm Lee of Riverside North headlines the local contingent. Loyola's Hollis Thompson and brothers David and Travis Wear from Mater Dei will be in attendance as well. It should also be mentioned that UCLA-commits Drew Gordon of San Jose Mitty and Reeves Nelson of Modesto Christian received nods for the trials. LA Times 6/19 

The world of a high school basketball star has changed plenty since the days Steve Taylor laced up the sneakers at Roseville High School in the late 1970s. The Rocklin boys basketball coach is amazed at the opportunities facing Thunder senior forward Brendan Lane, perhaps the area's biggest college basketball recruit since Elk Grove's Bill Cartwright in the early 1970s. Lane, who verbally committed to UCLA on Saturday, is in Africa this week training and competing with the United States' adidas Nations team. From Africa, Lane will go to France to play with another group of U.S. stars. It's Lane's second trip to France this year; he also has been to Germany and China. Sac Bee 6/21

Recruits

Abraham Lincoln all-state basketball player Lance Stephenson has cut his list of potential colleges to three, The Daily News reported today. According to Dick "Hoops" Weiss, Stephenson's list consists of Kansas, UCLA and Southern Cal. I don’t know when I’ll make a decision,” Stephenson told Weiss. The player's father says St. John's remains in the picture. NY Sportswriters 6/17 

Even if Anthony Stover wasn't all that skilled, chances are the 6-foot-10, 210-plus pound post player would garner his share of attention from Division I programs based on his size alone. Thing is, the junior from Renaissance Academy is talented, blessed with plenty of improving tools. And several school are interested as a result. According to these quotes, it appears as if Oregon St. is the front-runner at this stage of the game, and there's plans for a recruiting trip to Corvallis in the works. Boston College, Creighton and Marquette aren't far behind in the Stover sweepstakes. UCLA and USC are among the five schools with scholarship offers on the table. LA Times 6/17 

McDonald’s commitment effectively ended UNC’s courtship of Nolan Dennis, a lanky wing out of Richland Hills, Texas, who brings similar skills to the table. Dennis, ranked 36th overall in the Class of 2009 by Rivals.com, had talked about being a lifelong Tar Heels fan himself. But with home state schools Texas and Texas A&M also pursuing him, along with Kansas and UCLA, Dennis simply wasn’t ready to make a final decision and McDonald beat him to the punch. FayObserver 6/17 

Putnam City guard Xavier Henry and Bishop McGuinness forward Daniel Orton are preparing for their senior seasons, still unsure what traditional basketball power they will represent during their first year on a college campus. Had they been born four years earlier, the duo would likely be preparing for their senior seasons with visions of being selected in the NBA Draft straight out of high school. NewsOk 6/18 

Jeremy Tyler- After a tough second session, Tyler came to life in the third session. Wendell Lewis, who is having a solid camp as one of the top rebounders, just couldn't handle Tyler's agility in the low post. When things are going well for Tyler and he has a positive attitude, he is one of the best post prospects regardless of class. When things don't go well, Tyler is quick to implode and become ineffective with his play. Gator Bait 6/19

Mbah a Moute To Forego Final Year At UCLA

By Bruin Basketball Report

Luc Richard Mbah a Moute announced today he has decided to remain in the NBA draft this summer and will forego his senior season at UCLA. He plans to hire an agent immediately.

The junior forward waited until the last moment to announce his intention to pursue a professional basketball career.  Collegiates had until today to withdraw their names from the draft to maintain their NCAA eligibility. 

"Luc had a great career at UCLA, and I’m really proud of everything he helped our team accomplish during his tenure as a player at UCLA," Bruin Head Coach Ben Howland said during a press conference this afternoon. "He was the freshman of the year in the conference, won three Pac-10 titles and started in three Final Fours, but, more than anything, he is a winner."

Mbah a Moute averaged 9.1 points and 8.2 rebounds in his freshman season on his way to Pac-10 honors. However his statistical numbers decreased the last two years, as a sophomore he averaged 8.2 points and 7.4 rebounds and as a junior he recorded 8.8 points and 6.0 rebounds with corresponding decreases in his field goal shooting percentage.

However, Mbah a Moute's value to the UCLA team did not show up in the box scores instead it was the intangibles he brought to the Final Four teams.  He was most effective on the defensive end while disrupting an opponent's offensive flow with his activity and length.  On the offensive end, he contributed with solid screens and hard work around the boards and loose balls. 

“I’m sure he’ll continue to provide that great attitude and work ethic at the next level in the NBA,” Howland said. “I will always be grateful and appreciative of Luc. He’s an outstanding player and an even better person."

Its unclear at this point whether Mbah a Moute received a draft guarantee from an NBA team. Reports indicate he is a borderline first-round to mid-second round choice. However, some teams have indicated they were enamored by his combined size, speed, and track record of winning at UCLA. He had workouts with multiple NBA teams including the Celtics, Trailblazers, and Bulls. 

Mbah a Moute's decision today comes with some risk.  Without a first-round guarantee, if he is not selected in the first-round then he does receive a guaranteed NBA contract.  However, Mbah a Moute has stated earlier he would enter the draft if he received just a second-round guarantee.

As a junior, Mbah a Moute received an honorable mention All-Pac-10 and honorable mention Pac-10 All-Defensive Team selection. His 775 rebounds rank him No. 15 on UCLA’s career list. He became the first Bruin since Bill Walton, Keith Wilkes, and Greg Lee to start in three straight Final Fours.

“After speaking to my family and going through the process, I feel like the time is right for me to take the next step in my basketball career and keep my name in the NBA draft,” Mbah a Moute said. “I had the greatest time of my life at UCLA. Starting in three-straight Final Fours and winning three straight Pac-10 titles is something I’ll never forget. I will be a Bruin forever.”

Its not for certain that fellow Cameroonian Alfred Aboya will return next season, although its thought that Aboya will indeed return . Aboya will be playing in the Get Better summer league this June.

With the departure of Mbah a Moute, it leaves UCLA with James Keefe, probably Aboya, and incoming freshmen J'mison Morgan and Drew Gordon in the post positions. Nikola Dragovic is expected to return next season as well and it wouldn't be a surprise to see him play the four at time. 

If Mbah a Moute had returned next season the Bruins were expected to be a favorite for a fourth consecutive Final Four.  Without the three-year starter and the departure of freshman Kevin Love, the Bruins will be relying heavily on prior role players and incoming freshmen to shore up the front line.

(photo credit: J Rosenfeld)

Forward Brendan Lane Verbally Commits To UCLA

By Bruin Basketball Report

Junior Brendan Lane from Rocklin High School near Sacramento has verbally committed to play at UCLA in 2009.

The talented 6'10 205lb forward averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds last season at Rocklin. Along with earlier commit, Reeves Nelson, it gives the Bruins two of the best forwards in the West from the 2009 class.

"I thought UCLA was the right place, so I committed today," Lane said on Saturday. "I definitely like the place, the academics, the location, everything about it."

Lane wanted to play his college ball in California and also had both Stanford and California on his short list, however, with his interest to learn how to play better defense, UCLA was the obvious choice to him. In addition, the recent coaching upheavals at Cal and Stanford played into Lane's final decision.

“UCLA’s style is definitely where I want to be,” Lane said. “I want to have the defensive mentality they have at UCLA. The mentality that Ben Howland coaches.”

Lane is a versatile forward who can score from inside and has a good midrange jumper. His size and mobility will allow him to play either the 3 and 4 spot on the floor.

"I definitely like to play up-tempo," Lane said. "I am a forward who can play inside, but step outside and make a shot."

Lane will likely sign a national letter of intent with UCLA during the November signing period.

(photo credit: SacBee)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (6/16)

By Bruin Basketball Report 

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday. 

Commits 

Two athletes on the trials roster will return to the hardwood to represent the USA for a third time in July. Drew Gordon (Archbishop Mitty H.S. / San Jose, CA) and Malcom Lee (John W. North H.S. / Riverside, CA) helped lead the USA to a 98-78 victory over the World Select Team at the Nike Hoop Summit in April. Gordon, the Junior National Team's second-leading scorer, accounted for 15 points, seven rebounds and four blocks while shooting 85.7 percent from the field. However, in spite of his stellar performance, Gordon credited much of the team's success to the USA's backcourt play. Among the cast of tenacious guards was Lee, who helped force 25 World turnovers and 18 USA steals. WKYT 6/10 

Recruits 

Maintaining the No. 2 rating is versatile 6-6 G/F Xavier Henry (Oklahoma City/Putnam City). Henry is a gifted outside shooter and an explosive athlete when he slashes to the hoop. He somewhat reminds us of Kobe Bryant as a high schooler. His father played basketball at Kansas, and the Jayhawks are considered the favorites to land Henry's services, though he also is interested in other schools, including Texas, UCLA and Memphis. ESPN 6/11 

Now rated No. 4 is the pride of the Big Apple, 6-5 G/F Lance Stephenson (New York/Lincoln). Stephenson has an NBA body and is a gifted scorer from all shooting ranges. He most definitely has the talent and will get all of the New York City hype to push him toward looking like the top player in this class. However, he is somewhat of an enigma to us. We have seen him lose his composure on and off the court, and he has participated in a limited number of events outside the New York area this spring. ESPN 6/11 

At No. 6, but with the size, talent and potential to become the ultimate dominator of this class is 6-foot-10, 260-pound center/forward Renardo Sidney (Los Angeles/Fairfax). Like Stephenson, Sidney is somewhat of a riddle. His abilities are obvious, but he has a tendency to disappear in some games. Perhaps Sidney is one of those guys who plays well only when he feels like it. He has been missing in action from most of the top spring events. Reportedly Sidney will attend the Reebok All-American Camp in Philadelphia from July 8-10. ESPN 6/11 

One of the would-be prospects will be on campus this weekend. Stephan Van Treese, a 6-foot-9 power forward from Greg Oden's alma mater, Indianapolis Lawrence North, will participate with his teammates in Ohio State's team camp Saturday and Sunday. Van Treese, who attended Kansas' elite camp last weekend, told Rivals.com that the five schools he is considering are Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Ohio State and UCLA. Rivals ranks Van Treese No. 121 on its list of the top 150 recruits in 2009. Columbus Dispatch 6/13

Xavier Henry looked down at the machine pumping cold pressure to his right foot Saturday morning and learned he couldn't go anywhere for 24 minutes. Henry, the smooth 6-foot-6 guard from Oklahoma City, leaned back against a wall at the Finch Center and just smiled, displaying the same patience and disposition that has characterized his entire recruiting process to this point. Despite being hounded by questions for at least two years about where he plans on playing college basketball, the easy-going lefty said Saturday he's in no hurry to make a decision, which will have a massive impact on the 2009 recruiting efforts of several schools, including the University of Memphis. Commercial Appeal 6/15 

Rumble in the Bronx: The Dream Team's Renardo Sidney's first shot would be an air ball as Kevin Parrom and Omari Lawrence did damage inside the paint for the Panthers. With 10:52 left in the first half, the Panthers were already up 18-2 with classic NY run n' gun offense as Graham continued to be white hot from the arc. The only way the LA Dream Team could stop the bleeding was to call a time out. With 9:18 left, the Dream Team was still down by 13 points as Jordan Hamilton was off from outside as fouls began to plague the team from California. Hamilton would finally get hot, hitting two quick jumpers and with 7:12 left in the half, the Dream Team was now only down by 7 points. Scarlet Nation 6/15

Shipp Officially Withdraws from Draft, Returns To Westwood

By Bruin Basketball Report

(UCLA press release)

UCLA forward Josh Shipp has signed paperwork to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft and will play his senior season for the Bruins, UCLA head basketball coach Ben Howland announced today.

"Josh has been an integral part of our three Final Four runs and I am really excited that he is coming back for his senior year," said Howland. "I expect him to have his best year as a Bruin, and not just because of his talent, but because this is the first summer in the last three that he can focus on his game as opposed to having to rehab from hip surgery.

"I think that with Josh, Darren (Collison) and Alfred (Aboya) we have a great core group of seniors. This will be the first time in the last three seasons that we have had more than one senior and I think that senior leadership is very important."

As a junior, Shipp held the Bruins compile a record of 35-4 en route to their third straight Pac-10 title and third consecutive trip to the Final Four. He was the only player to start all 39 games - a school record - and averaged 12.2 points, 3.2 rebounds and 2.1 assists. He also ranked second on the squad with his .770 free throw percentage.

"I am glad I went through this process. It gave me the opportunity to get input and prepare my body and my game for the next level," said Shipp.

"But at the end of the day, I wanted to come back and make another run for the championship. We've been close three times and a goal of mine is to win the NCAA championship. I think with our core of seniors, we have the leadership necessary to make another run for the title and I'm looking forward to next season."

(photo credit: J Rosenfeld)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (6/9)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Recruits

The Huskies could have four scholarships available for the Class of 2009, and Romar has noted he would like to sign a big player or two, as well. Indications are, however, that the Huskies are continuing to recruit the Bellarmine Prep guard duo of Abdul Gaddy and Avery Bradley — Gaddy announced last week he is no longer committed to Arizona, and the two said they would like to play together in college. Seattle Times 6/3

But neither would confirm, exactly, that they are a package deal. Both players said Monday they would be open to the idea, but would make their decision largely independent of the other. "What was said before got mixed up," Abdul Gaddy said. "They asked if I would like to play with (Avery Bradley) in college, and I said that would be cool. But he's going to sit down and do what's best for him, and I'll do the same. If it ends up we're on the same page, that would be great." Gaddy said he has scholarship offers from Texas, Memphis, Kansas, Oregon, Washington and Gonzaga. He said he is wide open about his choice, and would still consider Arizona. He said a decision may take awhile. Seattle PI 6/3

Derrick Jasper, a 2006 Paso Robles High graduate generally regarded as the best basketball prospect to ever come out of San Luis Obispo County, is transferring to a college closer to home. Wide speculation has been that he’ll land at UNLV, but in an interview with The Tribune that was first reported Tuesday on SanLuis Obispo.com, Jasper said he’s far from cementing any decision. “I don’t know where I’m headed yet,” Jasper said. “I’m just really trying to take my time and be patient, really find out what’s the best for me.” He did give a top five list of schools he’s had contact with: UCLA, San Diego State, Long Beach State, USC and, as speculated, the Runnin’ Rebels. San Luis Obispo 6/4

Avery Bradley, the No. 17 ranked prospect in the Rivals150, is a great scorer off the dribble. He has the athleticism to attack the rim, and he is also terrific in the midrange. Not only is Bradley an impressive scorer, he is also a tenacious defender. Extremely quick laterally, Bradley can use his rangy build to lock down opposing guards. Rivals 6/5

Bill Self will hold a two-day Elite Camp for top high school prospects today and Saturday. It will be closed to the public and media. Xavier Henry, the No. 2 prospect in the Class of 2009, is expected to attend, as well as No. 29 Elijah Johnson and No. 121 Stephan Van Treese plus unrated Jeff Reid of Topeka Hayden and Dorian Green of Lawrence High. KU Sports 6/6

Johnnies coach Norm Roberts and his staff are continuing to take an aggressive approach in recruiting, getting a commitment from 7-1 Phil Wait, who is originally from Manchester, England, and spent this past year at a sports academy in Spain. NY Daily News 6/6

(photo credit: Seattle Times)