Bruins Nation: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Around SBN: Manny Knocks In Five, D'Backs Drop To Second Bar-right-arrows



Jruuuuuue Holiday: National Player Of The Year

Raisin was already on the good news last night.

For the second consecutive year Coach Ben Howland will have a NPOY in his incoming recruiting class. Last year it was of course this week's SI cover boy, this year it is none other than our local kid Jruuuuuuuuuuuuuuue Holiday. From the Daily News:

Campbell Hall of North Hollywood basketball standout Jrue Holiday was named the 2007-08 Gatorade National Boys' Basketball Player of the Year.

Holiday, who led the Vikings to three state championships in four seasons, including the Div. IV title this year, will receive his award this afternoon at a ceremony on campus.

The 6-foot-3 guard averaged 25.4 points, 11.2rebounds, 6.4assists, 4.4 steals and 2.4 blocks per game this year for the Vikings, his last before joining UCLA next season.

He's just the second player in area history to surpass 2,600 career points, finishing with 2,666. Mitchell Butler, who played at Oakwood of North Hollywood, scored 2,682points over his career.
Can you imagine what Coach Howland would have done with Mitchell Butler? (who BTW IIRC was also the valedictorian of his high school class). Anyway, Coach Howland was thrilled for the Holidays, as was his current head coach. From the LA Times:
"I've been telling people all year long that he's the most complete player in high school basketball," Coach Terry Kelly said of Holiday, who will receive his award during a ceremony today on campus.

It's the second consecutive year a high school player who signed with UCLA has received the boys' award. Last season's honoree was freshman center Kevin Love.

Two-time NBA All-Star Baron Davis, a UCLA recruit out of Santa Monica Crossroads, received the award in 1997.

"It's a terrific honor, a very special honor to be recognized as national player of the year," UCLA Coach Ben Howland said. "I'm excited for Jrue and his family because it's a great accomplishment. He led his team to another state championship, so he had a great year."

The award is based not only on outstanding athletic performance but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character on and off the court.
We are all proud of Jrue. Congrats to the Holidays. I know everyone is consumed with tomorrow night. But I cannot wait to see Jrue with U.C.L.A. stitched in front of his basketball uniform.

GO BRUINS.

0 recs | Comment 2 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Wow!
It's impossible not to get excited about next season when I see this.  Way to go, Jrue!  Can't wait to see you play for our Bruins!
Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 19, 2008 12:09 PM PDT   0 recs

I had the wonderful pleasure of seeing this kid...
TROUNCE my son's team this season (Calvary Chapel Downey).

Holiday was a MAN among boys.  What marveled me the most was his poise.  The floor seemed belonged to him.

I'm not sure that he'll be "one and done" with the Bruins.  There are simply way too many 6'3" talented guys at the next two levels.  Time will tell, I guess.  Kevin Love turned out way better than I thought too.

Go Bruins!    

by class1984 on Mar 19, 2008 2:21 PM PDT   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Welcome to Bruins Nation, an unofficial daily online scrap book covering the greatest collegiate athletic program in the nation. GO BRUINS.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

080513__0038_1_small
A Message to the SPTR's: It's About Judgment Not Rules
13-9_ucla_baby____036_small
Videos from the Rose Bowl's Field of Dreams
10113_big_small
The Impact of Labor Day Football On National TV
13-9_small
Magical Mystery Tour
9ceb0165-b773-443d-8a5f-cb4befbe4c28_small
A Tennessee Gameplan (through NCAA Football 09)

Recent FanPosts

9ceb0165-b773-443d-8a5f-cb4befbe4c28_small
UCLA #4 on Top 10 "Gutsiest" BCS Teams
Telemachus_small
Coach Neuheisel "In My Own Words"
Bruinsnation_small
Howland Digging JK's Offseason Workout Results
Telemachus_small
FIDO
Small
Pac 10 v SEC: Some more facts
Getcarter_small
"This is why they fired you Karl Dorrell"
Bruinsnation_small
Hire Lavin & Toledo = Get Inducted Into UCLA Hall Of Fame?
Telemachus_small
Still basking in the glow

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini


Managers

094_small Ajax

Bruinsnation_small Nestor

Menelaus2_small Menelaus

Arron_afflalo1_small Tydides

Brad_pitt_as_achilles_small Achilles

Small Meriones

Telemachus_small Telemachus

Small Odysseus

ad

Site Meter