Prep Star Reeves Nelson Verbally Commits to UCLA
By Bruin Basketball Report
Reeves Nelson highlight video 1
Reeves Nelson highlight video 2
2009 recruit Reeves Nelson of Modesto Christian High School verbally committed to UCLA last evening, as reported by Rise Magazine and confirmed today by multiple recruiting services.
The junior 6'7, 220 lb forward is ranked as one of the top 30 players nationally in his recruiting class.
Nelson had multiple offers from elite programs including, North Carolina, Duke, and Kentucky, but he decided on Westwood due to the coaching staff, team's history of success, and proximity to home.
“They (UCLA) were really the first ones to recruit me and I really like coach Howland and all their other coaches,” Nelson told RISE Magazine. “I know a bunch of the kids going there, like Jrue Holiday, Jerime Anderson and Drew Gordon. And obviously, they win a lot of games.”
Nelson will likely play both the power and small forward positions at UCLA. He averaged 17 points and 12 boards per game last year while leading Modesto Christian to a 30-4 record and to the Division V NorCal finals.
He is the perfect Ben Howland-type player. Nelson is a physical, bruising-type player who finishes extremely well around the basket and is beginning to hit consistently from the outside. He is a tough and relentless rebounder who always seems to find himself around the ball.
Modesto Christian will be traveling to a tournament in Kentucky this weekend. The Wildcats were hoping to have another opportunity to make an impression on Nelson. Former Kentucky star and NBA player, Chuck Hayes, also played prep ball at Modesto Christian.
Nelson is UCLA's first verbal commitment from the 2009 class. This recruitment helps to soften the loss of Mater Dei twins David and Travis Wear who both committed to North Carolina last week.
The Bruins are expected to have up to six or seven scholarships available for this recruitment class.
(photo credit: USA Basketball)
Labels: Recruiting Misc News
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15 comments
15 Comments:
This is great new BBR.
This kid is going to be tremendous in Westwood, he is a warrior on the court!
Correction - he will be a BRUIN on the court. This is great great news. Very much the prototypical Howland recruit. I love this. Hard nosed kid - wide body - finishes with authority - starting to develop a good outside shot - relentless rebounder. Fantastic.
Reeves, it's an honor to play at this fine institution....get some other studs in here...6 hours until our Pac-10 home opener...I'm going crazy at work!!!
Nice. Didn't know much about this kid until recently but I've seen some of his videos and he looks like a beast.
Great news! Nelson is exactly the guy I wanted from 2009. Didn't care much for the Wears. Now let's get Sidney, Jennings, and Brendan Lane!
That would be a nice young front court.
oh yeah...Beat the Huskies tonight!
He seems very athletic in the videos. He sounds like, as odd as it sounds, an American-version of Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
Luc was 6'7 when he came to UCLA and his relentless pursuit of rebounds and hustle were/are his trademarks --- just like Reeves! This was a huge commit for Howland.
I've seen him play numerous times and what is impressive about him is his hard nose style of play. He is just one of those guys you don't want to run into. I would compare him (loosely) to a Charles Barkley. I don't mean to put unfair standards on him - I'm just saying he competes and has a nose for getting things done. He isn't the flashy type of player that is going to garner high 5 star status however that doesn't make him any less effective. This is truly good news. Let's keep the good ones coming to Pauley.
CONGRATULATIONS Nelson. You've just joined the #1 collegate basketball team in the nation. Great get, Ben. DEFENSE will always keep your teams on top. Losing the Wear twins is NO loss. The day will come when Reeves will shut down the twins. As for those of you who think Sydney should be a Bruin, think twice. Why would you ever want a kid on the basketball team who yelled at refs, had temper tantrams on the court, and has gotten kick out of games because of his attitude. No matter what his talent, he will never be a Bruin. My guess, he goes to SUC for a year to get even with the Bruins (an expected childish choice), and does the same thing for SUC that Mayo has done - there is no I in team.
The Wear Twins indeed arent too much of a lost. They are soft and at least 35-40 pounds too light. Not to mention they arent very athletic. The twins will be ok for college due to their height, soft hands, and some shooting skills. However a soft big man who cant defend will just get eating up at the next level. Players like Dewight Howard and Amare will wipe the floors with them.
Players who do not like to come to ucla because its a fundamentaly sound and defensive oriented are just hurting themselves more and hurt their chances going to the next level not able to play tough D.
An average scorer who can defend are extremely wanted by NBA. It is a shame many kids want the flashy style and dont learn to play D until they get a tough Defender in their face to realize they cant make their shots consistently.
I wouldn't give up Sidney yet since I think his move to Fairfax this year was to shore up his reputation....if he does change his attitude on the court...I'd welcome him to UCLA with open arms.
Right on DB. Kevin Love had the entire offensive arsenal coming out of high school and specifically chose UCLA to develop his defense for the NBA. This is the formula that turned Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo into 1st round picks, and got Ryan Hollins, Dijon Thompson, and Cedric Bozeman onto NBA rosters. The Wear twins have done themselves a disservice and will realize it when they find out that soft, unathletic big men who can shoot have become dime a dozen.
Faaaaaaaaaaaaantastic! This kid is a hustler, a pounder, a leaper, and a scorer. Put another "A" on Coach Howland and the Bruins recruitment scorecard!
Sounds to me a lot like former Bruin great Dave Meyers. If that's the case--great news.
Fantastic!!!!
We are one happy BRUIN family!!! Keep the good ones coming...
This is really great news! He probably doesn't know this, but he is my cousin. I can't wait to watch him in action!
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