Malcolm Lee Verbally Commits to UCLA
By Bruin Basketball Report
Multiple recruiting news sources are reporting Malcom Lee of North (John W.) high school in Riverside California has given a verbal commitment to play at UCLA.
Lee is an elite guard who is rated the #33 and #52 top recruit in the 2008 class by Scout and Rivals, respectively.
At 6'4 170 lb and solid ballhandling skills, Lee can play both the point and shooting guard positions. He makes good decisions with the ball and has the ability to knock down shots from three-point distance.
Along with Jerime Anderson (Canyon HS, Anaheim), who committed to UCLA over the summer, Lee and Anderson will form a dynamic 2008 backcourt in Westwood.
And UCLA may not be done recruiting players for their 2008 backcourt since they are reportedly still pursuing Jrue Holiday of Campbell Hall, a guard considered one of the two best shooting guards in his class.
Although one has to wonder whether the Bruins will place a higher priority in recruiting a frontcourt player instead, such as Drew Gordon or Luke Babbitt, to play alongside Lee and Anderson in 2008.
At this point, it may come down to the expected number of scholarships the Bruins will have at the time. With Chace Stanback and Kevin Love arriving next season and with Lee and Anderson committed in 2008, UCLA does not have any more available scholarships in 2008 unless a current player from the team, or perhaps Kevin Love, leaves early for the NBA.
Not a bad problem for UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland and his coaching staff to have as they continue to recruit and keep local elite talent in town.
Labels: Recruiting Misc News
BBR :: Article Link :: 5:00 AM ::
7 comments
7 Comments:
Howland has created a dynasty!
Get your season tickets already!!
Still not worried about USC and OJ Mayo...
Can you imagaine 2008?
Dragovic/Shipp
Keefe or Gordon (if we get him and assuming Luc leaves early)
Love
Westbrook/Anderson
Lee/Roll
The good times will continue to roll in Bruin basketball
How do you budget for overcommitments in this situation? If Jrue said yes, surely we wouldn't tell him we were full. We might expect that one or more of Afflalo, Mbah Moute, Shipp, Dragovic, Love is gone by then, but it's difficult to predict, especially with the possibility of injuries. Do teams actually pull scholarships from players (or transfer them to academic scholarships)? For example, if Roll is passed by Dragovic as a shooter off the bench, can you pull his scholarship if need be?
"Do teams actually pull scholarships from players (or transfer them to academic scholarships)? For example, if Roll is passed by Dragovic as a shooter off the bench, can you pull his scholarship if need be?"
Great questions, what are the answers, BBR? I hate to say it, but unless Roll starts to create his own shot and begins to contribute 3 or 4 three pointers per night, we need to think about replacing him. That is what we needed against Florida in March and we'll need it desperately this season to provide another threat at the 2 off the bench.
We can't risk losing Jrue if Roll isn't contributing this year like he can. He has such a nice shot, I hope he starts scoring.
Athletic scholarships are awarded one academic year at a time; no one is guartenteed a free ride for their entire career.
Scholarships can be pulled at any time, and it does happen.
However, it's not a good PR move, especially for an elite program, to pull scholarships from players. It just doesn't look good to potential recruits and their families. Of course, if a player breaks rules or is a malcontent - its a different story.
Its still a bit early in the season to judge Roll's contributions to the team. Coach Howland was quite impressed with Roll during the preseason practices to the point he felt Roll should be taking the most shots on the team - after Afflalo and Shipp.
Roll dedicated himself this summer to slim down and lift weights to get quicker and stronger. Whether its enough to get to the next level at Division I play is another question.
During summer league, he was able to get his shot off more easily from the outside and finished at the basket stronger than he did last year, yet he still had probems creating space off the dribble for his shot.
But Roll does a number of things well which contributes to the team. Although not a stellar defender, he's shown he can defend good offensive guards, in addition, he is a good passer especially adept at dumping into the low post.
Either way, I highly doubt his scholarship will ever be pulled.
As for opening up more scholarships for 2008, it will more likely come from transfers or early NBA entrants.
- BBR
I favor signing Anderson, Lee, Gordon and Holiday in 08, all MacDonald's A-A and letting go of Roll, Wright and Dragovic to transferring out. And then signing the Wear Bros and Syndey along with a SF in 09, again MacDonald's A-A, while keeping Love, Collison for 4 years. Keefe is a question mark, maybe a possble transfer after his sophomore year.
Well thankfully you don't have to make those decisions. AT times I question the scholarships given out to Dragovic, Wright and all the others but then I remember I'm not coach Howland.
I don't think you need to be North Carolina (with a bunch of AA sitting on the bench) to get to the final four. See last two years as a reference
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