Bruin Bites: BOOM! Arizona DL Commit, Jake Burton, Flips to UCLA

Welcome to today's Bruin Bites. If you had MLK Day off yesterday, this morning kicks off the work week for you. If you had to work yesterday, it's a typical Tuesday. Either way, get the morning started right with some "Bruin Bites" about UCLA sports.

Football Recruiting

BOOM! According to Bruin Report Online (in an article that is not behind a firewall at the time of this writing), Jake Burton, a 6'6" 265 lb. defensive lineman, has rescinded his commitment to the Arizona Wildcats and decided to become a Bruin in 2016. Burton, from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, CA, appears to have good speed for his size can play both defensive tackle and defensive end.

Here is Burton's tweet about his commitment to UCLA:

My family and I have decided that UCLA is the place for me! #gobruins pic.twitter.com/c6tZmweXPw

— Jake Burton (@jake_burton9) January 19, 2016

Check back later today for more on Burton in Bruins Nation's Recruiting Reset, Part II, which will look at the defensive side of the ball.

Men's Basketball Recruiting

UCLA commits Lonzo Ball and T.J. Leaf have been named to the 2016 McDonald's All-American Team. Ball and Leaf will play for the west when the game is played on March 30th at the United Center in Chicago.

Congratulations to Lonzo and T.J. We can't wait to see you represent the four letters next season.

Women's Basketball

The #20 ranked UCLA Women's basketball team (12-5, 4-2 PAC 12) pulled out a tight victory, 75-73, over Washington State (12-6, 3-4 PAC 12) on Sunday in Pullman, WA. The Cougars had two chances to send the game into overtime in the waning seconds, but both shots missed the mark, allowing UCLA to escape with the win. UCLA missed its last six shots of the game.

The Bruins earned a split in the state of Washington and, as a result, dropped three spots in the rankings from #17. UCLA returns to Pauley Pavillion to face the NorCal schools this week, with U.C. Berkeley on Friday and #12 Stanford on Sunday.

Men's Tennis

The #14 ranked UCLA Men's Tennis team participated in the Sherwood Collegiate Cup in Thousand Oaks, CA this past weekend. UCLA fared well, with the doubles team of Karue Sell and Joseph Di Giulio taking the doubles championship. Congratulations to Karue and Joseph!

UCLA junior Gage Brymer reached the singles final, but fell to Baylor's Julian Letz. Brymer is rounding into form after suffering a broken hand last season.

The Bruins face the University of San Francisco in their first dual match of the season this Wednesday at home.

Women's Tennis

UCLA participated in the National Collegiate Tennis Classic last weekend in Indian Wells, CA. UCLA senior Catherine Harrison advanced to the singles final, where she fell, 1-6, 7-5, 6-3, to Arizona State's Desirae Krawczyk.

Swimming and Diving

UCLA swept the Bruin Diving Invitational last weekend. Junior Annika Lenz won the platform event in dominating fashion, scoring a 321.95, a margin of 90 points (!) over Southern Cal rival, Madison Witt. Sophomore Maria Polyakova won both springboard events.

That's a wrap for the #BruinDivingInvite! Polyakova swept the boards, while Lenz took the tower. #UCLA #GoBruins pic.twitter.com/zI4VtaOxem

— UCLA Swim And Dive (@UCLASwimAndDive) January 17, 2016

Way to go Annika and Maria!!

The Bruins next host Stanford on January 29th.

I hope that you enjoyed today's Bruin Bites. Have a great day and Go Bruins!!!