Drew Stories

by Nestor on May 8, 2007 4:40 AM PDT in Recruiting

Commitment of the latest Ben Ball warrior is the story of the day. Painter from DN has a money quote from Drew on the coaching style of his future head head coach:

He's the nation's 20th-best recruit and No. 8 forward, according to Scout.com.

"(UCLA) has been to the Final Four two straight years - that's saying something automatically," Gordon said via conference call Monday. "(Ben Howland's) coaching style, his personality, just sets you up for greatness, I guess. Just seeing the people that are coming into the program and the people that are leaving the program, really assures me that I'm going to be able to be coached by a good coach."

Gordon, a junior, was named the CIF Central Coast Section's player of the year, first-team all-state and an EA Sports All-American among many other accolades.

The Times has more good quotes from Drew including this on why he chose our Bruins over North Carolina, Arizona, Duke, Cal and Washington:

"All the schools were great schools, all the coaches were excellent coaches," Gordon said. "UCLA and its staff would be the best fit for me at this point in time to be able to further my career beyond college. Basically, that's what it came down to.

The Gordon went about picking their school in a methodical and deliberate way without taking advantage of the all the pomp and fanfare showered on blue chip recruits. From the same LAT article:

Gordon visited all of the campuses on unofficial trips paid for by his family. Recruits can only make official trips during their senior year.

"We did it unofficially, all of it with our own travel budget," said Gordon's mother, Shelly. "They can't wine you and dine you, the schools can't put on an extra show for you. You just see the stripped down program. You meet the coaches, see the living conditions, look at a game, look at the workout situation."

In other words those aforementioned programs were nice and all, but there is no absolutely no comparison to the paradise we all know and love as Westwood.

Gordon of course may not be the last recruit for the 2008 class. Painter has this from Tracy Pierson of Bruin Report Online (BRO) on what may be in store for Bruin recruiting in the coming months:

There's no denying UCLA's 2008 class could be one of the best in the country. In addition to Gordon, guard Malcolm Lee (Riverside North) and guard Jerime Anderson (Canyon High of Anaheim) already have committed. There are two more spots available for the 2008 class.

"(The class) is big if you combine it with Jerime Anderson and Malcolm Lee," Pierson said. "It's shaping up to be a top-five recruiting class. If they continue to do well, and if they get (Campbell Hall's) Jrue Holiday, and another big (man), it could compete for the No. 1 class in the country."

For now, UCLA can celebrate a verbal commitment - which is non-binding - from Gordon.

"He's a great athlete that gets off the floor really quickly," Pierson said. "He's a great shot blocker and runs well for how big he is. His skills have improved and he's developed a jump hook around the basket. He has tremendous potential for his size and athleticism."

So once again welcome to Drew.

As for rest of you sit back, relax, and enjoy watching Howland and his crew in recruiting action. I was cracking last few days reading some of the comedy routine on BRO where maniacal posters were losing it over every single comment coming out of Gordon camp (these are the same guys who thought we were losing DC to the NBA after the story of June Collison leaving her job so that she could spend more time watching her son develop as a ball player became public). Despite all the fretting for no reason once again Howland's program is sitting pretty, well positioned to defend its Pac-10 title and more importantly in position to make another legit run for banner number 12. I couldn't ask for anything more as die hard Bruin alum who lives and breathes UCLA basketball.

Thank God for Ben Howland.

GO BRUINS.

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Another impressive quote...

"I want to thank all of the schools who were interested in me. It was an honor to be recruited by such top level programs. I appreciated getting to know all the coaches and players, and I look forward to competing against them as a Bruin."

Wow. Perspective, respect, and humility from a budding star. Refreshing.

I'm starting to like this Howland guy.

by BruinLuv on May 8, 2007 7:35 AM PDT reply actions

question about number of scholarships available

How can we still have 2 spots available for the 08 class, because as of now (assuming probably incorrectly no early departures) we should have:

-shipp, collison, moute, aboya, roll
-keefe, westbrook, dragovic
-love, stanback
-anderson, lee, gordon

That's 13 players right, can they offer scholarships with the assumption of early departures or early graduations?

by stephons on May 8, 2007 7:46 AM PDT reply actions

Scholarships

There are two scholarships open right now, assuming BH doesn't offer anyone else for 2007.
Bill

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on May 8, 2007 8:54 AM PDT reply actions

We have ZERO scholarships left

for 2008. Anderson, Gordon and Lee will take Mata, Afflalo and Wright's scholarship. The only way we have any to offer is if Shipp, DC, Luc or Love leaves after next season.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on May 8, 2007 7:16 PM PDT up reply actions

unless Shipp has a crap year...

I think he is gone. He will (should) be done with school by then, and how often do BBall players stay a 5th year if they are set for a diploma and/or can get in to the first round? I trust Coach Howland has this worked out pretty well in his head.

by isodore on May 8, 2007 11:56 PM PDT up reply actions

so is he allowed to offer more scholarships

(to say jrue holiday) if we are already at 13 for the 08 season, since it is possible in theory for none of our players including shipp, love, collison, and luc to leave early that year.

by stephons on May 10, 2007 12:47 PM PDT up reply actions

This is a milestone commit

for Coach Howland. Welcome Drew.

by bluestreet on May 8, 2007 9:22 AM PDT reply actions

Besides Love, this is BHs best recruit yet

getting big men is very difficult, getting top notch big men year after year is pretty darn impressive.

"when you've seen how big the world is, how can you make due with this?"

by silverlakebruin on May 8, 2007 11:35 AM PDT reply actions

By rankings

scout.com

Kevin Love #3
Malcolm Lee #17
Drew Gordon #20
Jordan Farmar #25
James Keefe #30
Arron Afflalo #41
Jerime Anderson #42
Ryan Wright #56
Chace Stanback #65
Russel Westbrook #66
Darren Collison #67
Michael Roll #72
Lorenzo Mata #80

Those were the only ones in the Top 100

2002/2003 Recruiting

Evan Burns #14 (ranked one spot behind JJ Redick, but never made it to UCLA)
Trevor Ariza #19

by SuperBruinMan on May 8, 2007 4:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Updated rankings - Scout.com

c/o 2008 recruits:

Malcolm Lee - #13 (#2 PG)
Drew Gordon - #23 (#7 PF)
Jerime Anderson - #26 (#3 PG)

(Crosses fingers) Jrue Holiday - #3 (#1 SG)

by bruinhoo on May 10, 2007 11:35 AM PDT up reply actions

keep on truckin BH!!!!!

!!!

by RealisticBruinFan on May 8, 2007 1:17 PM PDT reply actions

Any concerns?

I always worry when a team is fully star-studded. It's nice to have a workhorse like Mata come in and work his butt off without as much talent and inspire his teammates. We'll need someone like that on the bench at least.

That being said, these are Howland recruits, they know what they are getting into so there should not be any slackers.

by tasser10 on May 9, 2007 8:52 AM PDT reply actions

No concerns

I agree, if the team is star-studded, there could be some ego problems, but your final point is right on: these are Howland recruits. If they don't know what they are getting into, they soon will.

Plus, it really comes down to confidence, doesn't it? Everyone I know has full confidence in Howland to make the right decisions and to manage the team correctly. Until I see otherwise, I have full faith and confidence in our Coach. So, I have faith that he knows what he is doing by recruiting the kids he has recruited.

Now, as to my confidence in our football coach...

by Barnes2JJ on May 9, 2007 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions

Workhorses

I believe BH looks for players who are workhorses and star studded as well, so he may/may not recruit players who all other coaches want. Based on the good attitudes so far, and the results, I would cut him a wide swath of approval, if he loaded the team with all 5 star recruits, I would firmly believe he has the situation under control...
Bill

BillSouthBay

by Mensgym on May 9, 2007 10:07 AM PDT reply actions