Tuesday, April 18, 2006

The problem with UCLA recruiting

What? Problem? UCLA? They just played in the NCAA Final! They got Farmar, Afflalo and Ship just two years ago! Isn't it crazy to think that there is a problem with UCLA recruiting?

Nope, it is not crazy to think that and here's why:
1) Ben Howland lost most of the big men recruiting battles in 2005. He did find a gem in LR Mbah a Moute who was initially slated as a small forward, but proved very valuable as a 4.
2) He lost a lot of the 2006 and 2007 SoCal big men to Arizona, North Carolina, etc. He did get one: James Keefe but he needed more than one.
3) The only other big man he got for 2006 is a euro-center who has yet to qualify. UCLA is losing two seven-footers this year, the Lavin seven-footers (Hollins and Fey). UCLA badly needs big men but they can't get them!
4) He had Taylor King earlier on, but once Taylor King sky-rocketed in the ratings, he lost interest in UCLA, and would rather go to Gonzaga or Villanova or Carolina before UCLA. (He will end up at Duke where Coach K will drain the life energy out of him and turn him into a K-Zombie)
5) His style of play is not "fun". His control-freak approach to offense - calling every single play - is not "fun" either.

Clearly Ben Howland, his assistants and players bought into and executed their system and managed to make it to the NCAA Final. They deserve a lot of credit for that.

The question is: Will they be able to convert the NCAA success into more recruits, specifically big men they badly need, as well as Top 50 caliber talent. Will they be able to get Kevin Love and Kyle Singler? Will they be able to get any more big men?

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