NBA combine roundup: Zach LaVine wows with athleticism

To understand just how well Zach LaVine did at this week’s NBA Draft Combine, take a look at these numbers: first, second, eighth, fourth, third.

That’s what he placed in strength and agility drills among 59 participants, doing so with — respectively — a 10.42-second lane agility drill, a 2.8-second shuttle run, a 3.19-second three-quarter sprint, a 33.5-inch standing vertical, and a 41.5-inch max vertical. No one else placed top-10 in all five.

The NBA combine doesn’t usually move draft stock as much as the NFL’s does, so top prospects often sit out of drills. Andrew Wiggins, Jabari Parker and Joel Embiid all sat out completely this year, not even traveling to Chicago for interviews and measurements.

That said, this is exactly the type of environment LaVine was going to use to his advantage. Continue reading “NBA combine roundup: Zach LaVine wows with athleticism” »

Kyle Anderson named UCLA’s most valuable player at team banquet

This was a no-brainer.

After leading UCLA to its first Sweet Sixteen since 2008, point guard Kyle Anderson was named the team’s MVP during Monday night’s year-end banquet at the Beverly Hilton. After averaging 14.6 points, 8.8 rebounds and 6.5 assists — leading the Bruins in the latter two — the third-team AP All-American is headed to the NBA along with former teammates Jordan Adams and Zach LaVine.

Adams, who led UCLA with 17.4 points per game, won the J.D. Morgan Memorial Award for outstanding “team” player. Continue reading “Kyle Anderson named UCLA’s most valuable player at team banquet” »

Kyle Anderson, Zach LaVine officially declare for the NBA draft

Guards Kyle Anderson and Zach LaVine have officially declared for the NBA draft, UCLA announced today.

Anderson’s father, Kyle Sr., told numerous outlets at various points in before, during and after the Bruins’ Sweet Sixteen run that his son was bound for the pros after his sophomore season. LaVine’s decision was reported last month.

“My two years at UCLA were two of the best years of my life,” Anderson said in a statement. “It was a tough decision to make with my family since our last game, but I have decided to enter my name into the NBA Draft. I will still continue to embrace the UCLA community, and I hope they will do the same with me.”

The school did not release any information regarding leading scorer Jordan Adams, who led the team with 17.4 points last season. The 6-foot-5 wing is still considering going pro, and has until the NBA early entry deadline on April 27 to make a decision. Continue reading “Kyle Anderson, Zach LaVine officially declare for the NBA draft” »

Kyle Anderson talks about highlight dunk in UCLA’s win over Oregon

Point guard Kyle Anderson keyed UCLA’s Pac-12 quarterfinal win with what may have been his most athletic play ever: a thunderous dunk over Oregon’s Richard Amardi.

The sophomore said before that point, he felt has if he “didn’t have an effect on the game at all.” The slam gave the Bruins a 37-35 lead going into halftime of the 82-63 win. UCLA then opened the second half with an 18-4 run.

Hardly known for his athleticism, the player known as “Slo Mo” was asked if he’d ever dunked like that in his life: “Nah, not like that. That was pretty nasty.”

UCLA blows out Oregon in Pac-12 quarterfinal

LAS VEGAS — UCLA’s high-flying offense is back.

A week after shooting 33.3 percent in an ugly loss at Washington State to end the regular season, the Bruins couldn’t miss in a 82-63 blowout of Oregon.

In what was arguably the most highly anticipated of the Pac-12 Tournament’s second day, UCLA turned a quarterfinal matchup into its own personal billboard. Continue reading “UCLA blows out Oregon in Pac-12 quarterfinal” »