Bruins in the NBA Report

By Bruin Basketball Report

While the UCLA faithful eagerly await the start of basketball season in Westwood, twelve former Bruins are in NBA training camps around the country working hard to refine their craft, move up in rotations, or to simply win a spot on their team's fifteen man rosters.

Here is a BBR look around the NBA training camps.

Arron Afflalo, Detroit Pistons: Despite earning First Team All-American honors and leading his team to a second consecutive Final Four, some still thought it was a mistake for Afflalo to forego his senior season for the NBA draft. However after being drafted in the first round by the Pistons, he proved he made the right decision. The Pistons were looking to inject youth into their aging backcourt especially after a poor showing against a younger Cavaliers team in the playoffs. With the addition of Afflalo and fellow first-rounder Rodney Stuckey, the Pistons now have players who can provide a spark off the bench with aggressive play. Although Afflalo struggled with his outside shooting during summer league, he still impressed the Piston brass with his effort and defense. While its still not certain whether he will start the regular season with the Pistons or their NBDL affiliate, its clear Afflalo is part of the Pistons backcourt of the future.

Trevor Ariza, Orlando Magic: With the departure of Grant Hill, Ariza has an opportunity to increase his minutes and perhaps have a break-out season. Already considered the Magic's best defender, Ariza suffered from nagging injuries last season which limited his play. Despite being in the league four years, he is still only 22 years old.

Matt Barnes, Golden St. Warriors: After coming out of no where last year to help the Warriors make an impressive run through the playoffs, Barnes was hoping for a long term free-agent contract, instead he signed an enhanced one-year contract to play for the Warriors again with hopes of proving that last season's postseason wasn't a fluke. Look for Barnes to continue his aggressive and high-energy play on both ends of the court for the Warriors this season and earn that lucrative contract. In addition to his tough play, Barnes also shot 37% from three-point distance.

Baron Davis, Golden St. Warriors: B-Diddy showed he was a big time franchise player during the Warriors' postseason march last season. Like Barnes, he had hoped to land a lucrative extension on his contract during the offseason but didn't get it from management. Regardless, Davis entered camp this season slimmed down and in the best shape of his NBA career. Although he didn't get the extension he had hoped for, he is still hungry to show all that he is one of the elite players in the NBA.

Jordan Farmar, Los Angeles Lakers: Farmar earned the trust of Lakers Head Coach Phil Jackson, who doesn't normally play rookies major minutes, to star in a significant role on the Lakers squad last season. While Smush Parker is no longer with the team, the Lakers added veteran point guard Derek Fisher and first-round draft choice Javaris Crittenton to the team. With one season of the triangle offense under his belt, Farmar will look to solidify his minutes in the Lakers' rotation.

Dan Gadzuric, Milwaukee Bucks: With Andrew Bogut starting at center, the Bucks hope Gadzuric can continue to provide solid back-up minutes. The athletic big man averaged 4.8 points and 4.6 rebounds last season for Milwaukee.

Ryan Hollins, Charlotte Bobcats: Hollins split time between the Bobcats and the NBDL last season. The Bobcats love his size and athleticism. In 27 games with the Bobcats he averaged 2.4 points and 1.1 rebounds.

Jason Kapono, Toronto Raptors: Kapono, the reigning three-point champion, left the Miami Heat and signed a lucrative free-agent contract with the Raptors during the offseason. Kapono shot a career-high 51.4% from beyond the three-point arc last season and averaged 10.9 points a game. He will be battling Carlos Delfino, another Toronto offseason acquisition for minutes at the wing this season.

Darrick Martin, Toronto Raptors: Martin is the dean of all active former Bruins in the NBA. He will start his 13th year in the league when the Raptors open the season. Martin will be looked upon to provide guidance to young point-guards T.J Ford and Jose Calderon.

Jelani McCoy, Denver Nuggets: Yes, he's back. After an impressive summer league stint, McCoy has been invited to the Nuggets training camp. He has been out of the league for the past two seasons. While he's a long shot to make the team, Bruin NBA video game enthusiasts are just giddy to have another big man to add to their UCLA team roster.

Andre Patterson, Los Angeles Lakers: Patterson, who played two years for UCLA before transferring to Tennessee, was with the Lakers' NBDL team last season.

Earl Watson, Seattle Supersonics: While the point-guard situation in Seattle is even more unsettled with the addition of Delonte West to the Watson-Luke Ridnour mixture, Watson feels more at peace and positive this season. Watson credits the hiring of new head coach P.J Carlesimo with the new team outlook.

(photo credit: NBA)

UCLA and Howland Agree To New 7-Year Contract

By Bruin Basketball Report

UCLA and men's head basketball coach Ben Howland have agreed on a new seven-year contract, athletic director Dan Guerrero announced today.

The new contract, which runs through the 2013-14 season, includes guaranteed compensation of $1.5 million for the 2007-08 season and escalates to $2 million for the 2013-14 season. It also includes the incentive package from his previous contract that has a maximum value of $235,000.

“Ben is certainly deserving of this commitment by UCLA,” said Guerrero. “He is clearly one of the top teachers and recruiters in college basketball. He has re-established UCLA as one of the nation’s elite programs, as our back-to-back Final Four illustrate, and has built a solid foundation that will keep us at the forefront for the foreseeable future.”

Howland has coached the Bruins to consecutive NCAA Final Fours the past two seasons. In his four years since arriving in Westwood from Pittsburgh, Howland has compiled a 91-41 (.689) record.

“There is no place I would rather be coaching than UCLA,” said Howland. “This has always been my dream job. I grew up a Bruin basketball fan and it still is hard for me to believe that I am the caretaker of the program that Coach Wooden built. UCLA is a great institution, both academically and athletically, and I am grateful to Chancellor (Gene) Block and Dan for the faith they have shown in me. Back-to-back Final Fours are great, but our team is looking forward to the challenge of taking the next step.”

(photo credit: AP)

2007-08 UCLA Bruins Basketball Roster

By Bruin Basketball Report

The UCLA Bruins open the 2007-08 season with eleven scholarship and five walk-on players on the roster.

Two freshmen, 6'10 Kevin Love and 6'8 Chace Stanback join the team this season. Love will wear jersey No.42 and Stanback No.22

Love received permission from UCLA Hall of Fame great Walt Hazzard to wear his No.42 this season. UCLA had retired Hazzard's number during a ceremony in 1996.

Lorenzo Mata, the lone scholarship senior on the team, will now go by Lorenzo Mata-Real.

UCLA Men's basketball team will hold its first practice of the season on Friday, October 12th in Pauley Pavilion. The team's first game of the season is an exhibition contest against Azusa Pacific on November 2nd.

UCLA Bruins Basketball 2007-08 Roster

No.	Name	Pos.	Ht.	Wt.	Yr.
0	Russell Westbrook	G	6'3	187	So
2	Darren Collison	G	6'1	165	Jr
3	Josh Shipp	G/F	6'5	220	Jr
5	DeAndre Robinson	G	6'5	210	Jr
10	Mustafa Abdul-Hamid	G	6'2	185	So
12	Alfred Aboya	F/C	6'8	235	Jr
13	James Keefe	F	6'8	220	So
14	Lorenzo Mata-Real	C	6'9	240	Sr
20	Michael Roll	G/F	6'5	200	Jr
21	David McGrath	F	6'5	205	Jr
22	Chace Stanback	G/F	6'8	210	Fr
23	Luc Richard Mbah a Moute	F	6'8	230	Jr
24	Joey Ellis	G	6'2	185	Jr
41	Nikola Dragovic	F	6'8	215	So
42	Kevin Love	F/C	6'10	260	Fr
55	Matt Lee	G	6'0	170	Sr

Coaching Staff

Ben Howland - Head Coach
Donny Daniels - Assistant Coach
Scott Duncan - Assistant Coach
Scott Garson - Assistant Coach
Joe Hillock - Director of Basketball Operations
Clay McKnight - Video Coordinator

(photo credit: Jack Rosenfeld)

Bruin Recruiting: Prep News Roundup (10/1)

By Bruin Basketball Report

Prep News Roundup is published every Monday.

Commits

UCLA: On the heels of signing current freshman center Kevin Love, perhaps the top newcomer in college basketball, the Bruins have landed four players among virtually everyone's top 60. Leading the way is guard Jrue Holiday, ranked No. 3 by both rivals.com and scout.com. Along with shooting guard Malcolm Lee and point guard Jerime Anderson, UCLA also got Archbishop Mitty-San Jose star Drew Gordon, whose rating slipped a bit last summer because of injuries.  Contra Costa Times 9/23

The most recognizable male athlete on the Campbell Hall of North Hollywood campus joined forces Monday with the school's most successful girls' program. Senior Jrue Holiday, one of the nation's top prep basketball players, agreed to become the manager of the Vikings girls' tennis team for the remainder of the fall season, adding even more star power to one of the Southern California's elite groups.  "He's already got enough rings, but we'll see if we can get him another one," Campbell Hall coach Steve Kuechel said. "It's going to be fun to have him around." The UCLA-bound Holiday helped the Vikings capture a Div. IV state championship in March, Campbell Hall's second in three years. The girls' tennis team, which recorded a 15-3 victory Wednesday over Redlands, is seeking its first Div. III title since 2004 following semifinal losses the past two seasons.  LA Daily News 9/25

Recruits

J’Mison Morgan, a 6-foot-10, 275-pound senior from Dallas South Oak Cliff High, made a recruiting trip to UCLA last weekend. He also has visited LSU and Kansas and is expected to make trips to Alabama and Kentucky. “Los Angeles seemed like a good place,” Morgan told Rivals.com, breaking his recent silence regarding his recruiting. “It reminded me of Dallas with the traffic and all. I could see myself living there. “I plan to make my decision on November 2nd, my birthday. The top five are LSU, Alabama, Kansas, UCLA and Kentucky. There are a couple of more, but I'm not sure that I will end up visiting them.” Morgan averaged 14.0 points, 9.0 rebounds and 4.0 blocks per game last season for the three-time state champs. KU Sports 9/25

A battle of big men and a collection of some of the region's top boys basketball teams will be featured in a pair of Monday mini-tournaments this winter at Hoover High. Arizona recruit Jeff Withey, a 7-footer who led Horizon High to the 2006 state Division IV title, and 6-9 San Diego High sophomore Jeremy Tyler will battle in the 7:30 p.m. game of the Mark Hall Memorial Classic on Jan. 14. Mission Hills and Otay Ranch will meet in the 6 p.m. contest. San Diego Union Tribune 9/26

J’Mison Morgan, 6-10 from Dallas’ South Oak Cliff High tells Rivals.com he will make an official visit to Alabama. He’s already visited KU, LSU and UCLA. Kentucky remains on his list. He will announce his college choice on his birthday, which is Nov. 2. KU Sports 9/27

Greg Monroe, the No. 1 recruit in the 2008 class according to Rivals.com, has eliminated Kansas from his list and will not visit Lawrence, the Web site reported Friday....KU's priority shifts now to 6-10, 275-pound Dallas forward J'Mison Morgan Kansas City Star 9/28

The class of 2008 might be complete, thanks to Vargas, but the Gators are already working hard on the 2009 and 2010 class.
The Gators are getting unofficial visits this weekend from a couple of big time prospects in Ari Stewart (6-7, 190, Marietta, GA Wheeler) and Kendall Williams (6-2, 165, Rancho Cucamonga, CA Los Osos) Gator Country 9/28.

(photo credit: SI)