Commitment of the latest Ben Ball warrior is the story of the day. Painter from DN has a money quote from Drew on the coaching style of his future head head coach:
He's the nation's 20th-best recruit and No. 8 forward, according to Scout.com.
"(UCLA) has been to the Final Four two straight years - that's saying something automatically," Gordon said via conference call Monday. "(Ben Howland's) coaching style, his personality, just sets you up for greatness, I guess. Just seeing the people that are coming into the program and the people that are leaving the program, really assures me that I'm going to be able to be coached by a good coach."
Gordon, a junior, was named the CIF Central Coast Section's player of the year, first-team all-state and an EA Sports All-American among many other accolades.
The Times has more good quotes from Drew including this on why he chose our Bruins over North Carolina, Arizona, Duke, Cal and Washington:
"(UCLA) has been to the Final Four two straight years - that's saying something automatically," Gordon said via conference call Monday. "(Ben Howland's) coaching style, his personality, just sets you up for greatness, I guess. Just seeing the people that are coming into the program and the people that are leaving the program, really assures me that I'm going to be able to be coached by a good coach."
Gordon, a junior, was named the CIF Central Coast Section's player of the year, first-team all-state and an EA Sports All-American among many other accolades.
"All the schools were great schools, all the coaches were excellent coaches," Gordon said. "UCLA and its staff would be the best fit for me at this point in time to be able to further my career beyond college. Basically, that's what it came down to.
The Gordon went about picking their school in a methodical and deliberate way without taking advantage of the all the pomp and fanfare showered on blue chip recruits. From the same LAT article:
Gordon visited all of the campuses on unofficial trips paid for by his family. Recruits can only make official trips during their senior year.
"We did it unofficially, all of it with our own travel budget," said Gordon's mother, Shelly. "They can't wine you and dine you, the schools can't put on an extra show for you. You just see the stripped down program. You meet the coaches, see the living conditions, look at a game, look at the workout situation."
In other words those aforementioned programs were nice and all, but there is no absolutely no comparison to the paradise we all know and love as Westwood."We did it unofficially, all of it with our own travel budget," said Gordon's mother, Shelly. "They can't wine you and dine you, the schools can't put on an extra show for you. You just see the stripped down program. You meet the coaches, see the living conditions, look at a game, look at the workout situation."
Gordon of course may not be the last recruit for the 2008 class. Painter has this from Tracy Pierson of Bruin Report Online (BRO) on what may be in store for Bruin recruiting in the coming months:
There's no denying UCLA's 2008 class could be one of the best in the country. In addition to Gordon, guard Malcolm Lee (Riverside North) and guard Jerime Anderson (Canyon High of Anaheim) already have committed. There are two more spots available for the 2008 class.
"(The class) is big if you combine it with Jerime Anderson and Malcolm Lee," Pierson said. "It's shaping up to be a top-five recruiting class. If they continue to do well, and if they get (Campbell Hall's) Jrue Holiday, and another big (man), it could compete for the No. 1 class in the country."
For now, UCLA can celebrate a verbal commitment - which is non-binding - from Gordon.
"He's a great athlete that gets off the floor really quickly," Pierson said. "He's a great shot blocker and runs well for how big he is. His skills have improved and he's developed a jump hook around the basket. He has tremendous potential for his size and athleticism."
So once again welcome to Drew."(The class) is big if you combine it with Jerime Anderson and Malcolm Lee," Pierson said. "It's shaping up to be a top-five recruiting class. If they continue to do well, and if they get (Campbell Hall's) Jrue Holiday, and another big (man), it could compete for the No. 1 class in the country."
For now, UCLA can celebrate a verbal commitment - which is non-binding - from Gordon.
"He's a great athlete that gets off the floor really quickly," Pierson said. "He's a great shot blocker and runs well for how big he is. His skills have improved and he's developed a jump hook around the basket. He has tremendous potential for his size and athleticism."
As for rest of you sit back, relax, and enjoy watching Howland and his crew in recruiting action. I was cracking last few days reading some of the comedy routine on BRO where maniacal posters were losing it over every single comment coming out of Gordon camp (these are the same guys who thought we were losing DC to the NBA after the story of June Collison leaving her job so that she could spend more time watching her son develop as a ball player became public). Despite all the fretting for no reason once again Howland's program is sitting pretty, well positioned to defend its Pac-10 title and more importantly in position to make another legit run for banner number 12. I couldn't ask for anything more as die hard Bruin alum who lives and breathes UCLA basketball.
Thank God for Ben Howland.
GO BRUINS.