Bruins Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: Cal RB Jahvid Best Seriously Injured, Carted Off Field

Howland signs Russell Westbrook

Howland continues building the fence around SoCal:

Russell Westbrook, 6-3, 180-pound shooting guard from Leuzinger HS (Lawndale, CA), has signed a National-Letter-of-Intent to play basketball at UCLA, Bruin head coach Ben Howland announced Friday. Westbrook will be an incoming freshman next fall.

As a senior this season at Leuzinger, Westbrook led the Olympians to a 25-4 overall record and advanced to the quarterfinals of the CIF Div. IAA. Westbrook averaged 25.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, 3.1 steals and 2.3 assists. He connected on 57 three-pointers and shot .760 from the foul line.

"I'm very excited about Russell Westbrook's decision to join the UCLA family," Howland said. "He's an outstanding basketball player who is an equally impressive young man. I think he's going to be able to come in and compete and help us win basketball games immediately."

A first-team All-CIF performer, Westbrook was third-team All-State and a two-time All-Bay League MVP. Scout.com rates Westbrook as the No. 2 shooting guard in the West and as one of the Top 25 shooting guards in the nation. He was also a first-team Daily Breeze selection and the Wave Newspapers named him the Player of the Year.

[snip]

Westbrook is UCLA's third NLI signee, joining - McDonald's and Parade Magazine All-American 6-8 220-pound forward James Keefe (Rancho Santa Margarita HS) and 6-9, 225-pound post player Marko Spica, from Belgrade Serbia and Montenegro.

With Farmar and AA declaring, there is room for another guard.  I'm thinking only Farmar will leave, and AA will return.

I sure am glad we have DC.  Shipp returns, Keefe will be a real player, Spica will help in the paint, and Mata, Luc and Aboya should all improve with more time in the weight room and more time under Ben's tutelage.

Anyone who knows more about Westbrook, please chime in.  He sounds like a good signing.

0 recs  |  Comment 5 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

SO, in BH's 3rd year...
... we lose:

-- a 6-6 defender/ ballhandler with limited offensive production at the 1/2/3 positions,

-- a 6-11 leaper/ rebounder/ shotblocker at the 4-5 positions,

-- a 7-0 center with limited playing time,

-- a 6-4 scoring guard with even less PT, AND

-- POSSIBLY, a 6-2, all-Pac-10 PG.

To reload/ replenish, BH signs:

-- a 6-8, McD All-American at the 3/4 positions,

-- a 6-9, Euro-sleeper (sorry) for the 4/5 spots,

-- a 6-2, All-CIF combo guard with surprising rebounding stats, AND

-- a 6-1, apparently solid, AND academically succesful, PG from out-of-state...

...AND gets back our starting SF.

THIS is how you restock the cupboard.

MIM

by Meriones on Apr 21, 2006 2:08 PM PDT reply actions   0 recs

Not quiet ...
I don't think we have lost AA and JF yet. Let's not make any definitive conclusions until the story plays out. Thanks.

by Nestor on Apr 21, 2006 2:17 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

ok ... my bad ..
I see you were referring to Ced and Janou, not necessarilly AA.

Then again who knows if AA plays lights out in the workouts he could be gone.  Again I am betting he comes back ... but then again this is UCLA ... so I will always assume the worst (feel like a Red Sox fans when dealing with UCLA sports during last few years).

by Nestor on Apr 21, 2006 2:28 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Yep, meant Ced and Janou...
...although I understand your concern about jumping the gun.

The point is, if, if, IF!!! we lose JF or AA or both (and I still think it's better than even that we keep both), Coach has us ready to weather the storm.

These are most decidedly NOT the days of having 3 PGs one year, and none 2 years later.

MIM

by Meriones on Apr 21, 2006 4:20 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

I have a Euro-sleeper
Has done wonders for my back.  Waaaayyyy better than a futon, or that Lindsey Wagner Sleep Comfort job.
Go Bruins...F@#$% SC... UCLA Fight Fight Fight!

by HomeBruin on Apr 21, 2006 3:19 PM PDT up reply actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bruins Nation, an unofficial daily online scrap book covering the greatest collegiate athletic program in the nation. GO BRUINS.
Start posting about the Bruins »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

2145443360_ab27e15b11_b_small
Bleeding Blue and Gold ... Always
Morrell_small
The UCLA Passing Game Under Norm Chow
Arron_afflalo1_small
NBA Opening Night (Bruin Edition)
Rowing_picture_small
Football is like a box of chocolates
Th_ucla182c2_small
Broke the $3000 mark today- Thank you, Bruins!

Recent FanPosts

13-9_ucla_baby____036_small
Videos from Washington/UCLA Football Game!
Telemachus_small
Washington @ UCLA Photos
Bruinsnation_small
A Quick Reflection On Steve Sarkasian For Rest Of 2009
Bruinsnation_small
Harrison Barnes' Amazing Trip To Howlandwood
Bruinsnation_small
The Big Red Signs Off
Moreyouknow_small
Pre-Game Guesses: Oregon State Results
Screen_shot_2009-09-28_at_6
13-9’s Tidbits: Washington Edition
Small
Hartman doesnt get it
Ucla_small
Ben Ball 09-10, Day 1
Small
Google News Bruin feed created

+ New FanPost All FanPosts >

SPONSORS


Managers

094_small Ajax

Bruinsnation_small Nestor

Menelaus2_small Menelaus

Arron_afflalo1_small Tydides

Brad_pitt_as_achilles_small Achilles

Small Meriones

Telemachus_small Telemachus

Small Odysseus

Blue_bellerophon_small Bellerophon

Authors

Images_small Ryan Rosenblatt

Official Partner of CBS Sports