May 2009 Archives

I think it is a bit early to give a preview for UCLA, but Phil Steele's is out and here is the link.

Chino Hills High defensive tackle George Uko is a polarizing figure in UCLA's recruiting decisions. He was impressive during individual drills during Scout.com's combine, and after I asked him if he knew why UCLA had not offered even though he at one time favored the school. Uko said the Bruins staff told him he did not give the type of effort they want to see on every play.
"I played both ways, so sometimes I took a few plays off,'' Uko said. "I was playing tight end, going out on patterns, and then I would have to play defensive tackle, and I was tired. This year I'm only going to play defense, so schools will see me playing hard all the time."
Uko said he remains open to UCLA, although it appears the Bruins would have ground to make up if a scholarship offer comes his way.
"I'm still open to everything,'' Uko said.
He lists his favorite schools as Nebraska, Oregon, Arizona, Arizona State, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Colorado, Washing and Nevada.

I talked to La Costa Canyon of Encinitas receiver Kenny Stills and asked him if he was close to making a decision.
"Realistically, I don't think so,'' Stills said. "I want to take all my visits. I want to trim my list to seven to 10 schools by the end of the summer, take my trips and make a decision during the season or in the offseason."
Stills was impressive at the Scout.com combine, running a wind-aided 4.36 (seconds) in the 40-yard dash. However, he sat out the end of the combine after tweaking his hamstring.
He said his top schools, in no particular order, were USC, UCLA, California, Arizona, Coloroado, Washington and Penn State.
He said there has been a lot of talk about him going to USC because that is the school he is asked frequently about in interviews, but he said he has no leader.

Here is a story in today's New York Post about the New York Knicks looking at UCLA's Jrue Holiday with the No. 8 pick in next month's draft.

I was down at the Scout.com combine at Los Angeles Harbor College today, and in talking to a bunch of people, plenty were miffed about why UCLA is holding its one-day camp next Saturday.
One of the top performers at the camp, receiver Kenny Stills of La Costa Canyon of Encinitas, said he is not going because he has to take the SATs. A few others echoed that.
Also, several players said they were not attending because it was the same day as the state track championships.

UCLA hoops sophomore-to-be center J'mison Morgan is back working out after offseason knee surgery. He was doing individual shooting and jumping drills with coaches last week.

UCLA receiver Nelson Rosario qualified for the first NCAA Championships with a fifth-place finish in the long jump (24-8.25) at the NCAA West Region Championship in Eugene, Ore.
He was the only freshman to finish in the top-5 and automatically advance to the NCAA championships, which are in Fayetteville, Ark., June 10-13..

Thanks for the questions this week. Hope everyone enjoyed the answers and got some information from them. Now, here is the last set of answers:

Here is a statement from UCLA about the Pac-10 removing the Bruins' 2008 conference title in men's tennis because of an ineligible player:

The men's tennis student-athlete involved was earning money working at a job. The employer paid his student fees, thinking it was okay because the student-athlete would be earning the money to cover the fees.
When the UCLA compliance office found out that the employer had paid the student fees in advance, it reported the situation to the NCAA and the Pac-10 Conference. The NCAA reinstated the student-athlete's eligibility, deciding the employment and the rate of pay appropriate, and required him to pay a portion of the fee value to a charity. The student-athlete was eligible to compete in the 2008-09 season and did so.
The Pac-10 Compliance and Enforcement Committee requested the student-athlete forfeit his singles and doubles matches in Pac-10 competition in 2007-08. That action was approved by the Pac-10 Council. The changes in scores ultimately changed the final results of UCLA's matches versus USC and Arizona State from wins to losses.

Here is the 10th set of answers:

Here is the ninth set:

Here is the eighth set:

Just got in after being away for a few hours and wanted to pass along that Los Alamitos receiver Paul Richardson has de-comitted from UCLA, leaving the Bruins with no commitments for the 2010 class.
There have been rumblings of this happening for the last month, and Richardson is finally ready to pull the trigger and say he is opening up his recruitment.
From my understanding, UCLA will remain in the picture for the short term, but I'm not sure how this will shake out.

UCLA's men's tennis team was stripped of 2008 Pac-10 title for using an ineligible player, and USC was awarded the title.
Here is the release from the Pac-10:

Here is the seventh set of answers:

Here is the sixth set of answers:

Here is the fifth set:

Here is the fourth set:

Here is the third segment:

Here is the second set:

Folks, thanks for the questions this week. I am looking at 11 sets of answers throughout today, beginning with this one:

Click here to see what football coach Rick Neuheisel will be doing during his tour of the Middle East. UCLA will be posting periodic updates on his trip.

UCLA is not going to begin its offseason throwing program until late next month. Right now football players are lifting weights and doing conditioning drills, although some players are throwing on the side.

I checked with my sources and was told UCLA is still waiting to see transcripts for Compton College defensive tackle Branden Warner, who is due to enroll in a month but still must provide transcripts so he can be admitted.
I was also told other schools continue to recruit Warner.

There was a strange incident in Las Cruces where former UCLA defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker was arrested for DUI, then had the charges thrown out after his blood alcohol content measured at .01.
Also, former UCLA quarterback Patrick Cowan was waived by the New Orleans Saints.

UCLA will hold a one-day camp on June 6 for many of its high school targets, and it will allow the Bruins staff to get a look at some quarterbacks, with a possible offer coming out of the camp.
According to my sources, among the quarterbacks expected to be at the camp are Brett Nottingham of Monte Vista (Danville), Tyler Shreve of Redlands East Valley, Brandon Connette of Santiago (Corona), Nick Hirschman of Los Gatos and Sean Mannion of Foothill (Pleasanton).

Thanks to a reader tipping me off, here is a video of one of UCLA signee Randall Carroll's races in the CIF Division 3 relay. Carroll runs the anchor leg for Cathedral, which was the winning team.

Folks, it is Q&A time again. The holiday weekend sure made it come up quick this week.
Anyway, send in a question of 50 words or fewer (anything greater than 50 words will be deleted) and I will post the answers Friday.

UCLA sophomore center Drew Gordon was invited to take part in the U-19 Team USA national trials. Here is the release from UCLA:

I know a lot of people are wondering if former UCLA center Alfred Aboya will get a chance to play in the NBA, and his former teammate, Darren Collison thinks it could happen.
"I think he's going to impress a lot of teams,'' Collison said. "He has some versatility and he can make the 15 foot jump shot. And with how hard he plays --that's what the NBA is looking for, how hard you play -- I think he can play."

UCLA has started its own blog, and here is the debut entry.

ESPNU will televise five hours of NBA draft combine, which begins Wednesday and will include UCLA's Jrue Holiday and Darren Collison.
Below is the release from ESPN:

UCLA placekicker Kai Forbath and defensive tackle Brian Price were named second teampreseason all-Americans by Athlon, and cornerback Alterraun Verner was named to the third team.
Also, Verner, Price, linebacker Reggie Carter and receiver Terrence Austin were named first-team preseason all-Pac-10 by Athlon and Forbath, free safety Rahim Moore and linebacker Akeem Ayers were named second team.

One of my sources said it is looking very good for former UCLA and NFL assistant Jon Embree joining the Bruins staff as a graduate assistant. Embree still must be admitted to graduate school, but it looks like it is going to happen.
Embree, who was the tight ends coach with the Kansas City Chiefs, will continue to get paid by the Chiefs, which is one of the reasons he can coach at UCLA without getting paid.
His son, Taylor, will be a sophomore receiver for the Bruins in 2009.

Here is a story I wrote for today's paper on former UCLA star James Washington's free youth camp, which attracted kids from all over SoCal.
Also, UCLA signee Randall Carroll, a receiver from Los Angeles Cathedral, won the CIFSouthern Section Division III 100 meters (10.39 seconds) and 200 meters (20.93). He is the defending state champion in both races.

I was down at Los Angeles Southwest College today for former Bruin great James Washington's free football camp for area youth, and it was a great event.
UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel brought his whole staff to do volunteer work with the approximate 500 campers, and a bunch of current UCLA players were there doing volunteer work for the camp.
Current players there were Brian Price, Chinonso Anyanwu, Reggie Cater, Datone Jones, Johnathan Franklin, Rahim Moore and Aaron Hester, and youth football teams from across the Southland were represented at the camp.

Since there is so much talk about the Pauley Pavilion project, I thought I would post a poll to get a consensus of what folks think.

Here is a story I wrote for today's paper about which teams UCLA players are working out for, with Jrue Holiday saying he has not yet decided whether to hire an agent.
I know some folks asked about whether players were putting on more weight to gear up for workouts, Holiday, Josh Shipp and Darren Collison each said they were pretty close to weight they played at last season.

Folks, thanks for all the questions. Hope the answers were helpful. I will have some updates over the weekend, which I hope is enjoyable and safe for everyone.
Now, on to the last set of answers, lucky 13:

Here is the 12th set:

Here is the 11th set of answers:

Here is video, which was posted on the Sacramento Bee site, of UCLA guard Jrue Holiday's workout with the Sacramento Kings.
Thanks to a reader of the blog for tipping me off to this.

Here is the 10th set:

Here is the ninth set:

Here is the eighth set of answers:

I talked to Jrue Holiday and Darren Collison today, and both said they have been working out for teams. Collison said he worked out for about eight to 10 teams today in Los Angeles during a group session,
Holiday said his first workout was Thursday with Sacramento, and he has more scheduled beginning with Sunday in Phoenix. Holiday also said he won't make up his mind on whether to stay in the draft or not for a few weeks.
I will have more in Saturday's paper, so give a look for it.

Here is the seventh set:

Here is the sixth installment:

Here is the fifth set:

Folks, there will be 13 sets of answers today. Here is the fourth set:

Here is set No. 3:

In going through the questions this week, one thing I keep seeing is questions of whether running backs Raymond Carter and Aundre Dean, receiver Dominique Johnson and quarterback/receiver Chris Forier are going to transfer.
I know it was worded by UCLA that Dean and Forcier were given permission to seek a transfer, but it was announced by UCLA Johnson and Carter were transferring.
To clear it up, several of my sources told me the football program is moving forward without the four of them. In fact, while the team works out, I was told the four players are working out on their own, with Forcier throwing passes to the other three.

Here is the second set of answers:

Sorry for the delay today, but I will be posting about 12 sets of answers today. Now, here is the first set:

Here is a little update from the Sacramento Bee on UCLA guard Jrue Holiday's workout Thursday with the Sacramento Kings. Do to a late start (kids slept in today, thankfully), I am off to a late start, so the Q&A will begin shortly.

Remember Keith Carter? The former UCLA tight end whose career ended after he was involved in a motorcycle accident on the 405 after a practice?
Well, I saw him on UCLA's campus recently. He is coaching at the University of San Diego.

Here is a light-hitting Q&A I did with UCLA red-shirt freshman quarterback Kevin Prince before I went on vacation. Sorry, but with the end of spring practice, I simply forgot.

Former UCLA wing Josh Shipp signed with the Wassernman Media Group. Shipp has already worked out for Houston and Oklahoma City, and he has a few other workouts scheduled next week.

Got a text late last night that UCLA guard Jrue Holiday was going to be working out for the Sacramento Kings today. The Kings have the fourth pick in next month's draft.

UCLA receiver Dominique Johnson is transferring, and I hear Portland State is one of the possibilities. A move to a bowl-subdivision school is unlikely because Johnson would have to sit out one year because of transfer rules, meaning a school would have to put him on scholarship for two years, but get only one season out of him.
But if he goes to a playoff-subdivision school, he has to sit out the first two games of the upcoming season as a penalty for playing in the first game of his freshman season.
For regaining a red-shirt season after playing in the waning moments of the opener as a freshman, the NCAA stipulated Johnson had to sit out the first two games during his next three seasons. The 2009 season is his third season since then.

I'm sure there will be lots of questions since it has been nearly a month since the last Q&A, so let me set up the ground rules for those who are new, or may have forgotten.
Please send in a question by 8 a.m. Friday, and I will post the answers throughout the day.
If the question is longer than 50 words, I will delete it without consideration. The objective is to ask a question, not prove how much you know before asking a question.
Thanks, and ask away.

I wrote a while back that Nebraska transfer Patrick Witt was considering UCLA, but he is not coming to Westwood. He recently committed to Yale.
UCLA didn't offer him a scholarship, and from what I understand, the plan was to wait and see what transpired in the spring before making a decision. The coaching staff was comfortable with what it say from Kevin Prince and Richard Brehaut, so Witt was not offered a scholarship.
As for Marve, the Bruins looked at him but there were some non-football issues that scared the staff away.

I know someone asked this recently, and wanted to let everyone know that, yes, UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel is talking to Rutgers about a home-and-home series. Neuheisel recently spoke with Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti about it.
I know this is not something that will happen in the next year or two, but is more down the road.

I am told UCLA is still awaiting the transcripts of Compton College defensive tackle Branden Warner, who is supposed to enroll next month and compete for a starting spot in August training camp.
I was told he is supposed to take care of his tuition bill this week (maybe even today) and the transcripts should be released to UCLA shortly thereafter.
However, UCLA will still have to look them over and make sure he took and passed the necessary classes before he can be admitted to the school.

Here is the letter (and lengthy appendages) Richard Bergman, the former chair of the Pauley Pavilion renovation project, sent to the University of California Regents president outlining his disapproval of the project:
UC_Regents-Presidents_Letter_4-14-09.pdf

And here is the response from UCLA vice chancellor Steven Olsen:
Pauley_-_Response_from_Olsen_5-5-09.pdf

Although head coaches are not allowed out because of NCAA rules, UCLA's football staff is spread across the country recruiting.
One interesting twist is that on-campus recruiting coordinator Angus McClure is out recruiting, a move made because special teams coach Frank Gansz Jr. took a leave of absence after his father, Frank Sr., died unexpectedly last month following complications from surgery.
McClure passed the NCAA-mandated test, which is why he is allowed to be recruiting off campus.

I am doing some preliminary work on the seating concepts for the renovated Pauley Pavilion. In some instances, I am hearing folks are being told they may have to spend upwards of $40,000 to keep their existing seats once the renovations are done.
I am curious to know what others are being told by UCLA. If you have anything interesting about it, please post it here or, if you want the information to remain confidential, please email me at brian.dohn@dailynews.com.

As I sort through my emails and messages and try to crosscheck with what's already been reported on the blog, I noticed UCLA receiver Nelson Rosario finished third at the Pac-10 championships in the long jump with a career-best 25 feet.
Below is the complete release from UCLA:

Just got word from point guard Darren Collison that he will be attending the NBA draft combine in Chicago May 28-29.

Hey, folks, hope everyone had some relaxation while I was gone for a few weeks. I know I did.
One thing that passed through my inbox last week was a note the son of former NBA player Detlef Schrempf would be walking on to play hoops at UCLA.
Alex Schrempf is a 6-foot-5 forward at Bellevue (Wash.) High.
On a side note, things got pretty ugly on the blog when I was away, and I thought some of it was uncalled for. I am looking into banning some IP addresses because of what took place.

Hey Bruins fans,

Ramona Shelburne checking in from Staples Center and had a question for you. Did any of you guys realize Aaron Brooks would be this good as a pro when you saw him at Oregon?

I'm just curious, since you guys saw him more than anyone outside of Eugene.

Thanks for your patience, most of you, while Brian Dohn has been on vacation. Dohn will return on Monday.

Former UCLA tight end Marcedes Lewis - who plays for Jacksonville - is hosting a free youth football camp June 20 at Long Beach State.
Here's more info:

You can choose new season seats for the best upper level seats remaining for the upcoming UCLA men's basketball season on May 31.
Here's more details from UCLA:

The No. 2 seed UCLA softball team will host Long Beach State tomorrow at 3:30 p.m. at Easton Stadium in Regional play. Here's the schedule:

A celebration of the life of Frank Gansz Sr. is scheduled June 5 in a ceremony at Annapolis, Maryland.
Here's more info:

Thanks to a blog reader who alerted me to this Q&A with Jrue Holiday from the IMG Academies.

You can watch the Pauley Pavilion news conference hereon youtube.com

Here's the story I wrote for today's paper, with an emphasis on fundraising for Pauley Pavilion.

The UCLA men's basketball team will play all of its games away from Pauley Pavilion as it will be closed for the season during construction. The teams will probably play at the Forum, Staples Center and Honda Center. He's hoping to get the USC-UCLA games at Staples Center. Of course, scheduling games at Staples Center gets tricky because of all of regular tenants like the Lakers, Clippers and Kings.
``We'll probably play some of our non-conference games (at Staples Center),'' Guerrero said. ``It'd be great to get the USC game there. I think it would be fantastic to fill it.''

Holiday probably will conduct most of his workouts for NBA teams after the pre-draft camp in Chicago. The camp is now called the NBA Draft Combine 09, and it's May 28-29 in Chicago. Holiday worked out at the IMG Academies in Bradenton, Fla. quarter for a while and could go back to Florida. He's still enrolled at UCLA.
``There's talk of that,'' Howland said. ``If it's definitive, I don't know.''
Howland said Holiday was doing his UCLA coursework while in Florida.

Ben Howland said that J'mison Morgan, who had arthroscopic right knee surgery, is probably about three weeks away from running. He is doing pool workouts, too.
``They're bringing him along very conservatively,'' Howland said. ``He's doing everything he's supposed to be doing.''

I'm sure the most important thing for some of you is the new seating plan...it won't be announced until July 1. UCLA is still working on that plan. Click here to see new pictures of the rennovated arena in addition to a press release from UCLA with facts about the rennovation project. I'll have more later.

The UCLA women's water polo team edged USC 5-4 to win the NCAA Tournament championship, its fifth consecutive national title.
Here's more from UCLA:

The UCLA women's water polo team, seeded No. 3, defeated No. 2 seed Stanford
12-11 in the NCAA Tournament semifinals today at the
University of Maryland.
The Bruins, who have won four straight NCAA titles, face No. 1 seed USC at 4 p.m. Sunday for the 2009 NCAA Championship. The match will be
televised by CBS College Sports (Channel 613 on DirecTV).

UCLA football signee Randall Carroll of Cathedral High ran a 10.30-second legal
electronic 100 meters on Friday. It was the fastest time in California in 17 years.

The UCLA women's softball team won its ninth Pac-10 Conference title with a 1-0 win over Stanford today.

Karch Kiraly (UCLA '83) will be inducted into the CoSIDA Academic All-America Hall of Fame on June 22 in San Antonio, Tex. He retired from professional volleyball in 2007.

Rachel Robinson will be presented with the UCLA Medal, UCLA highest honor.
For more, here's the release:

Folks, this is getting ridiculous. I like covering college sports, very much in fact. I get assigned stories by my editor, just as many of you get assigned projects by your bosses. I have been assigned to cover things other than UCLA recently. That's all. I will be at Pauley Pavilion on Monday for the unveiling of the rennovation project and will be happy to give you the skinny on that. Brian already has written much about the changes. I'm shutting down the comments section for a just a little bit while we all take a deep breath. I will continue to post, and you will be able to post comments after a brief break.

I apologize to those of you who want extensive UCLA coverage right now. I cover many things beside UCLA, and right now I'm covering a lot of Dodgers, including the Manny Ramirez national story that broke today.
I find myself deleting a lot of crude comments. I should just shut down the comments section right now. Consider this a final warning. I don't have time to deal with people behaving like children.
And to those of you who base sports coverage on gender, shame on you.

Raymond Carter and Dominique Johnson were given releases by UCLA to transfer to another school.
"Raymond told me he loves UCLA but feels it is best for him to continue his career elsewhere. Dominique feels it's in his family's best interests to relocate so they can be with him while he goes to school and plays football," Rick Neuheisel said in a release. "We certainly wish them well and will do whatever we can to help them find another school."
That's three now as Aundre Dean was given his release, too.

Just think, IF Brett Favre really did play for Minnesota next year and IF Kahlil Bell made the team, Bell could be catching passes from Favre out of the backfield. Unlikely, yes, but never say never.

The Pauley Pavilion rennovation and campaign fundraising plans will be unveiled on Monday at UCLA. The public is invited to attend.
Here's the release from UCLA:

Here's the story we ran in today's paper on Patrick Cowan signing with New Orleans.

UCLA's freshman football players will visit Ralph Waldo Emerson Middle School on Wednesday for presentations and a light workout outdoors.
Here's the release from UCLA:

Brigham Harwell was released by the Washington Redskins today.

Aundre Dean is looking into transferring from UCLA. A UCLA official confirmed that UCLA signed release papers that allow him to talk to other schools about the possibility. This does not mean he is transferring for sure, but obviously, he can now do that.

Aaron Perez has signed a one-year deal with the Patriots. Bret Lockett has signed with the Browns.

Former UCLA basketball player Gavin Smith - who played for UCLA from 1974-76 - is a fan of Tim Floyd. That's because his son, Calabasas' Evan Smith, signed a scholarship to play for USC. Gavin said he won't be wearing any Trojans gear, though because his wife will take care of that for him. Gavin Smith said it took a while, but he got used to the idea of his son playing for USC.
``They fell in love with my son,'' Gavin Smith said. ``They've been recruiting him since the 10th grade.''

We've mentioned a couple of speaking engagements for UCLA coaches, but here's a list of UCLA's out-of-town speaking engagements provided by UCLA.

USC for the second consecutive year. The women's rowing victory over UCLA clinched the win, and then USC won the men's and women's dual meet against UCLA on Saturday.

Tyler Honeycutt was at the Valley Sports Federation Battle of the Valley All-Star game at Cal State Northridge tonight but did not play. He was invited but declined. He already played in one all-star game and has another scheduled. Honeycutt went to watch Sylmar teammate and friend, Gary Ricks. Honeycutt will be on campus soon as he'll be taking two summer school classes.

Here's an interesting article for those - which includes everyone, I'm guessing - tired of waiting for a playoff in college football.

The UCLA Pilipino Alumni Association is honoring Raymond Townsend (UCLA, 1978) as its distinguished alumnus of the year. Townsend was a member of John Wooden's 1975 national championship team.
Here's more:

Here's the story I wrote for today's paper on Kevin Prince being named UCLA's starting quarterback.