Josh Smith commits to UCLA

by UCLA Championships Made Here on Nov 9, 2009 7:59 PM PST Comment 13 comments

Ben Howland was able to land the best big man in the nation. David Wharton from the LA Times just reported this:

Washington state prospect Josh Smith, one of the top-rated big men in the nation, has committed to UCLA.

A 6-9, 270-pound center from Kentwood High, Smith came to the decision about an hour ago, his father said, choosing the Bruins over Washington.

It is simply amazing that Coach Howland keeps on adding great talent to the basketball program. I've only read incredible reviews about Josh Smith. To take him away from his home state and from Lorenzo Romar and the University of Washington, it just shows you how great a recruiter CBH is.

Go Bruins!

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Thanks for blogging this

It’s one of those news … which made repeat excited posts totally understandable. lol

by Nestor on Nov 10, 2009 3:41 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Good News.

Wow 6’ 9", 270 pounds sounds like a BIG guy. Dwight Howard is only listed at 265 and h’es 6’ 11".

If Bochy coached the Warriors Bengie Molina would start every game at PG.

by cybermaldonado on Nov 10, 2009 6:09 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

wow

does no one get on here? we just landed the BEST BIG MAN IN NEXT YEARS CLASS and no one is commenting. this guy is going to WOW us. Im so frickin pumped. god.

by harveyismyboy on Nov 10, 2009 6:18 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

LOL

No we didn’t really miss this. ;-)

by Nestor on Nov 10, 2009 6:21 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

JS2 is a BIG get . . .

and its nice that there was no giant presser or media blitz a la some of our recent “one-and-done” recruits. And now we have a JS2!

by charnaw on Nov 11, 2009 9:33 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

Now all we need is another PG

I’m hoping McCallum decides to commit as it looks like we haven’t offered any other PG recruit. Maybe a Michigan package deal with both McCallum and Zeigler. I would be very happy with that class.

by Kerckhoff405 on Nov 11, 2009 11:59 AM PST reply actions 0 recs

One and Done?

Pardon my lack of excitement but this one reads like another “one and done” to me.

Is that true? Likely?

If so, I’d just as soon not recruit him.

My feelings about this have been written here many times.

I can only think of one team that won a national championship behind a one and done.

I can think of many teams, including ours, that have been hurt by early departures.

If you don’t think we could have used Jrue this year, you’ll have a hard time convincing me that you are right.

I don’t mean to be the Grinch that stole Christmas, but it’s hard to celebrate winning a one year player.

And, if he’s going to stay for 3, as the great Emily Litella used to say, "Never mind.)

sjh

by Class of 66 on Nov 11, 2009 7:29 PM PST reply actions 0 recs

Sounds like it's time to re-heat the debate.

Should UCLA recruit an obvous one-and-done guy?

More important, in my opinion, is what should be done about the whole one-and-done phenomenon? Nothing (keep it business as usual)? Something else?

My solution (which I believe is supported by exactly no one) – each scholarship is issued for four years. If a guy leaves after one, you have one less scholarship for the next year. So the coaching staff needs to get recruit great players who are good students, but also who will stay in school for four years. Something tells me that just$c* will admit a lack of institutional control before my suggestion is implemented.

by Fox 71 on Nov 11, 2009 9:27 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

Re-heat the leftovers?

You and I seem to be the people who care the most.

I am not opposed to your solution but it does seem to penalize an honest coach who is lied to by a recruit and/or his family.

And, rather than repeat everything I’ve been saying for years, lest anyone misunderstand my opposition to one and dones, it is rooted in the fact that we are wasting a seat in one of the nation’s greatest universities on someone who has no real intention of being a true SCHOLAR/athlete.

UCLA receives more applications for admission than any other school in the nation. I hate the idea of someone taking an opportunity from someone who will truly cherish ALL that UCLA has to offer — not just one athletic program for one year.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Nov 12, 2009 6:37 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

How about someone like KL?

Take away how good he was for us in his only year. He played one year and went pro, but is still returning to UCLA to get his degree in the summers so while he may not be staying for four years, he is still working his way towards a degree and being a student. If someone is doing that, do you have an issue with taking him?

Formerly ryebreadraz

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Nov 12, 2009 11:59 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

So it's not about one-and-done's then

It’s about all early entry candidates. If we’re really worried about our student-athletes not respecting the first term in that phrase, then what’s the difference between a one-and-done and a two or three and out guy? Personally, I think this criticism is off base, because I don’t know what the statistics are nationally, but I’m willing to bet we can compete with almost anyone with early entry candidates that are coming back to work on their degrees to finish what they started. There have been documented reports of Farmar, Afflalo, Love, and Westbrook all on campus during summers taking courses. These are clearly not guys that are paying lip service to the value of education, and that goes back to recruiting quality people who value it in the first place.

by Tydides on Nov 12, 2009 12:35 PM PST up reply actions 0 recs

It's not really clear

While Smith is a 5 star player, he doesn’t seem to have the height to play C in the NBA or the speed to play PF. A lot of people said the same things about Love, but Smith isn’t as skilled as Love was. From what I’ve read, Smith will be a very good college player and might decide to leave early, but he’s not really a typical NBA prospect.

by SuperBruinMan on Nov 12, 2009 1:42 AM PST up reply actions 0 recs

BoBo

Wasn’t he suppose to be one and done?? 5-star, top 25 player. Well, looks like he’ll be in Westwood for at least 3, if not all 4 years.

Why worry over nothing right now? Let’s get Smith to Pauley and see how he develops.

To Harveyismyboy, he’s not the best big in 2010 class. Actually, his ranking, for what it’s worth, has been dropping. He was a top five player about a year ago and now is in the 10-20 range.

If we can get quality guys like KLove, I do not have any problem with one and done. He was at Pauley last year with LRMM. I shook hands with him when I saw him walking into Pauley. When Coach Wooden was leaving prior to the end of the game, he got off his seat and walked across Pauley to say goodbye. Just a great young man and a great player! He is a true Bruin, as much as DC, AA, or anyone else.

by EdO'B3017 on Nov 12, 2009 12:03 PM PST reply actions 0 recs