Answers, Part II

Are players, like Westbrook, seeking advice or being advised from people in the know and not just from family whether to enter the draft or not? As you had indicated, his workouts may hurt his stock b/c he may be a top five pick in 2009?
Coach Ben Howland is advising him, but a big problem with many of the kids declaring for the draft are the hangers-on and agents trying to get in a kid’s ear and tell them how great they are, and how they will get loads of money for coming out. Those folks rarely have a player’s best interest in mind, but are trying to gain an inside track to sign them as agents, or work some kind of deal with them.

Rumor has it that Renardo Sidney and Lance Stephenson both want to attend the same school, possibly UCLA. Lance visited recently, is there any chance that Ben Howland will offer these kids? If he did is it likely they would commit? Do think that it would represent a major break from his previous recruiting strategy?
Sure, there is a chance he offers them, but more information is needed about each player before that happens. I have no idea about the likelihood either one would commit, and I don’t know enough about each kid’s off-the-court personality to answer the final part of that question.

I think Nikki Caldwell should be hired as the head coach and the face of UCLA womens Basketball...Do you think she could turn UCLA into a top tier program? Do you think she is our #1 option?
Well, I thought she was the top option all along, which is why the Colorado coach pulled out. I think it was a good hire from talking to some folks, and she should bring energy and personality to UCLA. In attending her press conference and speaking with her afterward, I was impressed. Given the natural resources of UCLA (tons of talent nearby and a great campus) there is no reason should not turn UCLA into a top 20 program.

Do you have any updates as far as if we are going to offer any last minute 2008 players?
The evaluations are still ongoing, and the next few weeks could be huge since there are AAU tournaments the coaches will at.

As far as the rumored Stephenson/Sidney being a package deal, is it a package you would touch?
I’m not into package deals. If both players, evaluated separately, are worthy of scholarship offers, they should be offered. Otherwise, nothing good usually comes from offering one play who could be a suspect player (either talent- or character-related) in hopes of getting another player.

Do you see Ben after getting to 3 Final Fours and getting blown out for the 3rd year in a row by a more skilled and athletic team finally offering guys like Lance Stephenson, Renardo Sidney, Jeremy Tyler, etc. that either have fit or character issues in order to compete with the super athletic Florida's and the Memphis's in NCAA? Would you as a coach take that supposed risk to get to the next level?
That is the question everyone is waiting to find out. I don’t have the answer to it, and I don’t know if UCLA has the answer to it. But I don’t see Howland altering his beliefs because it takes a special kid, both physically and mentally, to play for him. He needs kids that are smart, embrace structure and will sacrifice points and ESPN highlights to play defense-based basketball.
If I was a coach, it depends how badly I wanted to get to the next level, but I would not compromise my beliefs for it.

Any update on the recruitment of bigs for next season (Frank Ben-Eze, Krys Faber, etc.)?
More should come out of this weekend because UCLA’s coaches will hit the recruiting trail and be able to evaluate players.

Have you heard anything about UCLA's recruitment of Elijah Johnson?
Yes, I have. My understanding is UCLA likes him, but it may not come down to whether or not he can play basketball.