tasser10 fanshotted this already. Still this is worthy of frontpage love. Looks like Eddie O and Chuck were back together for a hilarious (and kind of awkward) interview by their former team-mate anoter Bruin alum - Kris Johnson - for a website called Jerseychaser.com:

*NEW* Ed and Charles O'Bannon Interview! Speak on Lil' Wayne... (via JerseyChaser106)

Eamonn Brennan from Yahoo.com's hoops blog - the Dagger - spotted this clip with the following observation:

Nothing makes an interview more awkward than a Lil Wayne lyric. Of course, Charles is still playing basketball in Japan, so he didn't much appreciate Wayne's "leaving you missing like the O'Bannons" -- which, admittedly, is a great lyric -- but Ed's reaction is priceless. "I really don't care. Come buy a car from me." I kind of want to go buy a car from now. Don't you?

Now I don't know about you. When I was watching that clip with Kris asking the questions, I kept thinking about him waving towels from the bench. Only those who went to school during the mid 90s and got to follow the careers of these kids at UCLA, will get that reference. Again, as I have always said I really hope Coach Howland and his staff make every effort to keep Ed, Charles, Kris and others who have continued to show their loyalty to UCLA (can't really miss Ed's polo) close to our program. Funny interview and again rushed back lot of incredible memories from the glorious 90s.

GO BRUINS.

More photos » by Bill Haber - AP

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This is going to be a tough one to blog from a formatting point of view.

For those of you who don't read it, The Sporting News is available as a free, daily email. It's really a good read, like getting a really good daily newspaper delivered. I've been getting it for a while and have actually seen some UCLA stuff in it in the past.

But it's hard to "blog" because it doesn't really have links to the individual stories -- it's just one big file. And as far as I can tell, you can't "grab" anything in it and use it to post into a blog like Bruins Nation.

But today's interview with Darren Collison was just too good not to share. So, I had to save it as a pdf as if I was going to print it out (this is a feature of the email) and then I was able to use Acrobat to copy and paste.

I know that one of the customs of blogging is that you can use copy from another site provided you link over and give them credit. In this case, I can't really link to the article, but I can link to today's copy of The Sporting News and then I'll post some highlights. I trust that all these props for what is really a worthwhile daily read cover me on the quid quo pro of blogging etiquette.

Now, without any further ado or apologies for my overall Internet lameness, here is some of the Darren Collison interview from The Sporting News. Click over to read the rest and the rest of the issue.

Darren Collison returned to UCLA for his senior season intent on leading his team to a national championship. The Bruins came up short in that quest, but Collison’s speed and shooting skills as a point guard persuaded the Hornets to pick him with the 21st pick in the first round of last Thursday’s draft. Collison told Sporting News Today’s Bill Eichenberger and other media members that he is looking forward to learning the finer points of point-guard play from All-Star teammate Chris Paul.

Q: Any second thoughts about returning to UCLA for your senior season?

A: If you understood the emotion when you’re sitting in this chair right now, you’d understand that it doesn’t matter what anybody says about my past. I did what I had to do at UCLA. It was a project I was trying to build, and unfortunately we didn’t win the national championship last year.

<snip>

Q: Being a four-year player, what assets do you bring to the Hornets?

A: Maturity. UCLA is not just any school. It’s a high-profile school. Being there for four years … I think I can come in and produce right away.

Q: What about your ability to play defense? Is that a strength?

A: Yeah, you can speak to the other guys at UCLA, they will tell you the same thing. Coach (Ben) Howland, he gets you ready for the future. Defensively, he doesn’t play. Every day he emphasizes defense.

Click over and read the rest. This was a posting pain in the neck, so I don't know if I'll be doing it again.

LOL.

Let's start our Tuesday's roundup with a little Ben Ball. Coach Howland recently held his summer camp at UCLA featuring some of the elite recruits from Southern California. Frank Burlison from the Long Beach Press-Telegram attended the camp on Sunday and put up the following post:

Coach Ben Howland's UCLA Advanced Skills Camp had a solid foundation of talent making up some of the better underclass basketball players in the West.

Among those competing in Pauley Pavilion were class 2010 guards Kendall Williams (Los Osos) and Tyler Lamb (Mater Dei), both of which are already verbally committed to the Bruins.

Others playing especially well Sunday included 6-foot-6 Yannick Atanga (Besant Hill in Ojai); 6-2 James Walker (Los Alamitos); 6-5 Ben Vozzola (Las Vegas Centennial); 6-7 1/2 Angelo Chol (San Diego Hoover); 6-7 Ryan Anderson (Poly); 6-3 Byron Wesley (Cajon); and 6-10 Robert Upshaw (Fresno Edison).

The camp wrapped up yesterday. Brian Dohn was there. He posted the following note on Inside UCLA:

Very cool to hear Mr. Logo helping out Coach Howland and UCLA basketball. As always it's awesome to see AA staying involved and doing whatever Coach Howland asks him to give back to the program.

Speaking of basketball, Brian Dohn had an intersting story on a new "point system" UCLA is supposed to be unveiling this week aboout the seating plan for renovated Pauley. Of course those who currently have season tickets and/or donate to "Campaign of Champions" will be racking up some points. Some of the other factors include:

Points will also be awarded for consecutive seasons as a season-ticket holder, lifetime donations to the school, being a UCLA alum, being a former UCLA student-athlete and for donations given to the campus.

That sounds reasonable to me. There is also the pricing plan. We haven't seen anything public yet. But here are some of the early details from Dohn:

The prime non-courtside seats between the baskets will require a $4,000 annual donation per seat, cost of the ticket, and likely another gift to the "Campaign of Champions," which would keep the point total high and give them a better chance to maintain or improve their seat locations, sources said.

For a pair of season-tickets courtside, a one-time $500,000 donation (split over five years) is needed. The price for two tickets is estimated at $34,000 annually now, but an increase in ticket prices is possible.

"If it's $300,000, $400,000, $500,000 or $600,000, if they can get it, I'm OK with that," said Chuck Winner, who has floor seats across from UCLA's bench and has endowed scholarships. "It's a privilege to sit there. I'm in favor of the process of a (renovated) stadium."

For season tickets in the corners and behind the baskets in mid-level of Pauley Pavilion, an annual donation of $550 to $800 will go with every seat, as well as the price of the tickets and a possible donation to the "Campaign of Champions," sources said.

For season seats in the upper level on the sideline, the annual donation could be as low as $125 per seat. The ticket holder will also have to pay for the cost of each ticket, according to sources. The upper level seats behind the baskets and in the corners will not require an annual donation, sources added.

I guess we will wait to see the details. It will be interesting to see the kind of response it generates from the UCLA basketball community in greater Southern California given the current economy of that state. I hope whatever the campaign plan (aka "Campaign of Champions") Morgan Center official has in place is well thought out strategically so that they can keep going to the donor base with a compelling case on a regular basis. The key IMHO will be to generate excitement and for that to happen they will need to provide a genuine level of transparency so that they can address questions and concerns of all those folks who will be making a financial investment (not just an emotional one) into the program.

GO BRUINS.

More photos » by Matt Rourke - AP

8 days ago: Philadelphia 76ers first-round NBA basketball draft pick Jrue Holiday pose for a photograph during a news conference in Philadelphia, Friday, June 26, 2009. Holiday was picked 17th overall in Thursday night's draft. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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I know there has been some talk over whether or not Jrue Holiday is really a Bruin or not. Some have made it clear that they don't care for Jrue, while others have stuck by his side a little more. That brought us to an interesting point when jsams over at Liberty Ballers, SBN's Philadelphia 76ers blog, asked if we'd like to answer some questions about Jrue. Because N and a couple other frontpagers have a less than favorable opinion of Jrue, they had no interest in answering some questions on him so they passed it along and I decided to answer the questions.

I don't think Jrue has handled much the way he should have, but I don't see any malice in what he'd done and I think that he's gotten a bit of an unfair rap from some Bruins. At the end of the day, I think he acted like a 18 or 19 year old kid in a high pressure situation. That said, here are my responses to their questions on Jrue, someone I will forever consider a Bruin and root for, even if I don't do so in the same way I do it for AA, DC or some of our other Bruins.

LB: Did Jrue perform better than his 8-3-3 numbers indicate? Worse?

Ryan: It was really dependent on the game. The tools are there, no doubt and some games you would see them. There were some games where Jrue was all over the court, defending, rebounding, scoring, passing. There were also other games where Jrue would get frustrated, get torched defensively, turn the ball over at an alarming rate and struggle to put the ball in the basket. It's really tough to say whether or not he was better than his 8-3-3 numbers indicate because half of the time he was, but other times he was worse.

LB: What are Jrue's strengths?

Ryan: He's got a great body for a point guard. At a very long 6'3'', he's going to be able to match up with just about anyone in the league and will have a size advantage over most. His length causes problems on defense, especially on smaller guards as he disrupts opposing point guards in their attempts to initiate the offense. He has good ball handling skills and shows a good feel for the game, especially in the open court. His biggest strength is probably his ability to finish around the rim. While he can, Holiday is not the type of guy who will throw it down when he goes to the rim. Instead, he's able to weave his way past shot blockers, go with a tear drop over shot blockers and can finish with either hand.

LB: Weaknesses?

Ryan: Jrue needs to improve his jump shot. His mechanics aren't bad, but they aren't consistent. He has the tools to be a very good shooter, but it will take some work. He also certainly needs to mature. Against some better teams, he was taken out of his game by their skill and strength. When he got beat a few times defensively, he tended to become a tentative defender and lose his confidence. The truth is, he has the maturity of a 19 year old. That's not too bad considering he is only 19, but an 82 game season isn't the best thing for a kid looking to mature. He has a good family and isn't a bad kid, but the fact is that he is a kid and at times, will act as such.

LB: UCLA has had a handful of unpolished, athletic guys who turned out better than expected in recent years. See: Farmar, Ariza, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute, Westbrook. Holiday seems to fall in this same category. Do you see him developing as well as these guys?

Ryan: I think Jrue can develop as well as the guys you mentioned, but certainly not as quickly as them. Of those players, only Ariza played a single season of college ball and it took him some time to break out. The other players all made solid contributions within the first year or two and while Jrue can make a contribution, he won't live up to his potential for a few years. Ben Howland's system is extremely effective for the college game and while it doesn't let all players put up huge numbers, it prepares players well for the pros. Holiday's skills have been refined under Howland and he can outproduce his college numbers, but it will take some time first.

LB: Blogging aside, as a Bruins fan, what were your feelings about Jrue Holiday in his one season at UCLA?

Ryan: I know some UCLA fans have less than favorable feelings towards Holiday for some of the remarks that may have come out of the Holiday camp, but I don't harbor those same feelings. While I don't have the same attachment to him that I have for guys who were Bruins for three or four years, some of the missteps that caused some fans to turn on him were a result of questionable people around him, in my opinion, and more than anything, immaturity on Holiday's part. He didn't live up to expectations that many would have for a High School Player of the Year, but he made his contribution despite playing out of position and I still consider him a Bruin. I'll be rooting for him in Philly.

LB: How is Jrue off the court? Good character? Work ethic? Bright kid?

Ryan: As has been the theme thus far, immaturity describes him pretty well. The positive side to all of that is that it's something he will grow out of and I think he's a pretty good kid. He has a good feel for the game and a high basketball IQ. By all accounts, he works his tail off in the offseason and does so in games when he's not downtrodden, a result of immaturity. While he may have some issues the first year or two as he matures, if you are willing to wait a few years, I think you'll have a high character guy who works extremely hard.

LB: Anything else us salivating Sixers fans should know about our new point guard?

Ryan: I think you guys got an absolute steal at #17. Jrue's talent level is far above that of a #17 pick and if you're willing to be a little patient then your patience will be rewarded. While Eddie Jordan will likely bring his Princeton offense with him, I don't see that stopping you from getting into the open floor on stops, where Jrue can shine. For the first couple years, he's going to have some trouble in the half court as he works on his jump shot, but I think that he will become a good half court player eventually. I think it would be best if you resigned Andre Miller or another veteran point guard so Jrue can come off the bench for 15 minutes a game early on and learn the game, then take the starting spot over in a year or two. All in all, a great pick by your Sixers.

More photos » by Bill Haber - AP

The Latest Ben Ball Warrior Soaking It In The NBA

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DC went down to NOLA yesterday along with Marcus Thornton (Hornet's other draft pick) to meet Coach Byron Scott, Chris Paul, the Hornets organization and experience his new city as the member of his first employer after college. As always he was pitch perfect wrt to perspective on how he fits in:

"When Chris Paul comes out of the game, it's not just about me running end-to-end," Collison began. "It's about me stabilizing the offense, making sure everybody's getting the ball and making sure I'm doing the right things so they won't have so much of a drop-off."

On the challenge he is going to face as an NBA rookie:

"It's not going to be easy my first year," he said. "There are going to be a lot of trials and tribulations, but I'm looking forward to it. Whatever the coach asks me to do, I'm going to give my best. Preparation is always going to be there."

And of course how being a Ben Ball Warrior prepared him for the NBA challenge:

"Staying four years at UCLA is definitely going to be helpful," said Collison, who graduated with a history degree. "Every day, every team wants to beat UCLA because you're UCLA. That's going to get the best out of me and it did. There's not one night I had to take off, and if I did take off, I would get embarrassed."

Of course reading DC's comments I couldn't help but think about the hype around a certain draftee with UCLA affiliation. Here we have DC talking about how much more he has to learn in his latest challenge while just few weeks ago we were reading about how Jrue Holiday is already a Chris Paul type of player.

People might get uncomfortable with this kind of compare and contrast but not doing it will be ignoring the elephant in the room. As always if you don't like reading our perspectives no need to read it or hang out here in BN. You can always stick with the polished press releases with feel good stats that are posted on the official site (which made Karl Dorrell and Steve Lavin look like legit head coaches).

Can't wait to see how it all unfolds for DC. I will certainly be checking At The Hive often (just like I check in over at Big Cat Country) to keep tabs on one of my favorite Bruins (not just Ben Ball Warriors) of all time.

GO BRUINS.

More photos » by Seth Wenig - AP

DC's Big Night In The Big Apple

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Still feeling jazzed this morning about how it all worked out for one of the great Bruins of all time. While it was amusing to see how the much hyped Jrue Holiday (who never lived up to his reputation of being an all world basketball player out of high school and failed to display the will and passion to win and defensive intensity necessary to excel in Coach Howland's basketball program) kept dropping out of the lottery round, the best part of the night was to see a sharp dressed DC up on that podium.

DC became a special Ben Ball warrior last night elevating him to another level beyond AA, JF, RW, LRMAM and KL. He becomes the first four year player under Ben Howland to get drafted in NBA's first round and I think that is pretty significant. Most of you have already read the emotional tone DC struck when he was asked about his four years at UCLA. You can't put any price around those words and you can bet DC will officially now serve as the perfect posterboy for Coach Howland's UCLA program when he is going out to the living room of parents of elite recruits who are looking to UCLA as more than just a one year stop at a five star hotel with a basketball gym. Oh and with DC's selection we can officially start calling Howlandwood PointGuardU with alums such as JF, RW and Baron Davis already shining in the league.

Going back to DC, as Dohn notes in his coverage today he is going into a great situation and he sounds prepared and well briefed about his new team:

"I didn't know if it was for sure I was going there, but I did know a lot about their organization," Collison said. "I didn't know they were going to pick me up until the minute before I got picked."

Collison, who played four seasons and went to three Final Fours with UCLA, said he knew the Hornets were highly interested because coach Byron Scott was in contact with him several times. He was the Hornets' only draft pick and will back up Paul, who averaged 10.4 assists, but also 40.2 minutes per game.

"Everybody in this generation wants to learn from the (best) point guards, Chris Paul or (Utah's) Deron Williams," said the 6-foot Collison. "I have an opportunity to compete against him every day in practice and get better. I know the reason they drafted me is because they needed help for that second string to take the load off him."

So one of my favorite Bruins (I am talking not just about Ben Ball) gets to learn from one of my favorite Lakers of all time. DC is fired up to play for Coach Bryon Scott:

Collison, in particular, knew that New Orleans was interested but did not think the Hornets would pick him so high. He enters seemingly perfect circumstances, backing up Chris Paul. There won't be as much pressure to produce while he learns from Coach Byron Scott and one of the best point guards in the game.

"It's a great situation," Collison said. "The draft board went exactly how I wanted it to go."

Coach Howland also made the same points in UCLA's official release:

"Darren is going to be in a great situation in the league, playing for an outstanding coach in Byron Scott and playing behind maybe the best point guard in the NBA," UCLA head coach Ben Howland said. "I'm really happy for both these kids and just real excited for them. It's a great situation for Darren."

Great situation indeed. More on DC in the official site which notes DC became the 106th UCLA player to be selected in NBA draft history (UCLA is the all-time collegiate leader in NBA Draft selections, since 1948). UCLA has had at least one player taken in the NBA Draft for the last 13 years (since the 1997 draft), which is the longest streak in the nation.

As for the other player with UCLA affiliation(on paper) in the draft, Jrue Holiday sounded fairly clueless about his new team, the 76ers:

"They're a young team, they definitely get up and down," he said. "It definitely fits my description, an up-and-down point guard who loves to run, loves to pass."

Uhhh. If Jrue had used the Google he would have known that 76ers are actually going to run a Princeton offense this season under Eddie Jordan. If you are an UCLA basketball fan, I don't need to go on and describe how a Princeton "offense" works. It should be burned into your brain for rest of your life. Oh, another note Jrue is going to be playing for a retread NBA basketball coach, who just got fired from the Washington Wizards.  Jrue isn't the only one who sounds unprepared and clueless in this situation. From the Philadelphia Inquirer:

Tonight, Stefanski spoke about Holiday. Reading between the lines, it sounded like Stefanski (76ers Generam Manager Ed Stefanski) didn't think Holiday would come in right away and earn all kinds of playing time, but he did say he was impressed with Holiday's defensive abilities and added that defense might be a way for Holiday to find some playing time.

LOL. I guess Stefanski or his staff didn't do their due diligence and watched the tapes of oh I don't know - the last game that Holiday played in a UCLA uniform right in their backyard? Guess they didn't bother looking up his tapes against A.J. Abrams and James Harden either. Oh they also drafted him without even watching him workout in person:

They took Holiday without watching him workout:

''When (his advisors) thought he'd go in the top 10, he cancelled,'' said Tony DiLeo, the Sixers senior vice-president/assistant general manager. ''We interviewed him in Chicago (at the predraft combine). We studied him. He fits our team.''

LOL at the line of his "advisors" thinking he'd be a top 10 pick. Guess they were the one who told Holiday to spin out of that by saying they were coming in from a perspective where Holiday would be a late first round/early second round pick? Holiday and his new team are already off message and out of sync with each other:

Only minutes after Holiday was selected, assistant GM Tony DiLeo said the Sixers did not expect Holiday to make an impact this coming season. A few minutes later, on a conference call from Madison Square Garden, Holiday said he disagreed with that, saying he expects to contribute right away.

Note the contrast with DC's comments above.

Good luck to him and hope he has "fun" playing infront of the warm and cuddly fans from Philadelphia. I am sure they are going to be very undesrtanding if he lollygags on defense, shies away from pressure and is afraid to step in big games (no doubt the Philly fans will not get tired of the lines about how he was just deferring to his more experienced team-mates when passing up wide open Js he is supposed to make). Whatever.

The most important thing out of last night is once again how it all ended for DC. As for his team-mates - JS and PAA - Coach Howland as always is thinking with optimism:

Howland said he expected both to receive invitations to NBA summer camps.

"Both of those kids will probably end up playing on NBA summer league teams," Howland said. "Both have good situations already on the table from high-level European (teams) if that doesn't work out for them."

I am not too worried about them either. It will work out all right with them and they have that degree to fall back on.

GO BRUINS.

Another NBA draft night. Hopefully it will be another night to celebrate the ever expanding NBA family of Ben Ball warriors here on Bruins Nation.

We know the NBA markets itself as the place "where amazing happens" but there is not much doubt about UCLA being the college basketball program where amazing begins. In case anyone needs a reminder per the datapoints our friends at Rush The Court looked up last July, UCLA has been the number 1 college basketball program in America since 1949 among schools with the most NBA draft picks.

We had an incredible draft night last year with KL, RW and LRMAM. Expectations are a little mellower this year. However, that shouldn't dampen the enthusiams to celebrate the contibutions of three incredibles seniors one more time here on Bruins Nation:

Graphic Credit: A Huge Thank You To Erkki Corpuz

The spotlight is obviously on DC, our floor general for last three years. If it all goes well it could be great night for him culminating after four incredible years in Westwood. We know JS and PAA are longest of long shots. However, as mentioned above it shouldn't by any means diminish the gratitude we all feel for the impact they have had on UCLA basketball helping Coach Howland rebuild our program.

The draft festivities get started tonight at 4 pm PST. WWL is all over it and you can follow ESPN's coverage online over here.

So best of luck to DC, JS and PAA tonight. They will have the whole Bruin Nation pulling for them. On that note fire away in our 2009 NBA Draft Party thread.

GO BRUINS.

UPDATE (N): Congrats to DC!!! He goes to New Orleans Hornets at number 21 spot. Earlier in the night Jrue Holiday despite the relentelss hype of being a lotter pick dropped down to number 17, going to Philly. Some early tidbits from UCLA athletics tweeter feed:

UCLA now has six first-round draft picks in the last four years. No one in the nation has more (pending the end of tonight's first round).

Coach Howland is classy and incredibly proud:

What a great day for UCLA Bruin players again! 2 more 1st round picks. Congras to Darren and Jrue. The whole team watched it in my office.

And we are all watched right here on BN. Now here is to wishing JS and PAA luck rest of the way and congrats one against to DC! GO BRUINS.

DC is heading to the Big Apple today for the NBA Draft (tomorrow is the big night). He is done with all of his workouts and he sounds excited and fired up for the next stage of his basketball career. He also sounds defiant and anxious to prove himself (even though he has nothing to prove here on BN after four great years in Westwood). He offered the following perspective to those who are questioning his NBA potential because he didn't take the same (or I guess these days one can say "conventional") route of leaving for the pros early in his college career:

The 6-foot-1, 170-pound Collison often worked out against underclassmen who declared early, much like he was expected to do a year ago before a last-minute decision led to a return for his senior season. And the more he worked out and interviewed with teams, the more he heard about questions in his game - like a lack of strength, inconsistent jumper and questionable on-court vision, according to scouts.

"I feel like just because I went to UCLA for four years my stock is dropping," Collison said. "That doesn't make any sense to me. You can't tell me a four-year guy is not going to contribute more than a two-year guy."

Apparently DC has been getting badgered by questions about how he does it feel for him to see his younger backcourt mates such as RW and Jrue Holiday getting more hype and attention from the NBA scouts:

"I asked them, `Am I still playing basketball?"' Collison said. "If I'm still playing the game of basketball, that's what's important to me. I really can't control who is higher. I'm going to have an opportunity to showcase my talent.

"Jrue deserves it. He's going to be an awesome player. Russell deserves it. Their careers have nothing to do with my career. That's what I told them. They wanted to see how I reacted to it."

All three are point guards, but Westbrook and Holiday played the off-guard position while Collison played the point at UCLA.

Collison said he didn't flinch when the subject was broached, but added it will serve as motivation.

"It's definitely more fuel for my fire when the summer league starts and the NBA (season) starts, but I don't have any issues with Russell and Jrue," he said. "Those are my good buddies. Off the court it's one thing, but on the court it's not just those guys. It's (all) guys that are drafted ahead of me that does add fuel and gets me pumped up."

Over the years I think we noted number of times how in some ways DC has been an extension of Coach Howland on the court. We can see the way he conducts himself with class and grace he is applying everthing he learned from Coach Howland off the court. It's going to be some moment when he gets his name called (hopefully) in the first round (fingers crossed) tomorrow night. We will be following via our open thread here on BN.

GO BRUINS.