Bruin Signing Pro Ks

by Nestor on Jul 6, 2008 10:00 PM PDT in News Comment 2 comments

We have some signing news involving Bruin stars from two sports. First up Russell Westbrook, who didn't waste any time in inking his NBA K with Oklahoma City something:

First-round picks Russell Westbrook and D.J. White have signed multi-year contracts with the Seattle SuperSonics.

Westbrook, a guard, was taken fourth overall out of UCLA. White, a forward, was drafted by Detroit with the 29th overall pick out of Indiana and traded to the Sonics for the 32nd pick, Walter Sharpe, and the 46th selection, Trent Plaisted.

Westbrook and White signed on Friday, Seattle general manager Sam Presti said. Contract terms were not released.

The NBA's rookie scale calls for Westbrook to make about US$6 million over his first two seasons, while White would make about $1.6 million combined over the first two years.

I'd say RW made the right decision leaving year. Not bad for a kid who was overlooked by most national pundits at the beginning of his second season.

Also, joining RW in the professional ranks, Alden Carrithers from the baseball team, who also signed a professional K with the Detroit Tigers:

Second baseman Alden Carrithers, a senior on the 2008 UCLA baseball team, has signed a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers. Carrithers was selected in the 15th round of the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by Detroit.

Carrithers, who led UCLA in batting average in his two seasons at UCLA (2007, 2008), will begin his minor league career playing for the Gulf Coast League Tigers (Lakeland, Fla.).

Carrithers started 59 games for UCLA in 2008, capturing All-Pac-10 team honors in addition to being named a second-team All-West Region selection by the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA). Aside from leading the Bruins in batting average (.377) and on-base percentage (.484), Carrithers was the team's leader with 84 hits, 17 stolen bases and 10 hit-by-pitches.

A native of Portland, Ore., Carrithers was one of five Bruins selected to the Fullerton Regional's all-tournament team. The second baseman went 5-for-15 (.333) wit hfive runs and two RBI in four games. Carrithers recorded a .325 batting average in 23 Pac-10 games last spring, compiling 16 RBI, 18 runs and a team-best .500 on-base percentage in conference action.

Good luck to both Alden and RW.

GO BRUINS.

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Good news for AC

He and his dad are two of the nice people you’ll find and I think the Tigers got a steal in AC. he doesn’t have the tools that look good on paper, but he’s a ballplayer who makes things happen.

The three guys we’re still waiting to hear from are Brandon Crawford, Gerrit Cole and Clark Murphy.

Crawford seemed like a sure bet to sign, but I was also told by members of his family that he was supposed to sign early so at this point who knows. It’d be really nice if he came back for his senior year and I think he could really boost his stock with a strong senior year after a disappointing junior one.

Cole will go down to the August 15 deadline most likely and I don’t think anyone would expect to see the Yankees let their 1st round pick get away, but Cole’s a Boras guy so you never know. If he doesn’t sign and comes to campus he’d be a huge help, giving us the nation’s premier freshman arm. I wouldn’t get my hopes us though because he was drafted by the Yankees.

Murphy seems like he’ll end up a Bruin. He’s got a lot of raw power so if he develops that power in Westwood he could be drafted far higher than the 5th round he went this year. The Rangers have also committed a good chunk of change to guys they’ve signed so far and 1st round pick Justin Smoak could go for over slot so we’ll have to see how much money they have left for Murphy. He could still end up signing, but if I had to pick now I’d bet on him becoming a Bruin.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jul 6, 2008 10:13 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs