Love To Give L.A. A Preview

By Bruin Basketball Report

Bruin fans have a chance to get a preview of UCLA-bound Kevin Love when he leads his Lake Oswego high school team into the Verbum Dei Real Run Winter Classic at Pauley Pavilion on Friday.

It marks the first time Kevin Love has ever played at Pauley Pavilion.

Lake Oswego will play Arron Afflalo's old high school Compton Centennial in the second game of a double-header.  The first game will match Verbum Dei and Daniel Murphy HS.

Love, a skilled and powerful 6'9 center, is ranked No.1 in the 2007 recruiting class and is having a standout senior season.  He is averaging an astonishing 34 points and 23 rebounds in leading his Lakers team to a 3-0 record.

When asked if he planned to watch his prized-recruit on Friday night, UCLA Head Coach Beb Howland said, "Absolutely, I plan to watch him play."

Love and his father, Stan Love a former star at nearby Inglewood Morningside, plan to take in the UCLA game against Oakland at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday.

Tickets to watch Kevin Love at the Verbum Dei Real Run Winter Classic are still available through Ticketmaster.  The game is scheduled to start at approximately 8:30 PM or 30 minutes after the first game.

(photo credit: SI)