UCLA Hoops Recruiting Reset w/ Scout.com's Evan Daniels

Jon Gold: To recruits, do they view UCLA on a team on the downswing or was last year a one-year aberration?
Evan Daniels, Scout.com: "I think it's probably a one-year aberration. UCLA went to three straight Final Fours, lost guys from those teams, and I don't think people really realize how many guys they lost. In the long run, UCLA is going to be fine. They obviously had a down year for UCLA standards, but they're back on the grind, back recruiting well."

JG: Are the recruiting whiffs in 2010 a reflection of poor judgment or the perception changing?
"I don't think that's an issue. This 2010 was a different class in general. Ray McCallum was going to play for his dad, Trey Zeigler wanted to play for his dad. That is not stuff that happens year in, year out. They still managed a great class, Josh Smith, Tyler Lamb both in our top 100. Matt Carlino coming a year early, and he'll have to fill a role. With Smith and Lamb, they're getting two quality recruits, and if Josh Smith gets in shape, he's as talented as any in the country. But there's an asterisk to go with that. He hasn't been in shape in two years. He's going to have to bear down and get after it."

JG: Should UCLA take a multi-year approach to getting back on top of the Pac-10, or should they go for it now, seeing as how the conference is so down?
ED: "I don't think any year you want to say you're going to have a down year. They're going to recruit as hard as they can and try to get back as quickly as possible. That's the smart way to go about it. They're bringing in a few pretty good prospects. Now they have to target some 2011 who fit their needs. They had some recruiting misses - Drew Gordon, J'Mison Morgan - the amount of attrition has really been what's hurt them. Jerime Anderson was expected to be really, really good, and unfortunately, he's just been OK. It's more of missing on a few guys - that's what hurt them."

JG: Is the talent level in California really that down?
ED: "This past year, there wasn't a California guy in the McDonald's All-American game. I can't remember the last time that happened. The 2011 is better than 2010 as far as California goes. Pelle is in our top-10 power forwards, Kevin Johnson is in our top-12 centers. Norman Powell is top-100, so is Josiah Turner and Amir Garrett is close to the top-100. It's better, but it's still not where it has been in the past. From what I understand, most West Coast experts think the 2013 class is the one that will bring it back. Part of the reason UCLA got so good was they mined a lot of talent in the state; once that dries up, it's a little harder."

JG: Is there one guy UCLA "needs" next year?
ED: "I think at this point they just need a good quality point guard. They need to go find a guy who can fit their system and their style. I wouldn't say they've gotten to a point where they say, "Hey, we have to have this guy.' Eventually, we'll say they need this guy, but it's still pretty early. Amir Garrett is a guy in Cali that's really come on. He's a guy who in the summer I think will really pick up. Arizona offered him last weekend. He's a guy that maybe UCLA is not on now, but they say 'Hey, kinda need to take a peek at this guy."