[Bob BallParticipant]

 is it possible that the SI article helped UCLA recruit top players? the article showed all kinds of freedom for highly recruited players.such as hollywood parties  Also showed that if Howland favors you you can do no wrong in his eyes. Could this have anything to do with UCLAs new top recruits

[jeff416Participant]

I highly doubt that it helped or hurt them in recruiting.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 UCLA being Addidas school and the renovation of Pauly Pavillion and the proximity to Vegas brought Shabazz, Shabazz brought Tony Parker

[benholt06Participant]

UCLA hired a guy this year who coach Parker and Adams in AAU in Georgia. He was popular in the circuit and helped recruit Shabazz as well.

[Dale WorthingtonParticipant]

What is the relevance of UCLA being sponsored by Adidas?

I have no idea how Coach Howland pulled this off given the SI article and how bad the Bruins have been in recent years.

Maybe the article made UCLA look appealing. Plus, the youngsters probably bought into Howland’s past Final Four success and the tradition of UCLA.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 Bazz’s sister already has a contract with Addidas it was understood he was leaning towards Adidas schools

[llperez]

Ucla has recruited mcdonalds all Americans for decades. This is nothing new but fickle fans who are all about today forget that howland has decades of coaching success, 3 final 4 appearances, multiple big east regular season titles, a national coach of the year award etc… 1 si article doesn’t overwrite everything nor does 3 seasons of mediocrity. I don’t know why everyone is surprised about ucla getting elite recruits like it’s a surprise or something.

[drew619Participant]

 this is just like the movie Blue Chips if anyone has seen it like a great coach coming off a subpar year somehow lands a top recuiting class

[benholt06Participant]

How good will he be running the offense from the 3 spot? Bc if he can’t, it’s gonna mean alot of Larry Drew with the ball :

If he can they can roll with Lamb/Bazz/Anderson with Wear Bros and Smith/Parker down low. Majority of backcourts couldnt matchup with that backcourt.

[Dale WorthingtonParticipant]

llperez, it is definitely a surprise, given how bad UCLA has been over the last few years coupled with the fact that the SI article made UCLA’s program look out to be managed in the most horrific and embarrassing manner.

Sorry, but let’s see…I’m a parent and say my son was a star HS basketball player…

Would I rather have him attend Kentucky or Kansas…

…or UCLA, where drugs, beating up fellow players, and urinating on teammates’ clothing seem to be freely condoned?

Just soak that in for a second.

I know that it’s ultimately up to the kid in terms of what school to attend but I’d like to think that the parents would play a decent role in his selection.

Maybe those issues happen on other elite programs but there is no evidence. There sure is evidence, on the contrary, with UCLA.

[Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant]

I haven’t gone to a UCLA game since the Jrue Holiday-Darren Collison days.

Time to start going again!

[Author]

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