Recruit injury
Modesto Christian power forward Reeves Nelson, who signed with UCLA in November, continues to have problems with his knee, which he injured playing football.
This is from the Modesto Bee:
"UCLA-bound forward Reeves Nelson didn't play his second consecutive game for MC. Crusaders coach Gary Porter said he was out because of a tender knee. Nelson had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus in the fall."
I'm hearing Nelson could miss a third straight game before returning to the lineup.
Good thing he played football! Great move for the career!
Let me know if I can be of assistance.
as much as I dont want to say anything bad....
good job Reeves, hope you are enjoying your senior year the way you had wanted to, which was the reason you wanted to play football your senior year.
speaks to the maturity level to jeopardize his BB career. didn't he only play in 1 football game before the injury occurred?
Way to harsh his mellow anonymous
Funny, I remember being CRUCIFIED for days about criticizing Reeves for playing football. "He's just a kid, VB. Let the kid have some fun in his senior year, VB."
Same way I was crucified for criticizing Sheller for making a stupid decision during his time off. These "kids" need to stop being doofuses and not take for granted the opportunities they have.
"Kids..." pfffffffffff
VB, on those 2 things you were correct. I remember everyone getting on you about the kid playing football. "let him enjoy himself" they said. people told there stories of them playing football there senior year at polk high and such... well im sure these injuries will continue through college, lets hope not though
These kids learn from their mistakes, as I'm sure each of us have... It's their life, NOT yours, so if they want to risk things, its on them. Why do people CONTINUE to bring up kids mistakes, and run their name through the mud (a couple of idiots wrt Sheller). The only reason people here are criticizing them is because their sense of entitlement to the kids lives is a little too big.
Reeves should get together with Sean Sheller for a friendly game of ATV touch football!
sorry anon @ 2:11pm... i guess we as fans shoudl not care about the players at all, or should we only care when they do something good and not when they do something that turns out to be wrong?
reeves, keanu, stop.
I'm not surprised.
I'm starting to feel more and more like we should go after Renardo Sidney.
Anon @ 2:26, nobody is saying people should not care, I'm just saying constant ripping of these kids is a little much, when we've all made mistakes. I know all us fans wish we had these kids athletic gifts, but its not our place to jump all over them. Thats up to the people in their lives who can actually affect them. Its not up to a bunch of SEC-like (read: COMPLETELY NUTS) crazed fans, acting as though we somehow own rights to their lives.
The Donkey believes that for once, VB is right. Nelson did risk his basketball career for football. But The Donkey would like to reiterate that his knee is only SORE and not completely injured again.
The Donkey wants every bruin fan to remember that while his knee is sore, he has an abundance of time to fully recover before his Freshman year at ucla. The Donkey believes he will be 100% healthy by that time. Remember bruin fans, The Donkey is always right and would love to have an intelligent conversation any time on this esteemed blog Inside ucla with Brian Dohn.
Just to let you know, our football and basketball teams are products. The UBTA, along with many others, pays thousands of dollars per year in donations and ticket prices to watch these teams play. These "kids," as you call them, are on SCHOLARSHIP to play sports and to sacrifice their bodies for their SPORT in exchange for a free education at one of the finest schools in the nation. So yeah, it is our place to criticize stupid decisions made by these kids.
While the rest of us, including myself, are working our butts off to get in to UCLA just so we can pay full tuition, these "kids" are getting a free ride so they can ride dangerous ATVs during the summer. And Reeves, playing football when he is going to be on scholarship to play basketball. Stupid.
Perhaps "some of us" could be working harder?
Just sayin
Pull his ride. He was overrated to begin with. If the kids renag then the schools should be able to renag.
Can he get up to 300 lbs and play Def Tackle for CRN?
VB does have a good point that doesn't their scholarship acts sort of like a professional contract to play basketball/football in exchange for a free education? Since UCLA made a commitment to him, isn't it their obligation to act in the best interest of UCLA's athletic program? Just like professional athletes have clauses in their contract barring them from risky activities. I don't think by involving themselves in the risky activities (football, ATV, etc) they are acting in the best interest of UCLA.
Amen, cedar. Amen.
If VB was CRUCIFIED, VB must be Jesus H Christ. Amen
A gimpy Sidney is better than no Sidney.
La Gorda
No, Barack Hussein Obama is the second coming of the messiah. Not VB.
As Reeves Nelson's dad, I thought I should clarify a couple of points. Reeves does not, in any way, regret playing football. What happened was unfortunate, of course and, truthfully, he played against my wishes. But it is Reeves' life and he is old enough to make this choice for himself. I do not believe that Coach Howland is interested in pulling Reeves' offer, though if you are of the opinion that Reeves is overrated, you may clearly say so. However, I believe Reeves is VASTLY UNDERRATED. I have the advantage of having seen Reeves play with and against the best high school basketball players in the country. There is no question, in my mind, that for the Class of 2009, Reeves should be in the Top 20, if not higher. Please wait until you see Reeves, at 6'8", 240 lbs., match up with these players next year. I believe you all will be pleasantly surprised. As for Reeves knee, he has some tenderness and some swelling but no real pain. What Reeves is dealing with, now, is the mental aspect of the injury and regaining the confidence that he can play the way he played prior to the injury. For every athlete that adjustment is different. I have no doubt that Reeves adjustment will be shorter than most. Brian Nelson
Brian Nelson,
I think Reeves will be a great player for UCLA once he gets healthy. Its unfortunate that he got hurt, but that's life. Thank you for coming here and easing some of our concerns. We'll just have to pray that Reeves gets healthy soon so that he can contribute right away. We will desperately need his rebounding next year.
Thank you Mr. Nelson for weighing in and clarifying what has happened to your son, and his sore knee. The folks here are passionate about Bruins sports in general, and Bruin basketball and football in particular, and can get a bit carried away. In my experience, as an original Inside UCLA blogger, they mean no offense to your son and will, in all likelihood, fall in love with him as a person and a player for the Bruins in very short order. Give him our (my family's) best and here's to a speedy recovery and fabulous college career with the Bruins for Reeves.
Best, Tim, Mom, BruinGirl and BruinBoy (a fine BBall player in his own right, at age 6)
Well he could redshirt
When I was a 17 yr-old high school student, nobody could have swayed me from playing football, basketball, and then baseball each year. That was what a guy did, if he had any athletic ability at all. That's what made you a man among the student body and a hunk to the girls. Are you going to deny that to Reeves? He's a kid, for chrissake. Let him alone. By the way, the worst leg injury I ever saw was when our QB, who had a great FB future, twisted his leg and snapped it horribly playing a game of basketball. And no one even touched him. He just turned and landed the wrong way. Bad things happen. Live with it.
I'm sure Reeves is IMPLORING his coaches to let him play. They should ignore him and shelve him for the season, and think about his future,,,,,and UCLA's.
As far as Reeves goes, I'm looking forward to seeing him play. He looked great in the clips I've seen of him. Above I said Ucla should pull his ride and was trying to get some of these guys to yell at me. Stoked Reeves wanted to be a Bruin and I look forward to honoring him on senior day in 5 years. I never miss senior day. Never forget Earl Watson on his senior day. It was special because that kid came in rated low. He was terrible his first 2 years at Ucla but he gave 110% (if there is such a thing) every minute he was on the court. It paid off and he became one of my favorite Bruins of all time. The kid used to make me so mad, like Westbrook. Westbrook maybe got better in one year than any player in Ucla history. Westy was so out of control his first year. Man, Ben is a great coach. Reeves made a great decision. Get that knee heeled properly. He'll be fine.
Could Reeves possibly be a reverse Mercedes Lewis, you know, walk on to Rick Neuheisel's squad?
No way. Protect the knees unless he has a bigger upside in football than bb. Maybe he does but I wouldn't risk my bb career if I had more upside in it than fb.
How serious is the injury Reeves has? or had.
ArtV just set a new land-speed record in the non-Olympic sport of backpedalling...
The one that should apologize to Mr. Nelson is VB. VB tries to be outlandish and get a rise out of everyone, but forgets that players and their families read Dohn's great blog.
I honestly don't care if their parents read the blog. This isn't Little League. These are grown MEN playing college sports. You infantalize them by referring to them as "kids." That's why our nation is going down the toilet. We are treating the future generation like they are mindless nitwits.
VB, way to anonymously pat yourself on the back. Shows how much you know. Your I TOLD YOU SO's are lame