Parents are Watching (Part 2)

by Tydides on Aug 2, 2007 11:57 PM PDT in Basketball Comment 4 comments

It's hard to get away from the toxic atmosphere surrounding the football program. For a breath of fresh air, we can always turn to basketball. Over the summer, future Bruin PG Jerime Anderson is determined to prove the doubters wrong. From the OC Register:

"I had a great summer to prove myself," said Anderson, 17, on Tuesday night, resting at home in Anaheim before his Friday flight to the adidas Basketball Experience in New Orleans. "A lot of people were questioning why UCLA would want me and whether I was really that good. Now, I don't think there's any doubt."

Now Bruins coach Ben Howland looks like a genius again. He was the first to jump on Anderson last fall, when only Cal had offered a scholarship and USC, Gonzaga, Illinois and Connecticut had yet to make their pitches to the 6-foot-2, 170-pounder.

During an unofficial visit to Westwood on Sept. 7, Howland met with Anderson and his parents, Mark and Delana, offered the full ride and said, "I'd like you to lead us to our next national championship." Anderson, who considered UCLA his dream school since picking up basketball at the local YMCA at age 4, immediately accepted.

But after news emerged about Anderson's commitment, the recruiting analysts wondered whether Howland had been hoodwinked into locking up an unhyped player so early in the game.

But it wasn't just the analysts who were doubting Jerime's ability.

His parents, who helped guide their son toward becoming a top-flight prospect since they convened for a kitchen table meeting when Anderson was 13, had interviewed the parents of NBA star Gilbert Arenas, knew the recruiting pitfalls and steered him toward the best camps and traveling teams. But they weren't prepared for the pundits.

"My parents tried to protect me from everything that people were saying and writing about on the Internet," Anderson recalled. "They (critics) said that I was too inconsistent, that I forced the ball and my shot too much and didn't seem UCLA caliber. That hurt me."

I don't see the negativity and doubting mentioned in the article coming from BN. I think it's safe to say that Jerime's early detractors came from elsewhere. (Full disclosure: it doesn't appear to be a ringing endorsement either, but we knew far less 11 months ago.) We were not dismissive based on "star ratings". We wanted to know more about our future PG.

The online Bruin community is generally concentrated into a select few sites of which I'm sure we are all too familiar. Could it be that our pollyanna Romper Room buddies who will stick with KD through thin and thin were the ones slamming a 16-year-old kid? No, it couldn't be that. (/rolls eyes) Just remember, the parents are watching. And so are the recruits. Perhaps these same pundits are the ones slandering Ben Howland for not "remembering people's birthdays" like their hero and savior, Karl Dorrell.

Anderson goes on to talk about Howland "taking a chance" on him and not wanting to let him down. Combine that with his desire to be a Bruin since he was 4 and we've got another potential fan favorite on our hands. The article is a must read for all of our resident BBall junkies.

And Anderson isn't alone in making the most of his summer, as some of our key returning players have been busy right here on campus at SAC. We're talking about Bruins like Love, Farmar, Collison, Afflalo, Toby Bailey, Hollins, Mata, BDiddy, Earl Watson, and Westbrook playing with and against some of the NBA's best. I highly recommend this article too (if you can selectively ignore OJ2 intruding on our territory).

All signs are looking good, and I'm feeling very bullish on our basketball team, next year and into the future.

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Thank you...

It's been so draining/depressing to think about this upcoming football season. We haven't even played a game yet, and I already feel as if our team is playing not to lose, particularly with all the expectations this year.

The basketball team, on the other hand, just oozes with a quiet confidence, a desire to prove people wrong and constantly improve. Even our 17 year-old recruits are playing with the typical Howland-Warrior mentality. Just a great story of a kid playing with great humility and determination. I just can't get enough of it....

Go BRUINS!!!

by norcalbruin95 on Aug 3, 2007 9:28 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

SAC?

Thanks for the link to the great DB article. One question from an old-timer though; is the SAC what we used to call the Men's Gym?

by Calchas on Aug 3, 2007 10:14 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Yes...

The Men's Gym is now called the SAC.

by norcalbruin95 on Aug 3, 2007 10:45 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

SAC

This is the gym that JW used to sweep every day before practice to ensure good footing for the players, and the handball courts are right above it just up those stairs on the west side. There used to be some seating, but no A/C. I am sure that has changed.....
Bill

BillSouthBay

by BillSouthBay on Aug 3, 2007 11:11 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs