VIDEO: Jonah Bolden practices with UCLA after being cleared

Jonah Bolden practiced for the first time in front of Los Angeles media on Tuesday, providing a glimpse at the type of player that could have changed the arc of UCLA’s season.

A four-star recruit, the 6-foot-10 wing was ruled ineligible to play this season, but this week the NCAA cleared him to begin practicing. Bolden said that he had been able to get individual training with assistant coach with Ed Schilling over the past few months. He described those as being tailored for his frame and body type, name-dropping Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo as a pro comparison.

Added head coach Steve Alford: “He’s a big guard, or he can play a stretch four and really do a lot of things helping both bigs and guards.”

UCLA basketball schedules December game against Kentucky

Even before UCLA’s season began, Steve Alford has insisted that he wants to schedule tough, marquee opponents going forward — something he had little control over his first season.

“I’ve never been somebody that’s hid from opponents,” Alford said more than three months ago.

After squeezing in a game against Duke last winter, he continues backing that up. According to the Columbus Dispatch, the Bruins will face Kentucky in December at the United Center in Chicago. Continue reading “UCLA basketball schedules December game against Kentucky” »

Bruins still waiting on eligibility of Hamilton, Bail

Assistant coach Ed Schilling started UCLA’s Monday practice with a skill-work session, focusing on dribbling and passing. Some players couldn’t dribble two balls at quite the rhythm and pace asked of them, so it’s a good sign the staff is spending time building these skills.

Some notes:

— The eligibility of forward Wanaah Bail and guard Isaac Hamilton are still undetermined. Coach Steve Alford said the NCAA could issue a decision on Bail very soon, but Hamilton’s appeal was submitted very recently. Continue reading “Bruins still waiting on eligibility of Hamilton, Bail” »

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. Continue reading “Four-star forward Trevon Bluiett becomes UCLA’s first 2014 commitment” »

Prospect watch: 2014 forward Trevon Bluiett

Trevon Bluiett, 6-5, 185
Park Tudor | Spiece Indy Heat/Indiana Elite
Scout: Four stars | Rivals: Four stars

Trevon Bluiett is a skilled swingman who boasts a diverse offensive game. He played for UCLA assistant Ed Schilling when the coach worked at Indianapolis’ Park Tudor School, and won the state championship game MVP as both a freshman and a sophomore. That feat becomes even more notable once you consider that he played with Indiana’s Yogi Ferrell during that first title run. Continue reading “Prospect watch: 2014 forward Trevon Bluiett” »