Weekly Answers, Pt. 1
1) There are claims that other schools are telling recruits not to go to UCLA because the style of play of Coach Howland. Do you think Coach is aware of this and will he make any changes to the style of play? - Anonymous
College basketball recruiters will do whatever it takes to get an impact player. If that means criticizing Howland's offense, they'll do that. Yes, he's aware of it. No, he won't change, unless he thinks it will mean more wins. He doesn't.
2) Originally I thought Kirifi Taula (DT from Servite) was heavily leaning towards UCLA. However, ESPN reported that he might be looking elsewhere. Considering our DT issues next season (especially if Brian Price leaves), which other DT prospects is UCLA looking at for this year's recruiting class? - bruwin5931
UCLA is looking hard at George Uko, Ricky Heimuli and Sealii Epenesa, with Heimuli looking like the most likely of the three to end up a Bruin.
3) Do you have any idea when the "big time" FB recruit you mentioned on your website will be announced? - Sunset Bruin
From what I've heard, he hasn't committed yet. All I know is a source said the Bruins were getting "close" and that was a couple days ago.
4) Kirifi Taula (DT from Servite) said on ESPN that UCLA had slowed down on him. Do you think there is someone who monitors what the recruits are quoted as saying? (i.e. we didn't mean to slow down on him and we still really want him) - UCLAVES
I would not be surprised if every single word written about the Bruins is read by at least one person within the department, but in Taula's case, UCLA had slowed down.
5) Jon, just as a suggestion...Though I want to know the inside scoops just as much as anyone, I think it best to hold off on the "possibilities" scenario and wait until future recruits indicate their committments themselves. Why risk jinxing a good thing? Has anyone else noticed how recruits these days seem to be not only more informed, but also more sensitive to outside influences? It has always been my understanding that when a recruit gives a silent committment only to have that school leak it out, that commit may look elsewhere due to lack of trust. What do you think? - RC3UCLA
If a kid is going to change his college decision based on what's written on a newspaper blog or internet message board, the kid's got bigger issues to deal with. I get information from dozens of different sources - from the team, from the high school teams, from the coaches, from the players, from the parents, from the teammates - so I find it hard to believe that a kid would get upset if something leaked.
6) If we get Pullard and Barr...can you please tell me your 2 Deep at both outside LB's and MLB? Any chance we go 3-4 next year if Price leaves and we don't get any bigtime DT's to sign with us? - Anonymous
My two deep: OLB Ayers (Pullard), ILB Sloan (Westgate) and OLB Larimore (Carter, if he doesn't end up staying at DT). I don't think there's going to be a massive shift to a 3-4.
7) Any uni changes for next year? - anonymous
Apparently they're looking at darker blue for the road jerseys.
8) Do we have any shot with Woods from Serra or is he 100% USC? Are we even still trying for him? - anonymous
Last I heard, he was still a full-go at USC and all talk has been just rumors. Maybe with the latest allegations, UCLA can creep up, but I doubt it.
9) After watching the CIF Bowl games...did you see any other kids that might deserve a 2nd look from UCLA? - Anonymous
I only watched a couple CIF games, but the one kid I liked most was Nelson Spruce from Westlake. Big, athletic wide receiver who works in traffic. Liked the kid a lot. And this is coming from a Thousand Oaks, guy, so it takes a lot for me to like someone from Westlake.
10) Where will Marquis Flowers and Dietrich Riley commit? - Anonymous
I think Flowers ends up at USC or Arizona and Riley at USC or Tennessee.
Taula just committed to AZ according to espn.
let's hope they don't change a thing about our colors...
I have a good friend that is the offensive coordinator at Marquis Flowers HS and he told me about a month ago that he wanted to stay in state (ASU or UofA). This was about a month ago though.
The "big time" recruit is Odighizuwa. He will commit (to UCLA) before the year is up.
damn i actually like the current road jerseys :(
Are we talking major changes or going back to the darker blue of a few years ago?
taula looked soft anyways
Re the big commit coming our way, trust me, it's Owa.
We didn't soften on Taula, his grades and SAT scores did. They make the cut.
UCLA blew it by not getting Taula. From what I hear he does have the grades and SAT scores to go to UCLA. ucla recuiters got caught in lie so he chose not to go there.
Any word on Anthony Jefferson of LA Cathedral? He was the only high school corner who came close to checking Robert Woods.