Kevin Love Press Conference Scheduled For Tomorrow
By Bruin Basketball Report
UCLA first-team All-America Freshman Kevin Love will hold a press conference tomorrow at 1:00 PM PT to announce his future basketball plans.
Father Stan Love and UCLA Head Coach Ben Howland will also be present.
Love helped lead the Bruins to a third consecutive Final Four this season. He averaged 17.5 points and 10.6 rebounds in 39 games in his freshman campaign.
It is widely expected that Love will forego his remaining collegiate eligibility to enter the NBA draft this summer. Some scouts have projected Love going anywhere from the mid to late lottery in the draft.
Labels: Recruiting Misc News
BBR :: Article Link :: 11:11 AM ::
31 comments
31 Comments:
Very sad news. BBR, do you know if he's hiring an agent????
Its our understanding he will enter the NBA draft and take Coach Howland's advice and not sign with an agent until later in the process.
But we'll need to be wait until tomorrow to confirm.
- BBR
Love clearly needs one more year of seasoning to be an impact player in the NBA. Money talks so he's gone! We need a true center very bad BBR! Does Howland have an ace in the hole BBR?
J'mison Morgan is our ace in the hole if Love leaves....
Love...go to an East Coast team and freeze or stay and hang w/ Cali girls...I guess money talks...
One and done is such a disappointing path for someone who seemed to channel the history and tradition of Bruin basketball.
Your right about Cali girls BruinFan! Isn't it ironic that Kevin Love's uncle Mike Love from the Beach Boys actually wrote the frickn song "California Girls"! What a shame! Mike's got no pull! Let's keep it real, Kevin is gone man. Hey Ben, We need J'mison Morgan now!
Hehe Bruinfan, im sure with his money and some fame he will have np getting more booty than pirates.
In any case, you cant really blame these kids if people are willing to throw millions in their face. I am willing to bet most of us would do the same. These days and age is totally different from Wooden days so we cant compare to the old days.
Players nowadays have more power than coaches, are smarter in terms of marketing, and much more talented and skilled. I mean back then not many 19 year olds are going to be offered big bucks to play in the NBA. If they did, I am sure they would have face the same problem that teams do today.
What teams need to do to be successful is to stack players that are a step below one and done players and just get 1 or 2 one and done players to put you over the top.
You cannot rely on one and done players to win it all for you. They are the very last missing piece that takes you over the top. Unfortunately for us Bruins this year, we were missing two big chunks. Outside shooting and inside game. We got the inside fixed but outside not and that was one big factor in causing us the title hopes.
In short, of all these top freshman that came in this year, only two have made it somewhat meaningful and only 1 took his team beyond the expected. The only player was Rose.
Mayo didnt take USC further and better than last year. Beasely got them to second round so some probs but not much. Bayless failed to do better than last year for Arizona. Gordon's team vastly underachieved, and KLove got Bruins back to where they were last year with the same result.
It is difficult for a one year player to come in and make that huge change since you need team chemistry which usually take at least one season to do.
Bruins need to get more athletic players period. Also helps with some actual big man like 6-9 and up.
What irks me is when top players at other colleges, come back while UCLA's bolt. UCLA didn't have loads of talent this past season. UCLA was clearly the least talented team in the Final Four. In fact, none of Howland's teams have been super-talented, yet every season UCLA players declare.
Why is Hansbrough still at UNC, but Love is one and done? Hansbrough was an AA and POY his frosh year, is a similar NBA prospect to Love, yet he may stay four years. Ellington/Lawson are still at UNC, even though they are probably better prospects than Westbrook/Collison. Kansas' players like Rush/Chalmers/Arthur may return. USC's Gibson/Jefferson are 25 years old and academic misfits, yet they return to school. There are several other players out there, who are better talents than UCLA's players, but are in no hurry to leave college.
What is it about playing at UCLA that gives Bruin players the extra urge to leave early for the NBA? Is it the ridiculously high academic strain at UCLA or maybe they just hate playing for Howland? I think playing pick-up against the NBA players, makes the UCLA players feel like they belong, even though they should realize the pros are playing half-assed in those games.
Can't UCLA's players, and the people telling them they'll be drafted high, see that the recent success of Howland's teams, were due to team play and the sum has been greater than the parts? I guess not. So damn frustrating. Nevertheless, I kind of like the fact that expectations will be lowered next season and the frosh will get a chance to shine.
I was just thinking, wasn't our run to the final four two years ago a lot more fun than this last one? In fact, wasn't that whole season a lot more satisfying and exciting? This past year, I was bored to tears until conference play, and somewhat disappointed and frustrated at the end. I look forward to seeing Howland turning this next group into a team.
Kevin Love will announce that he will return to UCLA for his sophomore year. :)
I agree Rob, and that's what I meant about liking the lowered expectations. '06 season set the bar so high that anything less than Pac-10 champs and Final Four would have been a huge letdown. '07 and '08 regular seasons seemed to have a "we should be playing better" feel to them and then the post-season had a "we can't screw this up" feel. It was hard to completely enjoy it at the time.
Now, apparently the entire UCLA starting five will be declaring, and Aboya is quitting, so the team will be drastically different next season.
Sooner or later there has to be some actions to be taken by the NCAA, while I don't really rate the NCAA much higher than the WVSSAC( our sports governing body here), they really need to come up with some sort of contractual agreement that a kid must commit to at least 2 years on campus or repay all expenses including any and all visits by reps of the school...
Another thing, and how enforceable this would be is debatable, is obtain and enforce a cease and disist order for the NBA, no offers or agents else they too would be liable for restitution to the affected school...
Randy and Rob,
You have become spoiled. To you as a fan it may have been boring and disappointing. These players trained, played, and fought hard for their great season! PAC 10 champs, #1 seed, 35-4, Final Four! Disappointing team or great accomplishments? I guess it's a matter of perspective.
What's really funny is out of one side of your mouth you say this team is made up of a bunch of players that are not that talented but in the next sentence you are disappointed that these no talents had all of those accolaids and accomplishments.
Sheesh! Can't please everyone I guess. As a Bruins fan I am very pleased with this teams effort and season. Only 1 out of over 327 Division 1 basketball teams can win the title every year. With the incomming recruiting classes and Ben Howland, we are going to be on top for a long time. Many boring seasons to go for you spoiled fans.
Relax ASK... don't blow what Randy and Rob said out of proportion. I think you know what they mean, and putting a different slant on it only creates needless conflict.
Calm down ASK, I never said it was boring, I said it was hard for me to completely enjoy it AT THE TIME. What I meant by that was because of high expectations and how OTHERS (like true spoiled fans and the media) kept putting a "UCLA barely wins" spin on numerous games, made it difficult to fully enjoy it while it was happening. When I take a step back after each season, I can definitely appreciate what was accomplished and am proud of the last three seasons.
I said UCLA accomplished what it did by team play and that the sum was greater than the parts. I never said UCLA had no talent, just less talent than many people apparently think. Bobby Knight said the same thing and some UCLA fans flew off the handle, but he's right.
Brew-in we need a beer here for mediation....
Hey BBR, what are you hearing about our chances of getting J. Morgan this year and R. Sydney for 2009?
A press conference to announce he's staying is a fantasy. Anyone in their right mind, no matter how old you are, would take $3 million if thrown at you.
What are the chances that Love is still growing? Imagine if he was 6'11 or 7' with his skill set. nevermind his athleticism. even at 6-9 the dude's a beast.
Love is only holding a press conference so the news outlets wouldn't have stolen his limelight from being able to announce himself that he's leaving.
I think the most realistic scenario of Love returning is if he entered his name and did not hire an agent. If he does what Afflalo did and play against better athletes, his draft stock will slide and he may consider returning. However, I imagine he will try to stray away from games where he will be tested against other potential draftees and only hold private workouts where his lack of athleticism isn't exposed.
Love bolting could be a blessing over the long run. It may open the door for Morgan to transfer to UCLA. He is not as big a prospect as Love but he would be around for the next few years where Love would be at Ucla no more than 2 years.
Obviously there are a few perspectives here.
1. From the personal player perspective - usually the dream is to play in the nba - the pinnacle for everything that you have worked for. Doing what you love to do and insane money to go with it. College is a stepping stone to that. If you are good enough to be considered a first rounder or ever better a lottery pick - you can set yourself up for life. It's a no brainer.
2. From the team/fan perspective - it blows. I like continuity. I want to be able to watch the players I like for multiple years. That's my own greed.
Back to ... it is what it is. We have free agency and parity. We no longer have dynasties or those lasting identities (with rare exceptions). We have turnover and that is just the nature of the game from here forward. All the great players coming in next year will be the next wave of guys leaving the program next year - and so on. Bummer but a reality.
Back to Love though ... in particular. Would he benefit by coming back. Absolutely - another year of lifting and toning his body into better shape. Defensive footwork. Does he have the skills to compete at the next level. Absolutely. Has short/middle/long range shooting. Technically proficient rebounder on both ends. Terrific outlet passer. If you weigh those reasons out which reasonably puts him into top 10 status - hate to say it but - it is a no-brainer to proceed to the next level.
Westbrook - on the other hand - would be better served actually running the point guard position for a full year and continue work on his decision making processing. Different thread though.
Love - if one of your goals was a national college championship - and continued growth. Then stay and complete that goal. If your end goal was just the nba ... then - we've enjoyed having you for a year and thanks for the memories - but your legacy stops here.
It's official. he's entering but has yet to hire an agent.
I think he's making a mistake but can't blame him for going for the $$. Thanks for the 1 good year Kevin, but I really think we could have had a special team next year if you'd come back.
Wow, the level of misinformation in these comments is staggering.
A.) So far, Love is the only player to declare his intentions to enter the NBA draft, not the entire starting five as someone else wrote.
When have you known the entire starting five of a college basketball team to declare for the NBA draft in the same year? It's unlikely that any team in NCAA history would be that loaded.
B.) Davon Jefferson and Taj Gibson are 21 and 22 (not 25) respectively and, to my knowledge, have never been suspended from play due to academic reasons while at USC.
C.) Even if J'Mison Morgan decides to transfer to UCLA, we'd love to have him. A wrinkle in that plan, however, involves LSU letting him out of his signed agreement to play for the Tigers. Without such a release, Morgan will have to redshirt for a year and likely miss an opportunity to play with Jrue Holiday or any other NBA-caliber Bruins who might declare for the 2009 draft.
Does Morgan get to opt out of his signing with LSU since their coach left? As for Love, he comes from a privileged background and I thought he would do what Joakim Noah did and stay one more year to give it another shot. That said, he better get his ass is shape because he couldn't even keep up with Memphis players.
KLove is clearly greedier then Noah. A LOT greedier. Hard to stomach that.
Mike, the penalty for Morgan not fulfilling his letter of intent to LSU would force him to sit out the 08-09 season and forfeit a year of eligibility. However, if Morgan asks for and receives a release from LSU the penalty is eliminated. According to the NCAA rules, a coaching change is not a sufficient reason to ask for a release. Hopefully LSU would go easy on him and accept a release.
Mike, the basic penalty for not fulfilling the terms of his letter of intent to LSU would require Morgan to sit out the 2008-09 season and forfeit a year of eligibility. That penalty could be eliminated, however, if Morgan asks for and receives a release from LSU.
Ask: Why am I a spoiled fan? I think 3 staight final fours is fantastic. I know the team and coaching staff worked hard. I'm just saying I found a number of our early non-conference games boring, and felt a bit deflated with our loss to Memphis (the worst game Howland has coached since he's been here). I think many others feel the same way, but I still really look forward to the coming season.
@Randy's Comment
IMO the reason why Bruin players are more prone to declare for the NBA draft is because in reality, they werent the high profile players in highschool. Well none of them except for KLove.
Other schools like North Carolina are stocked with lots of talents that you are guarantee to have some carry over which is what you need to really compete well.
Bruin players these last few years are the lower tiered players that most schools didnt go for so they got little spotlight. Therefor when their stock is high over a year of play, they tend to go to the NBA while the getting is good.
Course this is my theory, but really if you look at other than Love, all the other Bruin players over the last few years are a Tier lower than top players coming out of highschool.
You got to feel for Collison though. He wasnt as highly recruited coming out of highschool, had a breakout year last year, decided to stay and help win a championship, and as a result, might have slipped in the draft. Although next year might be a lesser guard oriented draft so he might go higher.
Okay Rob - now you've shown your true ignorance/colors with that last post.
How can you have respect for USC's thug players that openly hate everything UCLA and cut academic corners, while UCLA's players are class-acts that have academic requirements close to Stanford's? The fact that you would defend those Trojies, speaks volumes about you. If you don't know the skinny on Jefferson/Gibson and their academic history, you better ask somebody. Also, not being ineligible at USC doesn't mean they are actually doing school work themselves.
Lastly, I was the poster who wrote UCLA's starting five was apparently declaring, and as of right now Love & Westbrook have, and Mbah a Moute is about to. The last two (Collison/Shipp) have yet to decide. I guess I was way off on that one, eh?
Note to everyone: Morgan is a long-shot for UCLA, possibly a pipe dream, so we shouldn't discuss him further unless there is some real evidence he wants to come here. Besides, Morgan is not some 6-10 savior, believe me. He is big but very slow and can't shoot. You thought Love was slow? I've seen Morgan play in his Texas HS title game, and he moves like Zidek, so don't get carried away about him.
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