Reeves Nelson to UCLA

by silverlakebruin on Jan 10, 2008 9:18 AM PST

Bumped. Keep an eye on this today. ~~If this is confirmed, this would be~~ a blockbuster development. Welcome to UCLA Reeves!!!! GO BRUINS. -N

This is important with Wear Twins committing to North Carolina. No other site confirms at this point. We need bigs!! From RiseMag.com:

Coach Ben Howland snagged another top in-state prospect as junior forward Reeves Nelson of Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) committed to the Bruins late last night.

Nelson had offers from the likes of North Carolina, Duke, USC and more, but decided UCLA for a number of reasons.

"They were really the first ones to recruit me and I really like coach Howland and all their other coaches," Nelson told RISE last night. "I know a bunch of the kids going there, like Jrue Holiday, Jerime Anderson and Drew Gordon. And obviously, they win a lot of games."

The 6-foot-7, 220-pound Nelson averaged 17 points and 12 boards per game last year while leading Modesto Christian to a 30-4 record and a berth in the Division V NorCal finals. He is rated the nation’s No. 25 junior by RISE.

Go Bruins!

UPDATE:From BruinBlitz (HT godblesstyus95 ):

Modesto Christian forward Reeves Nelson made it official last night, committing to UCLA. "The reason I committed to UCLA was because their style of play, and the way I feel about the coaching staff there. I know all the players coming in, like Jrue Holiday and Malcolm Lee, plus all the others. Coach Howland is a great coach and UCLA has everything I was looking for in a school." Nelson is a 5-star prospect, and the No. 23 overall ran ed player in the 2009 class. Nelson is a monster get for Coach Howland. In fact from what I have been hearing/reading pursuing Nelson was one of the reason, Howland and his staff cooled off on the Wear twins. Nelson is projected to be one of those prototypical Ben Ball warriors. Fundamentally sound, tough around the boards, and digs playing defense. Congrats to Reeves and Coach Howland and his staff. This is big news. GO BRUINS. -N

UPDATE II: Watch Reeves get nasty in the paint! -T

UPDATE III: Another confirmation from Brian Dohn. GO BRUINS. -N

UPDATE IV: -M. Not that you need it, but another confirmation from the PE.

CONFIRMED: Reeves Nelson to UCLA

Just got off the phone with Modesto Christian coach Gary Porter, and he confirmed that Reeves Nelson told Ben Howland last night that he intends to come to UCLA. "UCLA is a very good program," Porter said. "He wanted to stay on the West Coast and he felt comfortable with Coach Howland. It was just a good fit."

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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Comments

Rivals site

is reporting this as well.

He is a 5 star prospect and ranked #23 in 2009 class.

Go Bruins.

by godblesstyus95 on Jan 10, 2008 9:40 AM PST reply actions

Fixed the link

Great find silverlake. I hope confirmation comes soon. This is a HUGE get if it's true. The fact that they quoted him seems to give this legitimacy.

by Tydides on Jan 10, 2008 9:41 AM PST reply actions

This guy is Brockmanesque . . . NICE

by charnaw on Jan 10, 2008 9:42 AM PST reply actions

More athletic

One of the top rebounders in the country. With dependible 15 ft range, look out...

by Nars on Jan 10, 2008 12:11 PM PST up reply actions

GREAT news if true.

And as long as The Sporting News is not reporting it, it looks legit.

by bluegold on Jan 10, 2008 9:51 AM PST reply actions

Watch Reeves get DIRTY

by Tydides on Jan 10, 2008 9:52 AM PST reply actions

Crucial

As accurately stated by charnaw, he is Brockmanesque. His height is a 3 but his game is really fit for a 4. He is "explosive" (can really get up), strong taking it to the rim but still a bit raw offensively (specifically perimeter shot). He is a very important get. Bruin fans will really enjoy Reeves. He plays hard and is very physical. Check these clips out of him: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Reeves+Nelson

by BlueReign on Jan 10, 2008 9:56 AM PST reply actions

His height is a 3

but he's just a junior in high school! He probably has at least another year of growth and maybe more. I like that he doesn't showboat even after big dunks...just runs back and gives a couple of hand slaps here and there.

by tasser10 on Jan 10, 2008 10:46 AM PST up reply actions

Hmm....

Anyone else see similarities to the Dee/Deron/Luther/Roger/James Illini team if our future lineup consists of Jerime/Jrue/Malcolm/Reeves/Drew? Just some food for thought.

by BlueReign on Jan 10, 2008 3:39 PM PST up reply actions

1 & done?

Jrue's the most complete perimeter player in his class, and I hope he sticks around more than a year. Although, if it means conquering college and winning a title as a freshman then I wouldn't mind.

by ishXdavid on Jan 10, 2008 4:03 PM PST up reply actions

Wow, look at the list of schools!

Look at all the schools that offered him!

http://ucla.scout.com/a.z?s=12&p=8&c=1&nid=2591892

Sounds like a outstanding get.

by Free the 16 on Jan 10, 2008 10:46 AM PST reply actions

Reeves Nelson

He's a great get. I know many (including possibly the coaching staff) had soured on the Wear twins but it was disappointing missing out on them. Reeves was clearly the #1 target before and after the Wear twins and he's a great player.

I LOVE the Brockman comps, they look right.

by Raisin on Jan 10, 2008 11:00 AM PST reply actions

Very impressive

Welcome to the Nation Reeves.

Once again, Coach Howland is killing it.

by Ajax on Jan 10, 2008 11:03 AM PST reply actions

Looks good

Seems like a very solid, skilled player who should keep getting better. At first glance he looks like a good LRMM type and replacement. It doesn't solve the big man issues, but guys like this will certainly help the cause. It looks like there are going to be plenty of guards around, and guys like this will complement them and the good PGs will make him better.

He seems like a banger, rebounder, who can run the floor a little bit and finish inside, and his shot looks sound and he has a little bit of a left hand. (The fact that Kevin Love can do absolutely everything spoils you.) His shot and range should have time to improve, and he seems like a player who might start using the midrange glass. One thing I like (very SF-like) is that he can get a rebound, turn and dribble and head up the floor.

He runs and jumps and seems solid, but he doesn't look extra quick or hoppy, and it should be interesting to see how he adapts to the Howland defensive ethic.

He'll be a freshman when Keefe is a senior, and Keefe's development and role might give us clues on where this kid might end up. Bruin recruits these days are like fine wine vintages: I see a little Aboye here, some good Keefe, with a good Mbah-Moute spine holding together youthful KLove fundamentals. Should be quite drinkable in November 09, with great prospects through to March 14.

by zhivooden on Jan 10, 2008 11:23 AM PST reply actions

Looks to me

like another prototypical Benball Warrior.

Well done, yet again, Coach Howland and the rest of the staff.

by paulucla @ Bruins Nation on Jan 10, 2008 11:29 AM PST reply actions

To Ben Howland

Just in case you haven't heard it today...we LOVE you.

Thank you for restoring this beloved program and never resting on your laurels. I cannot remember having so much faith in a head coach of any team that I root for.

Thank you for everything you do for UCLA.

GO BRUINS!!!!

by lewkay on Jan 10, 2008 11:56 AM PST reply actions

He needs to work on that farmer's tan

Welcome to UCLA!

by BruinMatador on Jan 10, 2008 12:17 PM PST reply actions

Her's from Modesto

Wait until he goes Hollywood!

by Bruin77 on Jan 10, 2008 12:27 PM PST up reply actions

Oops

That's "He's" nor "Her's"

by Bruin77 on Jan 10, 2008 12:28 PM PST up reply actions

Lock and load, rock and roll.

I wonder why we don't hear anything about whether or not a big-city coach can recruit out in farm country.

Oh well.

Welcome aboard, Nelson!

And to the rest of the Pac-10, in the words of another famous Nelson: HAA-HA!

"Because I'm tired of it. Year after year after year after year having to choose between the lesser of 'Who cares?'"

by Meriones on Jan 10, 2008 12:46 PM PST reply actions

Yet another example of how there is NEVER . . .

a bad Simpson's reference! :)

by charnaw on Jan 10, 2008 12:49 PM PST up reply actions

I saw him play once

and the Brockman comparisons are valid. He reminds me a lot of Brockman, he's just not as strong as Brockman. He has plenty of time to fill out and get stronger though so comparisons in strength are fair until Nelson gets to campus. Either way, this is a big get because we didn't have any '09 commits and we desperately need some bigs.

by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 10, 2008 4:44 PM PST reply actions

His HC

on Dohn's blog said he could still grow to 6'9". That would be real nice.

by BlueReign on Jan 10, 2008 9:34 PM PST up reply actions

I'm from Modesto and...

My boys played with him and his brother in recreational leagues a few years ago.

I've had a chance to see him play a couple of times since then. He scored 52 points a couple of days ago. I ran into his mom in Target a couple of months ago and she told me that Howland was coming around the house (that very day they had to tell Floyd of USC that they didn't have time for him when he dropped by unexpectedly.) She told me that he was probably going to be a Bruin, but I never mentioned it before because no one around here was talking about him. I got to get out to some more of their games now!

by Dodger Hater on Jan 10, 2008 10:20 PM PST reply actions