[JNixonParticipant]

#11: UCLA Bruins

Frontcourt: This group loses a versatile, yet inconsistent wing in Tyler Honeycutt, the 35th pick in last year’s draft. He was a Swiss-army knife, but he was not very tough or strong and is production can be replaced. Soph. Josh Smith, a 6’10 315 Soph. is back and primed for a big season if he keeps himself under control, if you get my drift. He’s got a nice skill level offensively down low, nice feet, touch is soft, is a pretty good rebounder, and his extremely wide body allows him to establish position easily. He simply is too big to be moved out of the post, and when he gets the ball he is a definite foul target, which made him valuable as a rotation guy last year and will continue with more time next year. While he has those things going for him, he’s poorly conditioned and carries a lot of extra weight (he’s probably better suited to be in the 280-285 range…who knows if that EVER happens though), he’s not very reactive on D, and he’s not exactly a high-energy player although he did show some urgency down the stretch. Sometimes he’s too big for his own good, and gets fouls when he seems to be in good position due to guys flying after they get contact with him. It’s not usual or even fair, but worth note. His foul rate was high (3 fpg in 21 mpg), and he should look to change that in his attempt at extended time. Smith is a definite NBA prospect who has a legit chance at being a legit 1st round pick in 2012 or 2013. I expect about 15 ppg and 9 rpg from him next year. Another nice piece they have is the high-energy Jr. PF Reeves Nelson, a banger who can score some around the rim and likes to rebound too. Nelson is a gritty player who competes hard on both ends and is a decent athlete, showing an unorthodox touch and game, while developing a steady midrange face-up game last year he didn’t show much of as a Fr. He’s not physically gifted by any stretch and it makes him limited on D, and doesn’t have great moves down low, but he’s effective. Nelson is like a watered down, Western version of Tyler Hansbrough. He’s sure to get interest whenever he declares as a 2nd round NBA prospect. The Wear twins, both 6’9 240 rJr’s, will certainly figure into the rotation after being touted as “the best players on the team” by Coach Howland when they were ineligible due to the transfer rules last year. The twins were very sparse contributors for UNC their 1st 2 years, but they both have solid all-around skills and play and look EXACTLY alike. Both are able to post, face-up, and pass well. They are just decent rebounders and developing defenders, and they aren’t all that physical or tough, but they shouldn’t have much trouble at all adjusting to the slower pace that Howland plays. The depth will come from Jr. PF Brendan Lane, and Soph. C Anthony Stover. The 6’9 225 Lane, who had surgery this off-season on his ankle and has been healing since April (diagnosis was for him to sit out 5 months), is a long and fairly bouncy PF who rebounds his area and blocks shots well and shows some touch and potential. He needs polish and to continue to build strength, and the injury held that up some. The 6’10 240 Stover has a real long wingspan and he is the most gifted shot-blocker on the team. The guy protects the rim real well. He’s not likely to score, but he does protect the rim. With Smith, the Wear twins and Nelson, and Lane and Stover as niche guys, UCLA has the most talented frontcourt in the Pac 12 and one of the 3-5 best in the country.

Backcourt: Malcolm Lee never became the UCLA PG, but he did comtribute some scoring and defense, with his quickness and length. He takes his talents to the T’Wolves and went 43rd overall. The starting PG last year returns in 6’1 185 Sr. Lazeric Jones, who contributed early as a Pac 10 ready ready JUCO transfer. Jones is a fairly quick floor general who can both score and set up teammates. His shot is decent too. Jones has the type of confidence that’s easy to see and that’s ideal to lead a good team. He needs to work on his decision-making and the game sometimes seemed too fast for him at times, but he should be much better adjusted with the experience he has now. It’s also worth mentioning that he played with a hand or wrist injury too. I look for his A/TO and FG% to rise, and I like him as a quarterback for the squad. The SG spot will be manned by 6’2 185 Sr. Jerime Anderson and the other wing will be manned by an improved (hopefully) Soph. Tyler Lamb. Jerime Anderson is a guard who is pass-1st with decent playmaking skills at this level, but he’s limited at everything basically. He will be asked to keep it basic. He’ll spot-up shoot, make sound decisions, and defend like last year. Tyler Lamb is a Soph. SG who’s coming in, and he’s a smart player who has a potentially solid mid-range game. He shot poorly last year and generally looked like a Fr., but the upside and talent is there. He’ll need to grow up, but I doubt he struggles nearly as bad offensively next year. He seems to have more than enough understanding of the game to improve, as well as adequate ability. Fr. Norman Powell and JUCO transfer De’End Parker could vie for time too on the wing. The 6’3 175 Powell is an open floor guy who is an excellent athlete. He’s not much of a shooter though, and needs to work on his left hand dribble. Parker, a 6’5 215 wing, switched from Cal to UCLA. He’s a great athlete who will be able to defend any perimeter spot. He’s not a very good shooter or a true scorer, but he’ll play immediately and could even start over Lamb next year. He’s the type of player that can be the glue guy on a team. The backcourt should be really steady, but not spectacular by any stretch.

Overvall: Ben Howland has talent this year. He’s a great coach who will have the pieces he’ll need to have a great team. I think UCLA has one of the absolute best frontlines in the nation, and their guards aren’t horrible either. They will have to fight with Washington to be the best team in the conference, but they match up pretty well with them and they could be the team to beat. I think UCLA gets to the Elite 8 next year.

[llperez]

1 thing you missed is that you said the wear twins are juniors who didnt see much time in 2 years at unc. They actually only played 1 year at unc and will be sophomores next season. But good stuff as always.

[llperez]

1 thing you missed is that you said the wear twins are juniors who didnt see much time in 2 years at unc. They actually only played 1 year at unc and will be sophomores next season. But good stuff as always.

[JNixonParticipant]

Thanks. Always good to get insight on them from you since you see them much more than I do

[JNixonParticipant]

Thanks. Always good to get insight on them from you since you see them much more than I do

[inukawaii8Participant]

 nice post.. i started following this countdown since your number 29… i was waiting for UCLA.. after 20, i was like you probalby put UCLA in 30-35 and i just missed it.. lol didnt think you would put them at 11.. they have the talents.. 

one thing to add, anderson probably will not play next season bc he got caught stealing laptop or something. so UCLA def needs another person to play PG position, and i think it would be lamb.. 

[inukawaii8Participant]

 nice post.. i started following this countdown since your number 29… i was waiting for UCLA.. after 20, i was like you probalby put UCLA in 30-35 and i just missed it.. lol didnt think you would put them at 11.. they have the talents.. 

one thing to add, anderson probably will not play next season bc he got caught stealing laptop or something. so UCLA def needs another person to play PG position, and i think it would be lamb.. 

[providencefriars1Participant]

Ya here is an article regarding Jerime Anderson and his laptop theft plus he threw an "I love college party" afterwards.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/33479/jerime-anderson-apologizes-addresses-party

On Monday afternoon, yours truly made the rather obvious point that now was probably not the best time for Jerime Anderson, the UCLA guard who stands accused of grand theft after allegedly stealing a fellow student’s laptop on campus last week, to be headlining the so-called "I LOVE COLLEGE!!! ATHLETES PARTY!"

Anderson’s plans were made before his arrest last week, but the Facebook events page still said the party would be "hosted by Jerime Anderson." Last Thursday, Anderson’s co-planner, Loyola Marymount guard Edgar Garibay, said that despite "some [expletive] going on," that he had spoken with Anderson and was sure the Bruin was still planning on attending.

You don’t have to be a crisis management expert to realize how bad this would look. A UCLA player accused of stealing another student’s MacBook Pro headlining a party about how much the partygoers love college? Yeah. Bad idea.

Apparently, Anderson now agrees. ESPN Los Angeles’s Peter Yoon brings word that Anderson took to his personal Facebook account this week to apologize for his "conduct" and "poor judgment." In the meantime, he and his lawyer made clear that he would not be attending any parties anytime soon:
 

"I am terribly sorry and embarrassed for my conduct and poor judgment that I’ve used recently," Anderson wrote in the post on his personal Facebook page, according to a UCLA spokesman and confirmed by his attorney, Jon Artz. "I have embarrassed my family, friends, teammates, coaches and university and I am extremely sorry for that."

"I will not be attending any social events and I am saddened and disappointed for my lack of judgment," the post said.

"He was involved in this party and now he’s not and he’s trying to make it clear," Artz said. "He had the event scheduled prior to making huge mistake. Now he’s not going to this party or any party."

According to Artz, Anderson has contacted the party organizers and asked that his name be removed from the event entirely. That goes for the Facebook group, too. And on Monday, Anderson went one step further, clarifying on his Facebook page that he would not be a part of the event at all, according to a UCLA spokesman:

“Just to clarify any misunderstandings I will not be hosting, attending, or doing any promoting for any parties or events. So if anyone was or is wondering if I was still a host for the “I Love College Athlete Party” I have removed myself from the event and have no affiliation with it whatsoever.”

It never feels good to scold a college kid about his social decisions. Hey, we all make mistakes (especially when we’re in college). But it wasn’t difficult to see how Anderson’s continued participation in the party could have hurt his own chances at returning to UCLA, let alone further diminish the Bruins during an already embarrassing ordeal. The laptop issue is a serious one. The party thing is silly. But when you’re already embroiled in a mess, the worst thing you can do is pile some unnecessary silliness on top.

Instead, Anderson did the right thing. He apologized. He seemed sincere. And he stepped away from the social scene five days before the real damage could take hold. No harm, no foul. Now he (and UCLA) can get back to focusing on the real problems at hand: the felony charges that might end his career at UCLA anyway.

[providencefriars1Participant]

Ya here is an article regarding Jerime Anderson and his laptop theft plus he threw an "I love college party" afterwards.

http://espn.go.com/blog/collegebasketballnation/post/_/id/33479/jerime-anderson-apologizes-addresses-party

On Monday afternoon, yours truly made the rather obvious point that now was probably not the best time for Jerime Anderson, the UCLA guard who stands accused of grand theft after allegedly stealing a fellow student’s laptop on campus last week, to be headlining the so-called "I LOVE COLLEGE!!! ATHLETES PARTY!"

Anderson’s plans were made before his arrest last week, but the Facebook events page still said the party would be "hosted by Jerime Anderson." Last Thursday, Anderson’s co-planner, Loyola Marymount guard Edgar Garibay, said that despite "some [expletive] going on," that he had spoken with Anderson and was sure the Bruin was still planning on attending.

You don’t have to be a crisis management expert to realize how bad this would look. A UCLA player accused of stealing another student’s MacBook Pro headlining a party about how much the partygoers love college? Yeah. Bad idea.

Apparently, Anderson now agrees. ESPN Los Angeles’s Peter Yoon brings word that Anderson took to his personal Facebook account this week to apologize for his "conduct" and "poor judgment." In the meantime, he and his lawyer made clear that he would not be attending any parties anytime soon:
 

"I am terribly sorry and embarrassed for my conduct and poor judgment that I’ve used recently," Anderson wrote in the post on his personal Facebook page, according to a UCLA spokesman and confirmed by his attorney, Jon Artz. "I have embarrassed my family, friends, teammates, coaches and university and I am extremely sorry for that."

"I will not be attending any social events and I am saddened and disappointed for my lack of judgment," the post said.

"He was involved in this party and now he’s not and he’s trying to make it clear," Artz said. "He had the event scheduled prior to making huge mistake. Now he’s not going to this party or any party."

According to Artz, Anderson has contacted the party organizers and asked that his name be removed from the event entirely. That goes for the Facebook group, too. And on Monday, Anderson went one step further, clarifying on his Facebook page that he would not be a part of the event at all, according to a UCLA spokesman:

“Just to clarify any misunderstandings I will not be hosting, attending, or doing any promoting for any parties or events. So if anyone was or is wondering if I was still a host for the “I Love College Athlete Party” I have removed myself from the event and have no affiliation with it whatsoever.”

It never feels good to scold a college kid about his social decisions. Hey, we all make mistakes (especially when we’re in college). But it wasn’t difficult to see how Anderson’s continued participation in the party could have hurt his own chances at returning to UCLA, let alone further diminish the Bruins during an already embarrassing ordeal. The laptop issue is a serious one. The party thing is silly. But when you’re already embroiled in a mess, the worst thing you can do is pile some unnecessary silliness on top.

Instead, Anderson did the right thing. He apologized. He seemed sincere. And he stepped away from the social scene five days before the real damage could take hold. No harm, no foul. Now he (and UCLA) can get back to focusing on the real problems at hand: the felony charges that might end his career at UCLA anyway.

[JNixonParticipant]

Yeah I totally forgot to mention the Anderson laptop thing. That is a HUGE cause for concern. Not sure how I forgot about it honestly. Thanks for the article!

[JNixonParticipant]

Yeah I totally forgot to mention the Anderson laptop thing. That is a HUGE cause for concern. Not sure how I forgot about it honestly. Thanks for the article!

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