Four-star forward Trevon Bluiett becomes UCLA’s first 2014 commitment

Steve Alford has finally landed his first commitment as UCLA’s head coach.

It’s a good one too, even if it doesn’t fill the team’s most pressing needs. Four-star forward Trevon Bluiett announced his decision to attend UCLA on Twitter today, giving the Bruins a polished wing with great shooting range and impressive passing instincts. Assistant coach Ed Schilling, who once coached Bluiett at Indianapolis’ Park Tudor High, took the lead role in his recruitment.

He took his official visit to Westwood this past weekend, accompanied four-star point guard Quentin Snider, an ex-Louisville commit.

Ranked the No. 46 prospect in the country by Rivals.com, Bluiett also fielded offers from such schools as Michigan, Butler, Indiana, Xavier, Notre Dame and Purdue. The two-time Indiana state championship MVP has worked with Schilling since the sixth grade, and the coach’s presence at UCLA was a major reason he considered moving over 2,000 miles away from home.

His addition to the 2014 class shores up the Bruins for some likely losses. Rising sophomore Kyle Anderson averaged 9.7 points, 8.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a freshman, and is expected to leave for the NBA after the upcoming season. Returning lead scorer Jordan Adams could also elect to go pro early.

*A Q&A with Trevon Bluiett from July, along with a quick scouting report.