Top Prep (Hoops) Center Anthony Stover Commits To UCLA

by Achilles on Oct 3, 2008 11:05 AM PDT in Recruiting Comment 20 comments

Bruin Report Online has the story:

The 6-9 center from Los Angeles Windward, Anthony Stover, who had emerged as UCLA's top post prospect in the class of 2009, called UCLA and verbally committed to the Bruins, picking them over Arizona, Arizona State and Creighton...

The rest of the story is premium, you'll need to subscribe to BRO to read it. BRO has once again scooped the MSM and brought UCLA fans the latest in recruiting news. The story has quotes from the Stover family.

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This is great for UCLA basketball fans.

Anthony Stover is considered by BRO's Greg Hicks to be one of the best rebounders and shot blockers in the west, with an improving offensive game. Stover has risen in the rankings over the past year. He was also considering Arizona, Arizona State and Creighton.

Stover joins, Brendan Lane, Reeves Nelson and Tyler Honeycutt as 2009 UCLA basketball commitments. Lane is a power forward who can also play small forward, Nelson is a bruising power forward who is spending is off season playing football and Tyler Honeycutt is a five-star classic small forward -- exactly the type of player the Bruins have been looking to land for a while.

Ben Howland is really recruiting at a high level at this point, as this class comes on the heels of the Jrue Holiday, Malcolm Lee, Jerime Anderson, J'mison Morgan, Drew Gordon class.

Reports are that Howland would still like to land a two guard in the upcoming class.

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Comments

To Show Where My Head Is ...

my first reaction is that CRN had scored someone to anchor our O line.

Nice to be wrapped up in football and not assuming that all good news was BBall.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Oct 3, 2008 11:19 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Good point, 66 ...

I will fix the headline

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Oct 3, 2008 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Hah!

I thought the exact same thing.

by captainqtp on Oct 3, 2008 11:27 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

LOL ...

noted and corrected.

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Oct 3, 2008 11:28 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Great News

This should help bolster our post depth. I’ve seen this kid play, and he is a beast on the boards and around the rim.

by PEDbruin on Oct 3, 2008 11:24 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Welcome to Westwood Anthony!!

Beating out Arizona is added bonus. That will drive Viagra Lute even more insane.

by bluestreet on Oct 3, 2008 11:53 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

is there anyone CBH wants that he doesn't get now?

It seems like he can pick and chose…

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

by silverlakebruin on Oct 3, 2008 12:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

choose...

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

by silverlakebruin on Oct 3, 2008 12:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Well ...

he wanted Abdul Gaddy and Gaddy picked Arizona.

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Oct 3, 2008 1:17 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ah

So the game’s afoot!

by bruin8uclap on Oct 3, 2008 1:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

well...

gaddy had always grown up as an Arizona fan, AND, he had already committed to UA once… with that said, word was that UCLA made a strong push to get Gaddy’s services and it was a really, really close decision… while missing out on gaddy hurt, i’m hoping that our bruins prevent him from ever winning a game against us!

by Trisani888 on Oct 3, 2008 3:05 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was just saying ...

Howland can’t quite just choose whoever he wants.

Gaddy is good — I wish we had landed him.

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Oct 3, 2008 3:33 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

One of the things I loved about Gaddy

is he has to stay 2 years. He’s extremely young for his grade and won’t be eligible for the draft for 2 years. Oh well, now that just means he’ll be hounded by CBH’s defense for 2 years.

by ryebreadraz on Oct 3, 2008 3:39 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Gaddy would have been great

Oh well. He will have to deal with our inside-the-jersey Ben Ball defense for next two years. Good luck to him.

by Nestor on Oct 3, 2008 4:48 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Class of '09

This makes 2 bigs in ’08 and 3 bigs in ’09. Nice to start building some depth up front. Honeycutt is the wing guy we have not had to match up with the wings at Florida and Memphis the past three years. We need a point guard in ’09. Is Roll going to contribute this year????

by PureEnjoyment on Oct 3, 2008 3:16 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

I don't know ...

if we really need an ’09 point guard.

We’ll have Jerime Anderson and Malcolm Lee on the team in 09-10.. I assume that Jrue Holiday will be in the NBA with the graduating Darren Collison.

But we’ll have Anderson and Lee.

Not saying we wouldn’t take an elite point guard, just not sure it is a have to have.

If you read the recruiting sites, you may know that shooting guard Michael Snaer is visiting UCLA this weekend. If he committed, I’d guess that would complete the class.

(I guess if we had gotten Gaddy, we wouldn’t be looking at Snaer — or I guess we’d have taken six guys.)

We have a commitment from a 2010 point guard named Kendall Williams, too, though these things are never etched in stone this far in advance (read: Taylor King).

If we don’t get Snaer — Howland might wait until spring to fill the fifth ride, if he fills it at all.

I think we have 11 guys on scholarship this year (meaning there are two open rides) and we lose Shipp, Collison and Aboya (that’s three more) and almost for sure Holiday. So, I guess we could take six players. (Or do we have 12 on scholarship — I think it is 11).

Go Bruins

by Achilles on Oct 3, 2008 3:32 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

If we don't get Snaer

I have no problem with Howland waiting it out.

We also have Lamb committed for the 2010 class along with Williams. Although as you said … that kind of early committment is never etched in stone (but things are little different though than it was when King committed considering how established this program is now).

Oh … and welcome to Westwood Mr. Stover.

Another superb get by Coach Howland.

GO BRUINS.

by Nestor on Oct 3, 2008 4:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Excellent Choice,

Mr. Stover. We’re looking forward to your arrival in Westwood.

Coach Howland is definitely buillding a dynasty. I can’t remember when I’ve seen such depth in successive recruiting classes…

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Oct 3, 2008 7:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Well, I can remember all too well, unfortunately

when whatyoumightcallit did bring in loads of talents at one point, only to squander them with his frenetic, noncoaching cheerlead style.

by Htse005 on Oct 4, 2008 9:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

What Does He Want to Study?

Great to see that the kid is serious about his academics. Quote from his mother, Rena, in the LA Times:

“The opportunity to play here at home, go to an amazing academic university, to have a chance to graduate in three and a half years with a major he wants, that all counted.”

Three and a half years? He certainly is more academically ambitious than I ever was (although I did make it out in just under five years).

Good omen that 1) he has some excellent counseling from his family, and 2) he’s willing to take their advice.

by CrouchingBruin on Oct 5, 2008 9:02 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs