May 2010 Archives

2010 Football single-game tickets are on sale Tuesday to the general public (excluding USC). Tickets start at just $19. The 2010 home schedule features five opponents who participated in bowl games last season (Stanford, Houston, Arizona, Oregon State and USC).

The rivalry game versus the Trojans on December 4th at the Rose Bowl is only available as part of a season ticket package.

To receive the best single-game seats, order online beginning Tuesday or call (310) UCLA-WIN!

For an updated 2010 UCLA Football schedule, click here.

Get the best seats in the house to all six home games, including USC, with a season ticket. To order a season ticket package, click here.

From UCLA:

LOS ANGELES - UCLA has earned the No. 6 national seed in the 2010 NCAA Baseball Tournament, marking the first time in school history that the Bruins have secured a national seed. Serving as the No. 1 seed in the NCAA Los Angeles Regional, the Bruins (43-13) open tournament play at Jackie Robinson Stadium on Friday, June 4.

UCLA will face No. 4-seed Kent State (39-23) on Friday after the Regional's opening game, featuring No. 2-seed Louisiana State (40-20) and No. 3-seed UC Irvine (37-19). Each of 16 NCAA Regionals features a four-team, double-elimination format.

Tenative game times for the Los Angeles Regional are slated for 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. If necessary, Monday's elimination contest will be played at 6 p.m. (tentative).

The winner of the NCAA Los Angeles Regional will advance to the Super Regionals and will face the winner of the NCAA Fullerton Regional on June 11-13 or June 12-14. The eight-team College World Series will be played at Rosenblatt Stadium in Omaha, Neb., from June 19-29/30.

The Bruins earned their 16th NCAA Tournament berth, and fourth in the last five seasons, as an at-large selection after finishing second in the Pac-10 Conference. UCLA totaled its most regular-season wins (43) in school history, and registered its highest Pac-10 finish since sharing a four-way Pac-10 title in 2000.

The Pac-10 Conference received eight berths to the NCAA Tournament, the highest-ever total for the conference.
Monday morning's NCAA Tournament bracket was revealed on ESPN during a 30-minute "Selection Show," beginning at 9:30 a.m.

UCLA opened its 2010 campaign with a school-record 22-0 start. Through the 56-game schedule, the Bruins won 10 of their 12 three-game weekend series, notching three-game sweeps of Nebraska, Oral Roberts, Cal Poly, Washington (road), USC and California (road).

Tickets to NCAA Regional games at Jackie Robinson Stadium will go on sale Tuesday at 10 a.m. Fans will be able to purchase tickets through UCLA's Central Ticket Office (310-825-2101) or online via Ticketmaster. Beginning Tuesday, fans may only purchase All-Session Reserved ($80 adult/$65 student) or All-Session General Admission ($55 adult/$40 student) packages.

Single-game tickets will not be available until Friday. Reserved single-game tickets will cost $15 for adults and $12 for students. General admission single-game tickets will cost $10 for adults and $8 for students.

From UCLA:

Softball won its Super Regional and has advanced to the Women's College World Series. They play Florida on Thursday on ESPN at 2:30 pm CT/12:30 pm PT..

Baseball has been selected to host a regional this weekend. We will know the other three times tomorrow.

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Hey guys,

It's my dad's 62nd birthday, and we're about to head out to lunch, but I had to wish him a happy birthday here, too.

For seven years, he read every word I wrote for my high school and college newspapers before they went to print, and he remains my best editor. More importantly, best friend. If you are in any way a fan of my writing - queue the boos - he's a major reason, if not the major reason. I've had a blessed career so far, and quite simply, I wouldn't have if not for him.

Love you pop, happy birthday, enjoy the pastrami and chopped liver on rye you're about to eat.

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Sorry for the delay on these, guys, it's been a crazy week. I'm on Lakers for the next couple weeks, but if the UCLA softball team advances to the CWS, I'll be sure to have a story.

Anyway, onto the answers...

Have you followed USC's major recruiting gains recently? Are you surprised by their success?
"Some of these kids...it's no knock on them, they might like USC more than they like UCLA. But a lot of kids nowadays don't want that challenge to be that guy who has to step up, to have to be the guy week in and week out. When you go to a school that's already established, you just go out and play. It's easy. You're not going through anything tough. Everyone can play. When you go to UCLA, you're rebuilding, and getting it together. That's what I respect. Guys who go to schools like an Arizona State and bring them up, go to Baylor, get them up. Maybe TCU, and make them better. Those are the guys you can respect. I don't like to knock kids, because they're young and doing what's best for them, but my big thing coming out of high school was turning somebody into a winner. I'd won so much in high school, I wanted to take what I learned there and bring it to a school that was on the verge of something great."

How do you think Rick Neuheisel's done in his time at UCLA?
Maurice Jones-Drew: "He's definitely bringing in a lot of good athletes from all over the country. They're not just focusing on the West coast. They're really going everywhere to grab kids and bring them over. They understand what it is to be a Bruin. He's breeding that winning way. He wants hard workers, not just guys who can play. He doesn't mind telling the guys if they're not doing it right."

What's the next step for Neuheisel and the program?
"What I really think he's done is built a foundation of players who want to play. That's all you need in college. You want players who want to play and want to be great. When I was coming out - I came from De La Salle, a winning program - and I could've gone to USC, I could've gone to Texas, I could've gone to Oklahoma. I wanted to go someplace where my legacy could be left. I went to the school at 6-6, when I left, we were 10-2. We went through the adversity, we built all these good things. That's what these kids are starting to understand: You become more of a man when you go somewhere that is not already established. You see who you are. When you have to go through that conditioning, when you lose 52-14 to Arizona when you're No. 8 in the country, these are things you deal with. It builds character, and I think that's what Coach Neuheisel is doing."

Talk about your status as an NFL running back now...
Maurice-Jones Drew: "My main thing now is just to do whatever it takes to win. The yards are cool and everything, but at the end of the day, I want to win a championship. That's the attitude going around. Individual things are going to happen when your team is successful. You're going to get all the accolades, everything you want. But you have to keep that team-first mentality. Winning has to be the goal."

How has your attitude on winning changed the last couple years?
MJD: "My attitude towards winning has changed a little bit. I dunno, I'm just a sore loser, man. I hate losing. That's what rubs people the wrong way. To me, the only thing that should matter is winning. You get into the NFL, you get money that comes in the way, family, guys have different attitudes. We clash a little bit. At the end of the day, I want to win. I could care less about anything else. The last year I won was really at UCLA."

Looks like it will be a battle between Arkansas and Auburn for Kiehl Frazier's services. The quarterback from Shiloh Christian in Arkansas - incredible website here - was very high on UCLA's list.

The Bruins will likely shift all their attention to Brett Hundley and Cody Kessler. Expect UCLA to try to pick up a second quarterback as well, in the Trevor Gretzky or Michael Bercovici mold.
Here's a link to the story: Two-way street

UCLA junior guard Malcolm Lee tore his right meniscus playing basketball on Sunday, and he will have have arthroscopic surgery next week to remove a portion of the meniscus (cartilage) in his right knee, head men's basketball coach Ben Howland announced on Thursday. Lee had an MRI on Wednesday, which revealed the extent of the injury.

Lee, who is expected to be out for four-to-six weeks, averaged 12.1 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a sophomore.

"Malcolm has been performing very well during our off-season workouts," Howland said. "We expect he will be better than ever following the surgery."

FROM UCLA:

Former UCLA and NFL football standout Randy Cross has been selected to the National Football Foundation College Football Hall of Fame, it was announced today. The 2010 class includes 12 players and two coaches from the Football Bowl Subdivision. Cross is the 13th Bruin to be selected for the NFF Hall of Fame. The list includes nine other players (Troy Aikman, 2008; Gary Beban, 1988; Kenny Easley, 1991; Tom Fears, 1976; Bill Kilmer, 1999; Donn Moomaw, 1973; Jerry Robinson, 1996; Al Sparlis, 1983; and Kenny Washington, 1956) and three coaches (Terry Donahue, 2000; Tommy Prothro, 1991; and Red Sanders, 1996).

UCLA has offered a full ride to Montclair Prep two-way lineman Stephan Nembot, a 6-8, 245-pound Cameroonian. Nembot is picking up a lot of steam in recruiting circles though he is a bit of a project. He said he was initially interested in UCLA because of the success of his countrymen, Alfred Aboya and Luc Mbah a Moute.

UCLA sophomore running back Milton Knox said on Wednesday night that he was transferring from the program.

Knox, who broke the city section record for rushing yards and touchdowns at Birmingham of Lake Balboa, denied rumors he was transferring after the season. After he found himself buried in the depth chart behind sophomore Johnathan Franklin and junior Derrick Coleman during and after UCLA's spring ball - and with two premier incoming freshman stars in Malcolm Jones and Jordon James - Knox saw the writing on the wall.

"I had dreams and aspirations of one day playing in the NFL," Knox said. "It's just a numbers game. There's nothing wrong with UCLA, I don't have any beef with the program. It's not like I'm mad at anyone. It's a business decision, man. Some of my family isn't happy with it. Some of them don't want me to leave, but right now I have to do what's best for me."

Knox gained 134 yards on 29 carries as a redshirt freshman last season in limited action, and was suspended along with three others for the team's Week 3 matchup against Kansas State.

Rumors of unhappiness with his role persisted throughout the season, but he looked particularly sour after the Bruins' spring game, when he had seven carries for 24 yards, compared to nine carries each for Franklin and Coleman.

"Some people I didn't get a fair shot, some people say I did," Knox said. "I can't really sit here up and say that I didn't get a fair shot. Things didn't work out the way I wanted them to. It's nothing against the coaches. Right now, they have to go where it feels right. Unfortunately, I got the short end of the stick."

Knox said his decision did not come easy, particularly given family health issues and the close proximity to home. Knox originally chose UCLA over Notre Dame, and though he hasn't spoken to other teams, he said he'd prefer to transfer to a Mountain West or Western Athletic Conference program so he can stay on the West coast.

"Yeah, it was a difficult decision," Knox said. "My father just had an amputation of his foot. He's a main reason why I came to UCLA. I really made a sacrifice for my family, and now I'd be doing a sacrifice for myself if I stayed. I don't want to say that I'm selfish, but at the same time I have to be. Hopefully, the school I go to, I'll be given the opportunity. Maybe I can fulfill my dreams somewhere else."

Despite his prospects at UCLA ending, Knox still maintains the confidence that made him one of the best players in City section history.

"Yeah. I'm still a big-time college football player," Knox said. "I can make plays. When the opportunity comes, I can still make plays. Some people think some players get old or diminish, deteriorate is the word they use. Football is in my blood. It runs through my veins. I can still make plays. I was able to make plays in spring, and I'm still able to make plays in the future. It's not like I'm not going to be working hard.
"I still have some football in me."

EXTRA QUOTES AFTER THE JUMP...

I've grown close to many of the Daily Bruin guys this year, and when one of them writes a story like this, I brim with pride. Matt Stevens absolutely crushed this story about Eric Calhoun, a blind UCLA and Southern California baseball fan. Please read this story and watch the video that follows. Amazing.

Biggest Fan

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Opening Statement: "I'm just so excited, so happy, just elated about both David and Travis Wear signing their scholarship letters to attend UCLA. No. 1 fantastic players who are just going to be better and better because of their work ethic and drive to be great. But they're equally great kids, young men who represent the ideals of UCLA."

What position do you project them at for the Bruins?
"They're forwards, both very capable of stepping out to shoot out on the perimeter. David has even show the ability to match up sometimes with the three. They've been very well coached - we're talking about four years in the Mater Dei program. They really know how to play, how to defend. They did a great job of teaching defense. They're very versatile, we'll be able to play them in a lot of ways."

Why the decision to come to UCLA now and not out of high school?
David: "I just feel like it's a great school with a great coach. I was looking for a school that was benefit me as a player, and as a student athlete. It wasn't so much (Howland's) pitch - originally I wanted to experience going away from home, playing for North Carolina, seeing what that was like. But seeing how much my family, my friends, my people support me, I missed that a lot. I miss being able to come home and see everyone."
Travis: "He basically summed it up right there - I was really intrigued with the idea of playing for North Carolina. I thought it was a great opportunity, but I did miss the support of our friends and our family out here. I did miss home."

What was the transfer process like? Tough to leave North Carolina?
David: "It was a great experience, no hard feelings at all - I made a lot of good friends there, I have a lot of respect for everyone back there. It was more a personal decision and a family decision than anything."

Frank Burlison of the Long Beach Press-Telegram has reported that the Wears have signed with UCLA, but I've been told it's not 100 percent in the books. It's going to happen by all accounts, but just hasn't been solidified.

Here's his link:
Wears headed to Westwood

Hey guys,

Fire away with questions for this week's Q&A. Please don't post new questions on the answers section, because I don't always check the comments. Save them for next week.

I'll finish off last week's leftover questions shortly...

Thanks
Jon

Should Garret Claypool ever decide to run for president, just go ahead and mark down your vote.
His Tuesdays, after all, have been pretty super.

UCLA's midweek matchups have been all-but-guaranteed with Claypool on the mound, as the El Camino Real of Woodland Hills product has become the Bruins' most consistent pitcher.

You seemed to have a bit of an edge in spring ball compared to last season. Getting a little cocky?
Kevin Prince: "It's not cockiness, it's more of just a self-confidence after going through a season and playing a significant amount. Going into last season, there were those doubts. I hadn't played for two years, it was my first time in a division one college situation. Now, knowing I can do it, knowing I can practice, knowing I can work hard, it brings a lot of self-confidence. I expect myself to do a lot better than last year. I don't expect to be the greatest in the nation, but one of my goals is to be one of the top QBs in the Pac-10, if not the top QB in the conference."

Do you feel the pressure to deliver - and deliver big - in year three?
KP: "Any new coaching staff, the third year is the one. We've improved so far - not drastically - but this third year is the make-or-break year. Being the third-year for coach Neuheisel and Coach Chow, I think it really will be a big season for us. We can't take any steps backward. We have to go forward, and it can't just be a little bit."

Hey guys, sorry I didn't give a head's up first: I've been on Tour of California duty for the last several days.

I was, however, at the NFL Rookie Premiere Photo Shoot this morning, and got a chance to visit with Maurice Jones-Drew for an extended period. I'll have the interview up Monday morning, along with my chat with Kevin Prince.

Here are links to a few of my Amgen stories:

Stage Six preview

Lance Armstrong story

Stage Six feature

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It seems that many UCLA fans have forgotten about Rick Neuheisel's skills as a recruiter and are panicking about all these USC commitments. Are you one of them?

Portland forward Terrence Jones, who verbally committed to Washington recently but never signed his LOI, has flipped to Kentucky. In other news, Bruin fans breathe a little easier. He would have been a monster in the Pac-10.

Crenshaw star DeAnthony Thomas wrote on his Facebook page earlier tonight that he was choosing USC. Mamba will join a talented class of early commits for the Trojans, including Mater Dei quarterback Max Wittek and wide receiver Victor Blackwell and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) defensive lineman Jalen Grimble.

I've left a message for him, and I'll try to talk with him in the next couple days.

(UPDATE): Just talked briefly with Mamba, and he confirmed. We're talking in depth tomorrow.

From UCLA:

Three members of the 2010 UCLA football team have been named first-team All-Americans by Phil Steele's College Football Preview. In addition, 10 Bruins were named to the magazines various All-Pac-10 teams.

Senior place kicker Kai Forbath, junior free safety Rahim Moore and junior outside linebacker Akeem Ayers were all selected to the publication's first team.

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Norm Chow was named Sporting News' third-ranked offensive coordinator in college football. Check out the story here: Chow

With Mater Dei's Victor Blackwell verbally committing to USC over the weekend, UCLA's recruiting focus will likely shift to Devon Blackmon and Devin Lucien, at least in-state. The more I see of Lucien, who was heavily hyped by Scout.com's Brandon Huffman in our most recent conversation, the more I like. Looks like a big, tough kid.

UCLA does have offers out to seven more out-of-state wideouts, including Kasen Williams out of Skyline in Washington, but Rick Neuheisel hasn't had any luck with out-of-state WR recruits so far.

This is off-topic, but I don't care.

One of the best guys I've ever met is the co-writer on a new CD by former American Idol semifinalist Sway Penala, and if I can help them sell even one extra song, I'll be happy. Matt Jennings is the co-author on the CD, my former SDSU RA, and I would go door-to-door selling this if I could. If you have any interest in good music, this is worth a listen: Someone Like You

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Hey guys,

Fire away with questions for this week's Q&A. Please don't post new questions on the answers section, because I don't always check the comments. Save them for next week.

I'll finish off last week's leftover questions shortly...

Thanks
Jon

From UCLA:

UCLA head coach Rick Neuheisel, former UCLA All-America safety and two-time Super Bowl champion James Washington and the members of the Bruin coaching staff will be holding a free football clinic at Los Angeles Southwest College on Saturday, May 29. The clinic will be held in the football stadium.

Sponsored by Washington's "Shelter 37" Foundation, "Back to the Basics" is a free one-day football boot camp for youth from grades five through eight(as of Fall '10).

Enrollment is limited to 500. Campers will learn skills and drills from Neuheisel, the Bruin staff and Washington and will also receive a free T-shirt and a free box lunch.

Registration begins at 8:30 am and instruction is from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. Coach Neuheisel will address the campers at the end of the session and lunch will follow.

For more information and to register, go to www.shelter37.com or call Jolie Oliver at 310/206-6637. Los Angeles Southwest College is located at 1600 West Imperial Highway.

Hey guys,

Now, I come to you for help. I saw a Bruins Nation post from a UCLA grad about his father-in-law, a Japanese-American, receiving an honorary UCLA degree because his internment in the Manzanar Camp derailed his education. (Here's a link, by the way: ). Unfortunately, I saw the post after the fact.

Here's where you come in:

I live to tell that kind of story - and this Kermit Alexander story by my boy Tom Friend that absolutely floored me - but I don't always hear about it. I'm not saying flood my inbox if a former Bruin throws a touchdown or goes 2-3 with a jack. But really, I'd rather get a thousand emails for one good story than none at all.

My email is jon.gold@dailynews.com, and don't be shy. I'm genuinely upset I missed out on this story, and I don't want it to happen again.

Thanks for the help.
JG

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PS, sorry for the delay, two more weddings this weekend. At this point, I might as well be a DJ.

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From UCLA:

Eight outstanding Bruins who have excelled as student-athletes, coaches or administrators will be inducted into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday night, October 1, it was announced today.
Invitation-only ceremonies will be held in the Athletics Hall of Fame, located in the J.D. Morgan Intercollegiate Athletics Center, and in Covel Commons. In addition, the new inductees will also be introduced during halftime of the October 2 UCLA-Washington State football game at the Rose Bowl.
The UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame was dedicated in 1984 with 25 charter members. The Class of 2010 brings the total membership to 239. The 2010 inductees are David Ashleigh, men's water polo; Andy Banachowski, women's volleyball coach; Judith Holland, administration; Mebrahtom Keflezighi, men's track & field; Valorie Kondos Field, women's gymnastics coach; Seilala Sua, women's track & field; Chase Utley, baseball; and Catherine Von Schwarz, women's water polo.

To read the entire release, go to: LINK

Hey guys,

I'm doing a big story for the Amgen Tour of California - driving the new route from Palmdale to Big Bear - and I'll be out of commission on here the rest of the day. For any breaking news, check out my twitter page, and the Inside UCLA Facebook Fan Page.

UCLA is in a precarious position right now, with several contributing factors making this class a very important one. First, USC's recruiting efforts have not slowed - and actually seem to have increased - under the new regime, making the in-state battles all the more difficult. Second, the retirement of Nik Abele due to injury causes even more need on the line, which was already a position of need. Third, UCLA could only have around 14-17 scholarships to hand out.

(This is part two, on the defense. For the offensive portion, click here.

FROM UCLA:

UCLA senior place kicker Kai Forbath and junior free safety Rahim Moore have been named first-team pre-season All-Americans by Lindy's Football Preview.

Forbath, the Lou Groza Award winner and consensus All-America place kicker in 2009, led the nation in field goals per game (2.15) last season, making 28 of 31 attempts, including all 25 tries inside 50 yards.

Moore, who has started all 25 games of his Bruin career, led the nation with 10 interceptions a year ago, one shy of the UCLA school record. His 10 interceptions were the most by a player in the NCAA's Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division IA) since 2003.

UCLA was the only Pac-10 school to have two first-team selections while Oregon State had one. UCLA was one of just five schools nationally to have two first-team selections, with Georgia, Nebraska, Notre Dame and Pittsburgh being the others.

PS - I did a lengthy feature on Rahim for Lindy's college football preview; can't post it here yet, but will when I can.

What was your first memory of Pauley Pavilion?
"It was unbelievable for me. The history of this place, growing up and watching it on TV, always being a fan - the first time you come, it looks so big, everything is so big. You're like, 'This is where I want to be.' That's your first impression."

What's your best Pauley Pavilion memory?
"Best memory? The ceremony after we won the national championship. Just putting the banner up, the whole ceremony, it being my senior year. To end my career on that type of note was definitely my highlight."

Do you have any special spot in Pauley Pavilion?
"I guess it would be the locker room, but that's for everybody. You spend so much time there. It becomes a meeting place, the hangout spot. I didn't have a special spot except the locker room."

Will it be a factor in recruiting?
"It will be a huge factor in recruiting. That's what appeals to the younger people. Everything around is modern, that's the generation they're in. There are certain things that recruits expect to see, and I think an up-to-date, nice, modern arena with a lot of the conveniences that a lot of other arenas have puts them right there. But the ability to keep Pauley still Pauley is huge."

The Wear twins, David and Travis, have been released from their scholarships at North Carolina and are free to transfer. It has been reported the Wears will attend UCLA, but I've been told that it's not 100 percent yet. As of now, I expect it to happen, and will report it as a done deal when I get confirmation.

As the caretaker of UCLA basketball, was it more important to you to renovate rather than replace Pauley Pavilion?
Ben Howland: "That was a no-brainer. We wanted to keep the history and tradition intact so you could feel that. That's something that was very sensitively addressed. It's going to be so exciting when it's complete. It's going to be a lot of work, and it will be tough the year we're out of the building, but long-term, big-picture, it's great."

Dan Guerrero said that he didn't come to UCLA expecting to be the one who decided to move forward with the renovation, and that it just happened under his watch; do you feel the same way, or did you expect or want to see this come to fruition?
BH: "I felt like this would be something that would happen when I was here, just because of the age of the building. There are a lot of things they're doing that are necessary just because of the plumbing and engineering. All that stuff would have to be redone at some point. This is not a surprise to me."

How will this affect recruiting?
"It's really going to help our recruiting efforts in the future, when you look at the kids coming back in here to see what's being done. It's going to be very exciting for any young man and his parents to see the new venue. How fun it will be to practice in here every day and be a part of this."

After a joint media session with Dan Guerrero, I caught up with him for a few minutes, and here's what he said...

FROM UCLA:

Seven UCLA football games have been selected early for television, it was announced today. ESPN has selected three games while ABC and Fox Sports Net have chosen two each.

ABC has chosen two games as part of its Big 12 agreement. The Bruins will open the 2010 season at Kansas State on Sept. 4 and ABC will televise that game at 2:30 pm CT/12:30 pm PT. On Sept. 25, the Bruins travel to Austin to face Texas and ABC will televise that contest at a time to be determined 12 days prior to the game.

On Sept. 11, the Bruins host Stanford in the home and Pac-10 Conference opener at the Rose Bowl. ESPN will televise the game nationally, beginning at 7:30 pm.

UCLA is in a precarious position right now, with several contributing factors making this class a very important one. First, USC's recruiting efforts have not slowed - and actually seem to have increased - under the new regime, making the in-state battles all the more difficult. Second, the retirement of Nik Abele due to injury causes even more need on the line, which was already a position of need. Third, UCLA could only have around 14-17 scholarships to hand out.

Hey guys,

Fire away with questions for this week's Q&A. Please don't post new questions on the answers section, because I don't always check the comments. Save them for next week.

Thanks
Jon

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UCLA freshman offense tackle Nik Abele is retiring from football competition due to medical issues related to his neck, Rick Neuheisel announced today. Because he is retiring for medical reasons, his scholarship will not count against team limits.

"Nik is devastated that he can no longer play football, but his long-term future is more important," said Neuheisel. "Nik is a great young man and we want him to remain involved with our program, both on and off the field, and continue to go to school to earn his degree."

From UCLA:

UCLA head coach Ben Howland announced today the signing of Matt Carlino to a National Letter of Intent to attend UCLA in the fall of 2010.

Carlino, a 6-foot-2-inch, 175-pound guard out of Scottsdale, Ariz., (Bloomington South HS, Bloomington, Ind.), will graduate a year early from high school and enroll at UCLA this summer.

Carlino joins Lazeric Jones, a 6-foot-2-inch, 195-pound guard out of Chicago, Ill., (John A. Logan College in Carterville, Ill.) in the late signing class and joins the early signing class, which consisted of Tyler Lamb, a 6-foot-4-inch, 195-pound guard out of Santa Ana, Calif., and Mater Dei High School and Josh Smith, a 6-foot-10-inch, 280-pound center from Kent, Wash., and Kentwood High School.

"I'm really excited about Matt Carlino joining our basketball program and family," Howland said. "He is an outstanding shooter, a very good passer, a good athlete and an outstanding kid. I look for him to make an immediate impact and be a very good player for us. I think he is an outstanding addition to our team."

Carlino averaged 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while leading Bloomington South HS to a 23-1 overall record as a junior in 2009-10. The Panthers won the Conference Indiana title with a 7-0 mark. BSHS lost to Jeffersonville 58-56 in the 4A State Regional Finals this past season and was ranked as the No. 1 team in the state for most of the season. Carlino was named to the Indiana Junior All-Star Team and to the All-Conference Indiana Team in 2009-10.

He compiled a 76-11 (.874) overall record during his prep career, which has included starting all three years for a No. 1 ranked team in the state. He played his first two seasons at Highland High School in Gilbert, Ariz., where he was coached by his father, Mark Carlino.

While starting his first two years at point guard, he led the Highland Hawks to a 29-4 mark in 2008-09 (sophomore season) and a 24-6 record in 2007-08 (freshman campaign). As a sophomore, he averaged 19.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 2.7 steals per game while being named first team All-State and the Fiesta Region Player of the Year, as well as the East Valley Player of the Year. HHS lost in the state finals 70-62 to St. Mary's High School (Phoenix). As a freshman, he averaged 16.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He was named first team All-Fiesta Region and second team All-State in 2007-08.

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I've been off this week, but I decided to tackle a bunch of the questions that you submitted, and I'll roll them out throughout the day.

Here's the first batch:

Frank Burlsion of our sister paper, the Long Beach Press Telegram, was the first to report thattwins David and Travis Wear are leaving North Carolina. No indication on where they are transferring yet.

Here's a Q&A with Dan Guerrero on the Pauley Pavilion renovation.

Here's a column on Ross Bjork, who left UCLA to become athletic director at Western Kentucky. He might have to start wearing sunglasses.

Happy cinco de mayo.
I and others will keep an eye on the blog while Jon Gold is taking a much-needed week off. Thanks for your patience!

Just passing along football ticket info. Mini-plans are on sale.

UCLA's Logan Paulsen and Trevor Theriot were named to the National Football Foundation 2010 Hampshire Honor Society Membership, which honors players who are in their final year of eligibility and have at least a 3.2 GPA.
Here's the release:

From UCLA:

The Groundbreaking Celebration for Pauley Pavilion's transformation is just over one week away.

The event is scheduled for Tuesday, May 11 on the East exterior concourse of Pauley and Bruin fans, alumni and students are invited to attend. Athletic donors and football and basketball season ticket holders received email invitations over a week ago.

Pre-ceremony festivities are scheduled to begin at 12:30 pm and include performances by the UCLA Band and Spirit Squad.

The ceremony will begin at 1:00 pm with Chuck White, the voice of Pauley Pavilion, welcoming everyone and introducing the ceremony participants.

The scheduled speakers include Chancellor Gene Block and Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs Janina Montero, who will speak about Pauley's importance to the campus and the student body as a multi-purpose student facility.

Gymnast Anna Li, a member of the 2010 NCAA champion UCLA women's gymnastics team, will represent students and student-athletes who have the opportunity to participate in different competitions in Pauley. Athleitc Director Dan Guerrero will speak about the new for the Pauley transformation and contributing to the Campaign of Champions. Matt Pauley, Vice-Chair of the Campaign of Champions, will speak about the project and the vision of his grandfather, Edwin W. Pauley, who made the lead gift when Pauley Pavilion was constructed.

The five speakers will then put shovels in the ground to symbolize the beginning of the exterior construction.

Men's head basketball coach Ben Howland, women's gymnastics coach Valorie Kondos Field, men's head volleyball coach Al Scates and new women's volleyball coach Mike Sealy are also scheduled to be in attendance and participate in the groundbreaking. Head women's basketball coach Nikki Caldwell will be out of state on her 'Cruisin for a Cause' motorcycle ride to raise money for breast cancer research.

In addition, student-athletes from several of the teams that play in Pauley are expected to be in attendance, as are alumni student-athletes such as Michael Warren, a member of the Campaign of Champions committee, and Tyus Edney, hero of the 1995 NCAA second-round game versus Missouri.

Pauley Pavilion will remain in operation through March of 2011. During that time, construction will take place on the new concourse around the building as well as the North Lobby. Work on the interior seating bowl will not begin until after the 2010-11 basketball season. The bowl is scheduled to be ready for the 2012-13 basketball season.

Hey guys,

Fire away with questions for this week's Q&A. Please don't post new questions on the answers section, because I don't always check the comments. Save them for next week.

Also, I'm taking the week off besides the Weekly Answers and the Rites (and wrongs) of Spring, which I'll resume sometime this week. If anything too important breaks, I'll try to chime in, but for the most part, I'm out. Find me on facebookor twitter.

Thanks
Jon

Sorry, I thought I posted this earlier, but anyway....via UCLA:

UCLA junior linebacker Akeem Ayers was named to the preliminary watch list for the 2010 Rotary Lombardi Award on Thursday. Ayers started all 13 games last season at strongside linebacker and tied a school record with two interception returns for touchdowns. He scored a third touchdown, a year ago, on a fumble return. Ayers was second on the team in both sacks (6.0) and tackles for loss (14.5).

Eligibility for the Rotary Lombardi Award is limited to down linemen, end-to-end, either on offense or defense, who set up no farther than 10 yards to the left or right of the ball, or linebackers who set up no farther than five yards deep from the line of scrimmage. The candidates earned a place on the preliminary watch list by earning All-American honors or by being named to their respective all-conference first team as selected by the coaches.

The Rotary Lombardi committee is comprised of more than 500 members, including all past winners and finalists, all Division 1-A head coaches and a panel of sportswriters and broadcasters. Last year's winner was Ndamukong Suh from Nebraska.

The 41st Rotary Lombardi Award presentation will be held on December 7-8, 2010 at the George R. Brown Convention Center in Houston, TX. For more information on the award visit the website at www.rotarylombardiaward.org.

Ayers and the Bruins return to action this season on Sept. 4 at Kansas State.

First the bad: Jalen Grimble, the Bishop Gorman defensive end, has verbally committed to USC. I thought UCLA had a really good shot at him, but clearly the signing of his cousin Xavier ('09 No. 1 TE) had an influence. I've learned not to count Neuheisel out on anything, though.

Now the good: I was told by a close friend of Darius Bell that he will be at UCLA after he graduates in June, "if" he graduates in June. Scout.com's Brandon Huffman is reporting the same thing. The big news, though, is that Bell's arrival could have something to do with the increased role of the Revolver offense.