Holiday press release

Okay then, CBH, since JH is a first rounder, please go find us a new recruit who can help the program...

i sure am glad ben didnt waste those backup PG minutes on this fool and used them on a TRUE bruin in Jerime.

Damn, Ben Howland is an outstanding guy. If this was "another" coach, he would have been whining and complaining. What a stand up guy! I know this announcement does not mean Jrue is gone, but might as well plan for the worse and assume he is as good as gone. Hopefully Howland has a contingency plan.

Comparing Howland to P. Carroll when it comes to caring more about his player than his ego is like night and day.

How could you not enjoy your first year at UCLA. You got a free ride at an awesome University. Free room and board. You basically mooched off UCLA and proved nothing. You should've just taken a year off after HS and enter the draft. CBH shouldn't waste his time with these mediocre "one and dones." Love was an exception. But mediocre players like thses should be avoided.

I agree with Anon, but you forgot to mention FREE meals, FREE trips, FREE tutoring, FREE coaching and mentoring from one of the BEST coaches, FREE spending money and Per Diems, and the BEST court side seats to every game at America's most hallowed NCAA Arena. If this kid leaves this year, not only do I think it will be a HUGE mistake, but I feel it will also be a wasted scholarship, since he didn't really help us short term or long term. We might have been better off offering his brother. A true disappointment, but if he leaves, he leaves. Life goes on. Wish him the best. See you around kid.

The bitter grapes being expressed about Holiday's possible departure are really rather ridiculous in my opinion. He was the nation's number one rated high school player and it was known long before he came to UCLA that he likely would only play one year. This is the "price" a college program pays, in modern college basketball, for landing cream of the crop talent. Whether any of the readers of this blog personally feel he is ready or not for the NBA is, frankly, irrelevant. Holiday gave his best effort on the floor and that is that. Declaring for the draft is a business decision and he, just like any of the rest of us, should do what he thinks is best for himself and his family. While I would love to have him back for another year, I wish him the best whatever he decides.

BruinFaithful..
true, but if there was no 1 year rule, he probably could have been drafted and paid for all of those things himself...

Is he kidding? This guy gets lost on defense all the time, despite having a great defensive coach, and hasn't proven to me he is even ready for the Pac-10 level. I would love to see UCLA immediately pull his scholarship and give it to the Washington State recruit I've been reading about. I'm sure Holiday would understand that it's a business decision. And the comparison to Westbrooke? Might as well compare Aboya to Bill Walton. I feel sorry for Howland.

Jrue is being smart about this. I think he would benefit from another year in college as well, but if an NBA team is willing to take him high in the lottery based on potential alone than that is the NBA team being a little foolish, not Jrue.

I don't think any of us can credibly question the wisdom of deciding to pursue an opportunity that will make you financially set for the rest of your life and enable you to take care of your family.

Rico said "This guy gets lost on defense all the time, despite having a great defensive coach"

are you kidding? if Jrue got lost on defense "all the time", CBH (the "great defensive coach") would not have him as his #1 defender... meaning he was the go to guy to guard the opposing teams top scorer! i know you might think you are the ultimate couch coach, but sometimes you need to realize that people like CBH might actually know a little more about the game then you do.

and yes i do know he had a horrible outing against wash st, but that didnt stop CBH from putting him on the top scorer in the games that followed that one

The problem is UCLA's defense was not good this year and, even if Jrue was considered the stopper, I don't think he was very good at it. I don't know how many times he got caught out of position wondering where to go. Howland has to put someone out on the perimeter to be the so-called stopper. Just become a guy is given that title doesn't mean the guy is effective.

Ben Howland supports Holidays decision, why can't we as fans? He needs to do what's best for him.

Go Bruins!!!

Who cares if he goes? He did nothing is freshman year so we should not miss anything.
Also, if the kid can get paid to play ball he should go get paid.

I agree, we shouldn't hate on Holiday if he does decide to leave. "This is the "price" a college program pays, in modern college basketball, for landing cream of the crop talent." - Totally true.

So if Jrue is out, good luck. But I don't honestly see him going in the top 20. No offense to Jrue and his family, but theres just no way in my mind that he'll get picked up this early. When you sit back and look at all the talent that will be in the draft, including players from Eurpoe...I find it hard to believe that he would be a pick from 1-20.

Let him go. Holiday has been very overrated thus far and may ruin his career by leaving to early. He doesn't have that fire to lead to the Bruins. This will allow UCLA to go one of the super freshman who were recently let out of their LIT

You really can't blame these kids for wanting to find out if they can make it in the NBA. These kids have probably been playing on Club teams since the 6th grade and have always dreamed of playing in the NBA.

Now as far as money. I'm no expert on the salary cap or collective bargaining agreement, but it is my understanding that the min/max. salary is partially based upon years of service. So from a money standpt. it make sense to come to the NBA asap, say 19 yrs. old vs 22 yrs old. Therefore your 1st big payday comes after 3-5 yrs in the association. Or say 23 yrs old vs 27 yrs. old.

The real pay-off comes around 10 yrs of service, which would be 29 vs 32 yrs old. So you spend 3 yrs honing your skills in the NBA vs college, btw you get paid pretty good as a 1st rounder. Then hopefully you develop into a pretty good NBA player in 3-5 yrs and get a payoola contract. Look at Walton, Sasha, Radman and soon to be Ariza!!

I think it makes perfect sense that you get to the NBA as quickly as possible! Who can blame these kids!!

find me one mock draft with Jrue in the lottery and I'll be concerned. As of not, it's not going to happen. He'll be back.

Spedjones
can you find me one that had Westbrook at this time last year(pre-workouts/pre-camps) as a lottery pick???

Thanks

From Chad Ford at ESPN:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/draft2009/columns/story?columnist=ford_chad&page=InOut

"I spoke with a number of NBA GMs and most of them have him ranked somewhere between 8 and 16 on their draft boards. A couple have him even higher and a couple have him in the early 20s.

"He's going to be really good," one NBA GM told ESPN.com. "The system that UCLA plays held him back. He's a much better prospect than what you saw this year. Once he gets into workouts with the Currys and Tyreke Evans[es] of the draft, I think you'll see him rise into the lottery. He's got a lot of physical gifts, and he's got a great basketball IQ"

"I really enjoyed my first year at UCLA, being part of such a historic program," Holiday added. "I have a great connection with my coaching staff and love all my teammates, so I couldn't ask for anything more."

Say that again Jrue. What the hell does that mean? Is that perfect psychobabble? Does that mean one year was sooooooooo good it's time to bail? Does that mean you're so satisfied you are going to stay after just testing the waters.

It's mean about as much as Love last year saying he wanted to be part of UCLA lore.

Well, that takes a commitment to UCLA, not yourself nor the pursuit of the almighty buck.

I think what's most funny is that he's running to the NBA to make the money that's going to be worthless thanks to the horrible administrations of the last 20 years. Have fun with that million dollar contract that buys you a hamburger. At least staying at UCLA, you could have had experiences that money can't buy.

First off Jrue is being stupid. Another year at UCLA can only make him better. These players jump way too quickly at the opportunity to make money. Develop your skills, prove yourself on the college level then think about going pro. Have a succesfull and memorable career. Don't just jump at the very first opportunity. Be smart!

all you guys complaining sound like those stupid $c fans. If this were you and you were told that you could be drafted in the top 15, you'd be an idiot not to try it. Don't hate on ucla players if you're a true bruin! This kind of crap pisses me off. You have bruins who hate on their own players. Stop hating!

Jrue is making the best decision for him and his family. I'm just amazed at how many negative comments are coming from other so called UCLA fans. Let's face it, you are a Bruin for 4 years and there is very little support for athletes after they leave. Jrue is going to the NBA sooner or later. The UCLA offense doesn't compliment Jrue's style of play. BH likes to slow the game down and most NBA scouts have noted that this offense has not highlighted Jrues true skills. I hate to say it but USC treats their athlete with a lot more respect, I guess that why they say Trojan 4 Life and Bruin for 4 Years. Hmmmmmmmm!

REALLY UCLA Fan? REALLY? I think you need to check the truth behind your name and your true allegiance before you start spewing garbage like this? You're a BRUIN for 4 years and a Trojan for Life? Stop prepetuating LIES. Did you miss that Mark Sanchez press conference? If having your Coach throw you under the bus right before national TV when your draft status and NFL career is at stake means being a Trojan for Life, then I say no thanks. Let me me remind you of what was said.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UcGCMZKniks

I don't EVER remember any UCLA coach EVER doing that to one of our kids. I don't think anybody here is wishing bad for Jrue. We just think that he is not READY and would be better served returning for another year, where he could play himself into the top 5.

I don't remember a lot of people getting upset last year when KLove and Russ left early. They proved themselves and the proof is in the pudding. Russ worked himself into that top 5 spot and they both are having rookie of the year type seasons. Doesn anybody here honestly think Jrue can do the same next year in the NBA. I don't. The difference between 10-25 money and top 5 pick money is huge. As a family and personal decision, coming back would be best for him. However, if he decides not to come back, he will ALWAYS be a Bruin and the Bruin Nation will ALWAYS welcome him back and root for him. ONCE A BRUIN, ALWAYS A BRUIN.

UCLA Fan, if you truly are one, please check your facts before sounding ignorant.

This is so depressing.