Four-star foward Jonah Bolden cleared to practice with UCLA

Talented true freshman Jonah Bolden has been cleared to practice with the UCLA men’s basketball team, giving the Bruins a bit of help as they try to shake off seven losses in their last 10 games.

A four-star small forward, Bolden will remain ineligible to compete in games this season. The NCAA had ruled the 6-foot-9 recruit a partial qualifier back in September, with the troubles rooted in his transfer from Australia to Findlay Prep in Las Vegas.

Steve Alford admitted in October that the Bruins recruited Bolden with the knowledge he only had a “50/50” chance to qualify with a waiver. The second-year head coach said last week that the NCAA could soon allow the forward to practice.

“He’s done everything he was supposed to do,” Alford said last Tuesday. “We’re hopeful that we’re going to get good news here anytime. But we’re really waiting on the NCAA to be able to see everything, and hopefully he’ll be cleared to practice.”

UCLA is currently on track to miss the NCAA Tournament for the third time in six years. The team broke out of a five-game losing streak with wins in Los Angeles over Stanford, Cal and USC, but — after losing center Tony Parker to back spasms — dropped double-digit losses at Oregon State and Oregon.