Kendall Williams Decides To Open Up Recruitment

By Bruin Basketball Report 

According to multiple sources, 2010 recruit Kendall Williams has decided to open up his recruitment.   As a tenth grader Williams had given UCLA an early verbal commitment in November of 2007.

Williams, a combo-guard, led Los Osos high school in scoring with 22.8 points per game last season.

With Williams verbal de-commitment, it leaves Mater Dei's Tyler Lamb as the only 2010 recruit for Ben Howland's UCLA Bruins.

Four Prep Stars From 2009 Class Sign With UCLA

By Bruin Basketball Report

Four 2009 high school seniors signed national letters of intent to play next fall at UCLA, Head Coach Ben Howland announced today.

The heralded recruiting class, ranked in the top 10 nationally, consists of Reeves Nelson, Brendan Lane, Tyler Honeycutt, and Anthony Stover. All four student athletes are from California high schools.

UCLA is likely not done with their recruiting of the 2009 class. The Bruins may sign at least one more to the class. Mike Moser, who recently withdrew his verbal commitment to Arizona, has UCLA high on his list but he may not sign until the spring signing period.

“We are very excited about this recruiting class,” Howland said. “I think the four players that we signed help fulfill the needs that we have and as a class, they are all great kids that are going to be great players. They are all outstanding young men.”

Reeves Nelson (6'7, 220lb) was the first to verbally commit to UCLA. He averaged 26.0 points and 14.0 rebounds last season at Modesto Christian HS. A great competitor and excellent athlete, Nelson is ranked in the top 30 for forwards in his class. He played football earlier this fall and tore a knee ligament; however, he is expected to recover fully in time for the high school basketball season.

“Reeves Nelson is very physical and is a very strong and athletic young man,” Howland said. “He’s a tough, hard-nosed player who is a good rebounder and he’s going to be an outstanding player.”

Brendan Lane (6'10, 205lb) averaged 20.4 points, 11.7 rebounds and 5.2 blocks in his junior year at Rocklin HS. A highly skilled and very good shooting big man, Lane is also ranked in the top 30 for forwards in 2009.

“Brendan Lane is a long and very skilled athlete,” Howland said. “He has an exciting upside because as he gets bigger and stronger, his game will really improve.”

Tyler Honeycutt is the most heralded recruit from this Bruin class. He is rated the No.1 forward in the West and a top 25 ranked player overall in 2009. Honeycutt averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds per game last year at Sylmar HS. Honeycutt improved his stock dramatically over the summer with his play on the AAU circuit.

“Tyler Honeycutt is a very versatile athlete,” Howland said. “He is a good shooter, he’s good at scoring off the dribble and is a good passer. He is also an outstanding rebounder and has a lot of potential.”

Center Anthony Stover (6'10, 210lb) averaged 10.6 points, 6.8 rebounds and 7.4 blocks at Renaissance Academy as a junior. He will play at Windward HS in Los Angeles this year. He is rated a top 20 center nationally.

“Anthony Stover is very long and his upside is that he has a 7-foot-5-inch wingspan,” Howland said. “He’s an excellent shot blocker and we are excited about his future.”

Today is the first day of the early signing period that extends until November 19.

UCLA Adds Center Anthony Stover To 2009 Class

By Bruin Basketball Report

High school center Anthony Stover has verbally committed to Head Coach Ben Howland and the UCLA program.

The lanky 6'10 210 lb senior recently transferred from Renaissance Academy in La Canada to Windward High in Los Angeles.

Stover joins a burgeoning UCLA 2009 recruit class that already includes forwards Brendan Lane, Reeves Nelson, and Tyler Honeycutt.

Talented but still very raw, Stover has a significant high upside. He needs to add weight to his thin frame but he moves extremely well for his size and is a great shot blocker.

As a junior, Stover averaged 10.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, and a whopping 7.4 blocks per game for Renaissance Academy.

Stover's father, Craig, said his son chose UCLA over other schools due to the proximity of the campus to home and potential for playing time. He had also considered Arizona, ASU, USC, Washington, and Connecticut.

The post player is ranked No. 134 in his class by Rivals, however, he is listed considerably higher by Scout at No.70.

Along with his senior classmates, players can not sign binding national letters of intent until later this November.

UCLA is still looking to add another guard to its 2009 recruit class. Moreno Valley's five-star guard Michael Snaer is visiting UCLA this weekend. Stay tuned.

(photo credit: LA Times)

Tyler Honeycutt Commits To UCLA 2009 Frosh Class

By Bruin Basketball Report

Sylmar basketball prep star Tyler Honeycutt announced he has verbally committed to play at UCLA. He is currently ranked in the top thirty of his class by various recruiting services.

The senior wing now joins forwards Reeves Nelson and Brendan Lane in UCLA's 2009 elite recruiting class.

Honeycutt will sign a national letter of intent with UCLA during the early signing period in November.

The 6'8 195 lb Honeycutt increased his stock over the last year while becoming one of the most improved players on the West Coast.

Honeycutt has improved his shooting significantly with the ability to hit consistently out to the three-point arc. Despite his lanky frame, he is active on the boards and has improved on his defense.

"I just think he felt he'd have a good opportunity at UCLA and it's been his dream school since he was a little kid," Honeycutt's mother, Lisa Stazel told the LA Times.

As a junior last season, Honeycutt averaged 16.0 points and 10.0 rebounds.

Honeycutt took his time before making a decision, opting until the start of the school year. He had also considered USC, Texas, and Memphis, but at the end, he decided the proximity of the Westwood campus and the winning tradition at UCLA suited him just fine.

UCLA still has enough scholarships to potentially fill two more spots in the class of 2009. The Bruins would still like to add a guard and possibly another big man to the class. Earlier this week two potential recruits committed to other schools: Abdul Gaddy to Arizona and Avery Bradley to Texas.

(photo credit: AP)

Tyler Lamb Gives UCLA Verbal Commitment

By Bruin Basketball Report

Junior Tyler Lamb (video) gave UCLA his verbal commitment last week to join its 2010 freshman class.

Lamb, a skilled 6'5 190 lb shooting guard, is an excellent perimeter player with a great feel for the game. He had attended Colony High School in Ontario the past two years but is expected to enroll and play at Mater Dei this season.

He joins guard Kendall Williams, the Los Osos HS star who committed to the Bruins as a sophomore, in the backcourt. Both players can not officially commit in writing to UCLA until November 2009.

Lamb averaged 27 points, 4.8 assists, and 5.3 steals last season. The junior sharpshooter had also considered USC, Washington, Arizona, Louisville, and Memphis.

(photo credit: ESPN)

Forward Brendan Lane Verbally Commits To UCLA

By Bruin Basketball Report

Junior Brendan Lane from Rocklin High School near Sacramento has verbally committed to play at UCLA in 2009.

The talented 6'10 205lb forward averaged 20 points and 11 rebounds last season at Rocklin. Along with earlier commit, Reeves Nelson, it gives the Bruins two of the best forwards in the West from the 2009 class.

"I thought UCLA was the right place, so I committed today," Lane said on Saturday. "I definitely like the place, the academics, the location, everything about it."

Lane wanted to play his college ball in California and also had both Stanford and California on his short list, however, with his interest to learn how to play better defense, UCLA was the obvious choice to him. In addition, the recent coaching upheavals at Cal and Stanford played into Lane's final decision.

“UCLA’s style is definitely where I want to be,” Lane said. “I want to have the defensive mentality they have at UCLA. The mentality that Ben Howland coaches.”

Lane is a versatile forward who can score from inside and has a good midrange jumper. His size and mobility will allow him to play either the 3 and 4 spot on the floor.

"I definitely like to play up-tempo," Lane said. "I am a forward who can play inside, but step outside and make a shot."

Lane will likely sign a national letter of intent with UCLA during the November signing period.

(photo credit: SacBee)

Morgan Signs Grant-in-Aid With UCLA

By Bruin Basketball Report

(via UCLA press release)

UCLA has received a signed grant-in-aid form from high school senior J'Mison Morgan, Bruin head coach Ben Howland announced today.

I am very, very excited that J'Mison is going to be attending UCLA and be a part of our program," said Howland.

"He is a true center with excellent hands and outstanding overall skills. He is a fine passer, shot blocker and rebounder. J'Mison completes a five-player 2008 class that we believe gives us a great foundation for the future."

Morgan, from South Oak Cliff High in Dallas, TX, joins a UCLA freshman class ranked No. 1 nationally by virtually every recruiting service and website. It includes forward Drew Gordon and guards Jrue Holiday, Jerime Anderson and Malcolm Lee.

The 6-10, 248-pound senior was rated the nation's No. 2 center by Scout.com and the No. 4 player at his position by Rivals.com. He originally signed a letter of intent with LSU but was released from that commitment last month.

Morgan averaged 13.5 points, 11 rebounds and four blocked shots for South Oak Cliff.

(photo by Erkki Corpuz)

Bruin Fab Five

Photo courtesy of Erkki Corpuz

Center J'mison Morgan Headed To UCLA

By Bruin Basketball Report

J'mison Morgan is now officially headed to UCLA. The Dallas South Oak Cliff HS senior announced today UCLA has received his release papers from LSU and that he's headed to attend school and play basketball in Westwood.

"It's UCLA this time around," Morgan said. "It was all about the comfort level with the players and the coaches. There have been so many great centers at UCLA and it's my chance to make my mark there."

Morgan had committed and signed a letter of intent with LSU last year but after head coach John Brady was fired from the school, Morgan and his family began to reconsider their decision to attend LSU.

The 6'10, 265 lb center was released from his national letter of intent from LSU earlier this month, but there was a delay in the paperwork transfer to UCLA.

The five-star recruit should get immediate playing time in the upcoming season. Center Kevin Love opted to enter the NBA draft and appears to be lottery-bound. Love's departure leaves just Alfred Aboya as UCLA's only experienced center. The Bruins also have incoming center/power forward Drew Gordon who has been impressive in postseason play. Look for Gordon to spend time at both low post spots in the incoming season.

Morgan's commitment to UCLA solidifies it's 2008 recruiting class as tops in the nation. He joins Jrue Holiday, Malcolm Lee, Jerime Anderson, and Gordon in Westwood next season.

Morgan averaged 13.5 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots as a senior last season.

Since NCAA rules state a player may only sign one letter of intent per year, Morgan will instead sign a grant-in-aid. It is binding on UCLA but not on Morgan. He will be bound to the school once he enrolls at UCLA. Morgan is expected to enroll and take classes this summer on campus.

(photo credit: Dallas Morning News)

Morgan Granted Released From NLI By LSU

By Bruin Basketball Report

South Oak Cliff High School senior J'Mison Morgan was officially granted a release from his national letter of intent with LSU, Tiger head basketball coach Trent Johnson announced today.

Last November Morgan chose LSU over a host of top schools, including UCLA, and signed on with the Tigers. However, Morgan and his family began to waver on the commitment when John Brady was fired as head coach after the season.

Despite numerous meetings with Coach Trent Johnson, Morgan felt the situation had changed at LSU and decided to pursue his release.

“The bottom line with me will always be that I want players here who want to play for LSU,” Johnson said. “There is some closure with this decision, but no player will ever be bigger than the program.”

With his release granted by LSU, Morgan can now choose from numerous suitors to play college basketball next season. He stated earlier that UCLA was his favorite although it wouldn't be surprising if other schools begin to step up their efforts to recruit Morgan during this period.

With the graduation of senior Lorenzo Mata-Real and likely departure of Kevin Love to the NBA, the Bruins are in need of depth at the low post.

Morgan, a 6'10 265lb skilled big man, does not need to sign a letter of intent with a new school, instead he'd be offered a scholarship. Interestingly, the scholarship offer would not bind him to the school, his eligibility status is impacted only once he officially enrolls for his freshman year.

(photo credit: Dallas Morning News)

J'mison Morgan Considering UCLA Again

By Bruin Basketball Report

Five star basketball recruit J'mison Morgan has submitted a request for a release from his commitment to LSU, the Dallas Morning News reported.

Morgan, a South Oak Cliff HS senior, had signed a national letter of intent with LSU last November; however, after John Brady was fired as head coach at LSU, Morgan began to reconsider his commitment to the university.

After meeting with new LSU head coach Trent Johnson two weeks ago, Morgan remained undecided on his basketball future, even though reports from the LSU athletic department indicated Morgan had reaffirmed his commitment to the school.

The 6'10 265 lb center reportedly submitted his release papers to LSU over the weekend and is now awaiting to hear back from school administrators on his official release.

LSU is not obligated to release Morgan from his commitment. If LSU does not grant his release, Morgan would have to sit out a year before transferring to another school to play basketball.

Morgan is reportedly considering UCLA to attend next fall to play in the 2008-09 season.

UCLA had aggressively pursued the highly sought after Morgan last year in a tough recruiting battle with schools including LSU, Alabama, and Kansas.

With the early entrance into the NBA by UCLA center Kevin Love, an opportunity opened up for a big man, like Morgan, to play major minutes on an elite team. UCLA's third consecutive visit to the Final Four seemed to weigh heavily in Morgan's decision.

"It was a real hard decision for me," said Morgan to the Dallas Morning News. "My comfort level was at LSU, but I felt like UCLA was a better fit for me as far as exposure."

LSU assistant coach Butch Pierre's re-hire by Coach Trent Johnson seemed to be the key to keeping Morgan at LSU, but at the end, the prospects of playing in Westwood and gaining national exposure on a bigger stage was more important to Morgan.

Morgan averaged 13.5 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocked shots as a senior last season.

If Morgan decides to attend UCLA, he will be joining a recruiting class already ranked No.1 by most experts. Already commited to UCLA are guards Jrue Holiday, Jerime Anderson, Malcolm Lee, and post player Drew Gordon. Morgan's commitment would put an exclamation point on an already stellar class.

(photo credit: Dallas Morning News)

Door Open For Caldwell

By David Carrillo Peñaloza
Daily Pilot

[reprinted with permission]

Sailors senior says there’s a lot riding on all-star game because it might lead to a shot to play for UCLA.

Kyle Caldwell hasn’t played much basketball lately. Just twice since Newport Harbor High’s season ended in February.

Caldwell’s been busy with volleyball, the sport in which many consider the versatile player to be the top high school senior in the country.

But right now basketball occupies his mind. Four days after being named MVP of the Santa Barbara/Karch Kiraly Tournament of Champions, all he cares about is another basketball game.

There is one today. This isn’t just another game to the 6-foot-9, 225-pounder. Sure it’s an all-star event, but in all levels, from high school to the pros, all-star games aren’t always taken as seriously. They’re mostly fun, not much defense is played, just a lot of scoring.

Caldwell is hoping to score more than points today at the 43rd annual Kiwanis/PlyoCity Orange County All-Star festivities featuring his South team against the North in the boys’ big schools game at Ocean View High at 8:15 p.m.

“I’m approaching this like a real game because of the possibility of being able to play basketball at UCLA next year,” Caldwell said. “There’s a lot riding in this game.”

Caldwell’s future hangs in the balance.

A volleyball scholarship already awaits the setter at UCLA. The idea of a basketball one has him intrigued.

Caldwell’s late grandfather George Yardley played college basketball at Stanford, where he was an All-American, and later a prolific scorer in the NBA, becoming the first player to score 2,000 points in a season in 1957-58.

“That has a little to do with it,” Caldwell said of being influenced by his grandfather, a six-time All-Star and Hall of Famer. “I’ll walk on if I have to because it doesn’t get any better than UCLA when it comes to athletics.”

Especially in basketball and volleyball, two storied programs. Both with the most NCAA titles won in their respective sports, 11 for basketball and 19 for volleyball.

Caldwell wants to play for each next season.

The basketball and volleyball seasons overlap, making it tough to juggle both sports. But Caldwell said legendary volleyball coach Al Scates is fine with him playing basketball and volleyball if the Bruins court him for basketball.

The coach in charge of Caldwell’s South All-Stars is Ryan Schachter of Corona del Mar. Schachter said UCLA assistant coach Scott Garson is interested in Caldwell, a co-player of the year in the Sunset League and Newport-Mesa Dream Team.

“Scott definitely wants to look at a copy of the [game’s] video and see what he’s all about,” said Schachter, referring to Caldwell, who averaged 21.9 points, 13.3 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game this past season. “I’ve known Scott since my [assistant coaching] days at Santa Barbara High, and with UCLA losing [6-10 freshman center] Kevin Love, a possible top-10 pick [in the NBA Draft], [6-9 senior backup Lorenzo] Mata-Real to graduation, and now [6-8 junior forward] Luc Richard [Mbah a Moute] declaring for the draft, the Bruins are in need of big men.

“UCLA always goes after high-character guys and guys who work hard. They’re not always the most talented, but they’re really good. I wouldn’t be surprised if Caldwell’s playing basketball at UCLA.”

Like many of the players in the showcase game, which will include two CdM seniors, 6-9 center Stefan Kaluz, bound for Brown University, and 6-6 forward Joe Eberhard, Caldwell has missed his share of practice time due to other commitments.

Schachter has seen Caldwell enough the past two years, coaching against him in the Battle of the Bay, to understand what he brings to the court. The ability to shoot from the outside and also pass well for a big guy stand out obviously, garnering the attention from some solid basketball programs like Washington State, UC Santa Barbara, Princeton and Southern Methodist University.

But it’s his persona that has Schachter raving about Caldwell. It’s another reason why Schachter can see Caldwell playing for Coach Ben Howland, who recently guided the Bruins to their third straight Final Four appearance.

“The guy just gets after it,” Schachter said of Caldwell, a second-team Division I-A selection by the Southern California Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Assn.

Schachter coached a UCLA-bound two-sport athlete in Matt McKinney on an AAU basketball program in the Santa Barbara area before moving here.

“Their games differed,” said Schachter, comparing McKinney to Caldwell. “Matt was like the No. 2-rated high school volleyball player when he was at Santa Ynez in 2002. He was about 6-8, stronger, thicker, more of a post player than Caldwell. He got a shot to be on both the volleyball and basketball teams at UCLA before injuries caught up to him. I think Kyle has a good shot to do the same.

“He’s been to one practice so far and he was a little rusty at first. Still, he showed a lot of skill and trust me we have a lot of talent on our team like [Santa Margarita’s] Klay Thompson, who’s going to Washington State and was the [CIF State Division III] Player of the Year. But for a guy to pick up the basketball after not doing so for a couple of months and to keep up with the rest of the guys who have been playing basketball since the season ended says a lot about Caldwell’s abilities.”

(photo credit: Daily Pilot)

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.

Incoming Bruin Frosh Help USA To Win Over World

By Bruin Basketball Report

Box Score

Incoming Bruin big man, Drew Gordon scored 15 and grabbed 7 rebounds to help lead the USA Select basketball team to a 98-78 victory over the World Select team at the 11th Annual Nike Hoop Summit held at the Rose Garden in Portland.

Gordon demonstrated the type of athleticism and hustle he will bring to Westwood next season. Gordon added four blocks and seemingly was always around the action in his 18 minutes of play.

The USA roster included four players who are committed to play at UCLA next fall. The group included Gordon and guards Jrue Holiday, Malcolm Lee, and Jerime Anderson. Three of the Bruins, Gordon, Holiday, and Lee were in USA's starting line-up.

The World team managed to stay close for more than a half, thanks largely to an inside presence that featured 7'1 Alexis Ajinca of France and 7'4 Boban Marjanovic of Serbia. They helped to force the Americans to alter a number off inside shots and USA led only 43-42 early in the third quarter.

But the USA team had a quicker group of perimeter players, led by Holiday, Lee, and Anderson, and the Americans used it to their advantage by forcing the internationals into 10 third-quarter turnovers. That defensive play sparked an 11-0 run that gave USA a 54-42 lead with 6:10 left in the third. Holiday led the spurt with a three-pointer and an ally-oop dunk on a lob pass from Tyreke Evans.

"Our big men weren't quite as big as the other team," Drew Gordon said. "We battled hard in the post but the guards definitely stepped it up on offense and on defense to stop their pressure and set up our offense."

"I think our defense was the key to pulling away in the second half, especially our guards," Jrue Holiday said. "We picked up full-court, and applied a lot of pressure up top, trying to distract them and disrupt them."

Holiday finished with 11 points although he missed a number of lay-up opportunities in the first half. Teammate Malcolm Lee scored 3 points in 12 minutes action but his playing time was somewhat limited due to early foul trouble.

Although Jerime Anderson came off the bench for Team USA, he was clearly the best floor general in the game. The offense flowed better when he was at the point, in addition, his defense on the World team guards was stellar. Anderson finished with 4 points, 3 assists, and 3 steals in 15 minutes of action.

"When we play for the USA, it's all about the team," Andreson said. "It's all about playing and trying to get the win. Nobody is trying to get theirs; we're playing as a team. I felt that we did that really well today."

UCLA's 2008 Freshmen In Action Saturday At Nike Hoop Summit

By Bruin Basketball Report

All four members of UCLA's top-ranked 2008 men's basketball recruiting class are scheduled to participate in Saturday's 2008 Nike Hoop Summit in Portland at the Rose Garden.

Incoming Bruin freshmen Jerime Anderson, Drew Gordon, Jrue Holiday, and Malcolm Lee are all scheduled to play for the USA Select team against the World Select team.

The game is scheduled to tip at 1:00 PM PT and will be televised nationally by Fox Sports Net and webcast on www.sports.yahoo.com.

"I think this team's particular strength is in its guard play.", said Don Showalter,
USA Basketball Committee Chair, " Jrue Holiday and Jerime Anderson, for example, are guards the committee felt will be able to control the game and keep the pace in the USA's favor."

2008 USA Select Team Basketball Roster:
Al-Farouq Aminu (Norcross HS); Jerime Anderson (Canyon HS); Ed Davis (Benedictine HS; Demar DeRozan (Compton HS); Tyreke Evans (American Christian); Drew Gordon (Archbishop Mitty HS); Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall HS); Scotty Hopson (University Heights Academy); Malcolm Lee (JW. North HS); and Greg Monroe (Helen Cox HS)

(photo credit: USA Basketball)

Holiday Named Gatorade National Player of the Year

By Bruin Basketball Report

Everybody wants a piece of Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.) Jrue Holiday. An opponent once told him, “Hey Jrue, I hate you. Can I have your wristband?” Holiday, of course, obliged.

“He gave it to him,” said Campbell Hall sophomore Aaron Curry. “That's how nice he is.”

Holiday is an accommodating guy. He signs every autograph, doles out wristbands and gives away just about every award he's ever received to some lucky kid.

So when Holiday was officially named 2007-08 Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year during a ceremony in North Hollywood, Calif., on Wednesday, was there any chance he'd part ways with what is arguably the nation's most prestigious honor in high school sports?

“Most definitely not,” said a soft-spoken and smiling Holiday.

The 6-foot-4, 190-pound senior combo guard led his team to a 113-12 record during his four-year varsity career, carrying the Vikings to a second consecutive California Interscholastic Federation Division IV state championship as a senior - the program's third crown in four years.

A two-time Gatorade California Boys Basketball Player of the Year, Holiday averaged 25.4 points, 11.2 rebounds, 4.4 steals and 2.4 blocks per game this season. He recorded 23 double-doubles and five triple-doubles in 36 games for Campbell Hall (31-5).

The kid was a quadruple-double waiting to happen. In a midseason showdown against South Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.) and Derrick Favors, the nation's consensus No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2009, Holiday exploded for 35 points, 18 rebounds, nine assists and nine steals.

He packed the stat sheet again in the Southern California Regional Division IV title game, scoring 22 points on 10-of-15 shooting and collecting 11 rebounds, nine assists and seven steals in a 76-45 victory against San Joaquin Memorial. Holiday then scored 19 points and pulled down 11 rebounds despite battling foul trouble in the 83-61 state championship win over Saint Mary's.

“The one thing all the great players have, whether it's LeBron (James) or Michael (Jordan), is that they rise to the occasion,” said Dana Pump, co-founder of the California-based sports-consulting and club basketball firm Double Pump Basketball. “Jrue does that. He is a special, special player.”

Holiday is an invitee to both the 2008 McDonald's All-American Game and the Jordan Classic. An EA Sports second team All-American selection and PARADE third team All-American as a junior, Holiday was also selected to play in last summer's USA Basketball Youth Development Festival.

“In my opinion, the most talented overall player among the elite players in the country is Holiday,” said USA Basketball Junior Development Committee Chair Don Showalter. “I love the kid. I think he's a great teammate. He makes everybody else better. He's very cacheable, he reacts so well to feedback, and his teammates just absolutely love him - and that's an important thing to note when you're talking about this level of talent.”

Holiday has maintained a B average in the classroom. A member of the school's gospel choir and the percussion section leader in Campbell Hall's orchestra, he also teaches basketball fundamentals to youth players in association with the American Cancer Society's Coaches vs. Cancer charity and raises funds to benefit cancer research through the Concern Foundation.

In addition to donating his time at Campbell Hall as a tour guide on Perspective Student Days and as team manager for the varsity girls' tennis squad, Holiday has also traveled to Japan as a youth ambassador on behalf of the Shepherd of the Hills Christian Church.

“It has been an honor to have Jrue Holiday play at Campbell Hall,” said Vikings head coach Terry Kelly. “Hopefully, I've helped him become a better player, but I know he has helped me become a better person.”

Rated the No. 3 recruit in the Class of 2008 by RISE, Holiday has signed with UCLA. He joins 2008 Pac-10 Freshman and Player of the Year Kevin Love (2006-07) and two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis (1996-97) as UCLA recruits to be named Gatorade National Boys Basketball Players of the Year.

Saying that Jrue Holiday was born to play basketball is actually a bit of an understatement. The son of former Arizona State standouts Shawn and Toya Holiday and younger brother of Washington freshman Justin Holiday, Jrue will become the fourth college basketball player in his immediate family.

“It was rough,” Holiday said of the one-on-one matchups with his older brother. “We'd fight all the time on the court. Off the court, I'm not really that physical. I played against my mom. She liked to post me up a lot. And I play against my dad. I just beat him last summer, but he came back and beat me, though. He's my favorite player. That's where I get my competitiveness from.”

The alma mater of actresses Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, Campbell Hall has its share of stars wandering the hallways. Holiday earned his status on the basketball court from day one. He averaged 10.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.5 assists as a freshman, helping the Vikings to a perfect 32-0 record and the Division IV title.

A year later, his numbers ballooned to 22 points, 8.9 boards and 5.4 assists per contest as Campbell Hall reached the state quarterfinals. As a junior, the Vikings reclaimed the state title thanks to Holiday's 24.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and six assists per game.

Holiday is only the second player in Greater Los Angeles history to surpass 2,600 career points, finishing with 2,666 (trailing Mitchell Butler, who netted 2,682 points for Oakwood from 1986-89). Holiday passed eight-time NBA All-Star Jason Kidd to conclude his career as the state's 14th all-time leading scorer.

Holiday becomes the second boys' basketball player from California to receive national Gatorade honors, joining Davis. Selected from more than 556,000 high school boys' basketball players nationwide, Holiday is now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade Male High School Athlete of the Year award, to be presented at a special afternoon ceremony prior to The ESPY Awards in July.

Three of the last four national winners - two-time honorees Greg Oden (2004-05 and 2005-06) and LeBron James (2001-02 and 2002-03) as well as Dwight Howard (2003-04) - were selected No. 1 overall in the NBA Draft. The other? Love, who earned Pac-10 Freshman and Player of the Year honors for UCLA this year.

“It's an honor to hear that it's possible for me to be the No. 1 draft pick in the NBA,” said Holiday, who turns 18 on June 12. “Anything can happen. As long as I keep my head clear and hit the books, then God will take me to whatever heights I'm going to. I never really talked about being an NBA player or a college player. I just really like playing basketball.

“People would go out and play in the summer to try to earn scholarships,” added Holiday. “I really didn't care about it. I would just go out and play every game and leave it all out on the floor, and I guess I had the talent to get into a great college like UCLA.”

Quiet? Yes. Unassuming? Clearly. After all, it wasn't that long ago that the 17-year-old Southern California standout was one of those kids who grew up watching his heroes play basketball.

“Off the court, he might be quiet and mild,” said UCLA assistant coach Donnie Daniels. “On the court, he's an absolute killer.”

The Gatorade Player of the Year awards program recognizes not only athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the court. The award distinguishes Holiday as the nation's best high school boys' basketball player in 2007-08.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls' volleyball, boys' and girls' cross country, boys' and girls' basketball, boys' and girls' soccer, baseball, softball, and boys' and girls' track & field, awarding one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by RISE, which works with top sports-specific experts and a media advisory board of accomplished, veteran prep sports journalists to determine the state winners in each sport.

For more on the Gatorade Player of the Year program, including nomination informatio

Entire 2008 UCLA Frosh Class Named To USA Junior Select Team

By KS Wong
Bruin Basketball Report

USA Basketball announced the coaching staff and ten high school players selected for the 2008 USA Basketball Junior National Select Team that will compete in the 11th annual Nike Hoop Summit on April 12 in Portland, Ore.

Bruin basketball fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of the school's incoming freshmen class next November will have a special opportunity to see them in action together beforehand.

Of the ten elite high school players selected to the team, four are from UCLA's incoming blue-chip 2008 freshmen class: Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall HS), Malcolm Lee (JW North HS), Drew Gordon (Archbishop Mitty HS), and Jerime Anderson (Canyon HS).

The coach and player selections were made by the USA Basketball Men's Junior Development Committee.

"Identifying a 10-man roster is always difficult," Don Showalter, chairman of the USA Basketball selection committee, said. "This is not an all-star game, and we expect the World Team to be very good. These kids are going to have to play some defense."

"This USA roster, though, is talented and balanced and will be tough to beat. We have a strong mix of skills and sizes, and we also have players that gained valuable experience at the 2007 USA Basketball Youth Development Festival. Those kids understand what we're looking for from a team standpoint, and they have a familiarity with international basketball."

The 2008 USA Basketball Junior National Select Team roster includes: Al-Farouq Aminu (Norcross HS); Jerime Anderson (Canyon HS); Ed Davis (Benedictine HS; Demar DeRozan (Compton HS); Tyreke Evans (American Christian); Drew Gordon (Archbishop Mitty HS); Jrue Holiday (Campbell Hall HS); Scotty Hopson (University Heights Academy); Malcolm Lee (JW. North HS); and Greg Monroe (Helen Cox HS).

The head coach of the 2008 USA Team will be Douglas Mitchell of North Central HS in Indianapolis.

The USA and World Select Team will face off on April 12 at 1:00 PM in Portland's Rose Garden, in a nationally televised game on Fox Sports Net.

(photo credit: USA Basketball)

Holiday and Lee Named 2008 McDonald All-Americans

By Bruin Basketball Report

Two members from UCLA's 2008 elite freshmen class, Jrue Holiday and Malcolm Lee, have been named to the McDonald's All-American team.

Jrue Holiday, a silky smooth 6'3 guard from Campbell Hall HS, is averaging 25.8 points on 60% field goal shooting, and hands out 6.9 assists per game. He also averages 11.5 rebounds, tops on the Vikings team.

From John W. North HS in Riverside, Malcolm Lee is averaging 24.2 on 57% shooting, 3.3 assists, and 2.6 steals. The 6'4 165 lb guard leads the Huskies in rebounding with 7.7 caroms per game.

Last year, UCLA was represented on the McDonald's All-American team by center Kevin Love from Lake Oswego HS in Oregon.

The McDonald's All-American game will be held on March 26th at the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, WI. The game will be televised live on ESPN.

Complete List of 2008 McDonald All-American Team

WEST TEAM

5 Luke Babbitt, F, 6-8, 225
Galena HS, NV (Reno, NV) Coll: Nevada

24 Demar DeRozan, F, 6-6, 210
Compton HS, CA (Compton, CA) Coll: USC

22 Larry Drew II, G, 6-0, 160
William Howard Taft HS, CA (Encino, CA) Coll: North Carolina

33 Michael Dunigan, C, 6-10, 248
Farragut Career Academy, IL (Chicago, IL) Coll: Oregon

21 Jrue Holiday, G, 6-4, 195
Campbell Hall HS, CA (Chatsworth, CA) Coll: UCLA

31 Scotty Hopson, G, 6-5, 180
University Heights Academy, KY (Hopkinsville, KY) Coll: Undecided

3 Brandon Jennings, G, 6-1, 165
Oak Hill Academy, VA (Los Angeles, CA) Coll: Arizona

11 Malcolm Lee, G, 6-4, 165
John W. North HS, CA (Moreno Valley, CA) Coll: UCLA

10 Greg Monroe, F, 6-10, 235
Helen Cox HS, LA (Gretna, LA) Coll: Georgetown

32 B.J. Mullens, C, 7-1, 260
Canal Winchester HS, OH (Canal Winchester, OH) Coll: Ohio St.

1 Iman Shumpert, G, 6-4, 200
Oak Park-River Forest HS, IL (Oak Park, IL) Coll: Georgia Tech

12 Willie Warren, G, 6-4, 195
North Crowley HS, TX (Fort Worth, TX) Coll:Oklahoma

Co-Head Coach Tom Diener, Harold S. Vincent HS (Milwaukee, WI)
Co-Head Coach Jim Gosz, Rufus King HS (Milwaukee, WI)
Assistant Coach Marc Mitchell, Custer HS (Milwaukee, WI)

EAST TEAM

42 Al-Farouq Aminu, F, 6-9, 205
Norcross HS, GA (Norcross, GA) Coll: Wake Forest

44 William Buford, G, 6-5, 185
Libbey HS, OH (Toledo, OH) Coll: Ohio State

32 Ed Davis, F, 6-9, 215
Benedictine HS, VA (Richmond, VA) Coll: North Carolina

1 Tyreke Evans, G, 6-6, 217
American Christian Academy Prep, PA (Chester, PA) Coll: Undecided

50 JaMychal Green, F, 6-9, 220
St. Jude Educational Institute, AL (Montgomery, AL) Coll: Alabama

24 Sylven Landesberg, G, 6-6, 205
Holy Cross HS, NY (Flushing, NY) Coll: Virginia

3 Michael Rosario, G, 6-2, 180
Saint Anthony HS, NJ (Jersey City, NJ) Coll: Rutgers

55 Samardo Samuels, F, 6-9, 230
St. Benedict’s Preparatory, NJ (Montego Bay, Jamaica) Coll: Louisville

31 Chris Singleton, F, 6-9, 225
Dunwoody HS, GA (Dunwoody, GA) Coll: Florida State

15 Kemba Walker, G, 6-0, 175
Rice HS, NY (Bronx, NY) Coll: Connecticut

25 Elliot Williams, G, 6-4, 165
St. George’s Independent School, TN (Memphis, TN) Coll: Duke

40 Tyler Zeller, C, 7-0, 220
Washington HS, IN (Washington, IN) Coll:North Carolina

Head Coach Woodie Jackson, Francis Marion HS (Marion, AL)
Assistant Coach Anthony Trimble, Francis Marion HS (Marion, AL)
Assistant Coach Albert Turner, Jr., Francis Marion HS (Marion, AL)

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)

Interview with Jrue Holiday and Video Game Highlights

By Bruin Basketball Report

TAKKLE, a social network for high schools sports, provides this post game interview with UCLA-bound Jrue Holiday of Campbell Hall High School.  Holiday talks about going to UCLA and reveals which NBA player he'd like to play one-on-one against in basketball. The second video is a highlight of a Jrue Holiday/Campbell Hall game.

Interview with Jrue Holiday

http://www.takkle.com/embed/video/91VGMV

Video Posted from Jrue's Gallery on Takkle.com

Hightlight Video of Jrue Holiday


http://www.takkle.com/embed/video/l1VFcw

Video Posted from Jrue's Gallery on Takkle.com

(provided courtesy of TAKKLE)