UCLA lands Jrue Holiday

[Russ Smith]

I just PM'd this rumor to a couple of people but apparently it's not a rumor anymore since it's in the LA Times on their webpage now.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-spw-holiday3jul04,1,7958618.story?coll=la-headlines-sports

Jrue Holiday of North Hollywood Campbell Hall became the crown jewel of what could be the nation's No. 1 basketball recruiting class when he committed to UCLA on Tuesday.

Holiday, a 6-foot-4 senior, averaged 23.1 points, 9.4 rebounds and 6.4 assists in leading Campbell Hall to the state Division IV championship last season.

He can play point guard or shooting guard and has been rated one of the top players for his position in the nation.


he's expected to play PG at UCLA after Collison leaves as a junior, and he's probably a one and done kind of player. I've seen him compared to D Wade although he's an inch or two smaller. Just a phenomenal talent, everyone who sees him says they have not seen an elite guard who's this good on defense at this age, usually the guys with Jrue's offensive game take years to focus on defense but he's a rarity.

one link to highlights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ucbjbx8Ro0

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Yeah, this "rumor" has been out of the bag for quite awhile now.

Monster class for the Bruins.

 

[Russ Smith]

I usually wait until the actual press conference but apparently the Holiday family have confirmed the story already so it doesn't appear this is going to be one of those "Dewey wins" situations.

Man the Pac 10 is going to be loaded the next few years.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

What amuses me is Washington (among other Pac-10 schools) offered his older brother just to get their foot in the door and ended up being left in the cold as he ultimately chose a school that wasn't willing to offer a package deal. Props to Howland for calling the family's bluff, they got a terrific player even if he only does hang around for a year.

 

[Russ Smith]

What amuses me is Washington (among other Pac-10 schools) offered his older brother just to get their foot in the door and ended up being left in the cold as he ultimately chose a school that wasn't willing to offer a package deal. Props to Howland for calling the family's bluff, they got a terrific player even if he only does hang around for a year.

From what "insiders" say, taking Justin worked against UW because the family didn't want Jrue overshadowing him again like in HS. Also they didn't want both older brothers out of state because they have a 10 year old who idolizes both of them and they wanted at least one in LA.

From what I hear, Justin Holiday is a pretty good player in his own right but you're of course right that Romar was hoping for a package deal when he offered him.

So now the question is who steals Derozan from USC, Arizona, ASU, or UNC?

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

I think Derozan will stay a Trojan. Too much hometown pressure for him to decommit unlike Jennings who spends all summer playing AAU ball and then goes to Oak Hill in the fall.

 

[Russ Smith]

I think Derozan will stay a Trojan. Too much hometown pressure for him to decommit unlike Jennings who spends all summer playing AAU ball and then goes to Oak Hill in the fall.

Possible, from what I've heard, he's still not close to being a firm commit but to be honest I expected him to decommit by now.

USC fans think UCLA getting Jrue guarantees Demar goes to USC but I've never really believed UCLA was a threat for him because I felt for several months that Jrue was going to be a Bruin.

It sounds like UA is in good with Willie Warren and may prefer him to Demar anyways so I'm kind of thinking ASU is the team USC has to worry about. Apparently Demar and Harden are good friends so you had Jennings at UA trying to recruit him and now you have Harden trying to do the same thing at ASU.

I'd prefer he go to USC than somewhere like UNC but it would be hilarious if he picks ASU or UA and USC is left to dump Lil Romeo without making it obvious he was just a PR move.

 

[bko32]

Woohooo!!! UCLA has an unbelievable class coming in '08. If Kevin Love sticks around and the Bruins don't lose to many players to the draft next year, they are going to be crazy talented and deep at pretty much every position. UCLA basketball is definitely back....and with a vengance!!!

 

[Arizona's Finest]

I knew it when it happened and the confirmation just keeps coming in. The hiring of Howland was a masterstroke. This is similar to a Pete Carroll hire for the Trojans except i think everyone knew Howland would come in and do what he is doing.

I give a lot of love to UCLA for the recent success. Unlike Washington and even to a degree Stanford the uprising of the UCLA program is not a mercurial thing. With Howland in place they will continue to get top recruiting classes and obviously he has a sytem that works.

My only hope is that Kevin O'Neil keeps up the momentum he has so obviously brought to the UA program. Previously I was enamored with the idea of going out and picking up a Billy Gillepsie or a Mark Few after Lute retires but everything I have heard so far out of Tucson is very positive for the Cats with regards to O'neil.

Should be a hell of a battle as time goes on. And if SC, ASU and Washington can keep the recruiting wins and string together some deep tournament runs the Pac - 10 will take over as college basketballs preeminent conference.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Washington is looking like a flash in the pan with their recent recruiting and on-court failures. Two Sweet 16's and zero conference titles does not a program make. ASU just finished last in the conference and their recruiting has been mediocre at best outside of the James Harden package deal. USC has some terrific players lined up and already in the system but rely heavily on prep schoolers which the NCAA is cracking down upon so I'm not ready to crown them yet either although a change in philosophy could put them right there. The teams to watch out for other than the traditional powers are Wazzu and Stanford, both have started to recruit very well and should continue their momentum with solid teams this coming year.

 

[Russ Smith]

Washington is looking like a flash in the pan with their recent recruiting and on-court failures. Two Sweet 16's and zero conference titles does not a program make. ASU just finished last in the conference and their recruiting has been mediocre at best outside of the James Harden package deal. USC has some terrific players lined up and already in the system but rely heavily on prep schoolers which the NCAA is cracking down upon so I'm not ready to crown them yet either although a change in philosophy could put them right there. The teams to watch out for other than the traditional powers are Wazzu and Stanford, both have started to recruit very well and should continue their momentum with solid teams this coming year.

Stanford is one team I think could be VERY intriguing this year. They never really had that team at full strength last year due to various reasons, if Brook Lopez' back is 100% they could be REALLY tough this year. Their guards still have to get a lot better but on paper they have the best frontcourt in the conference easily. I can't forget how good they looked for a few weeks before Brooks' back started to act up again, that beating they put on UCLA in the 2nd half of that comeback win was impressive, the only other team that handled us like that all year was Florida.

I would have added Cal to that list but their starting backcourt recently got arrested and although they won't face criminal charges apparently they are still likely to face discipline by the school itself and that could be a killer. With Hardin and Anderson they're probably the biggest challenge to Stanford
as a frontcourt.

 

[MaoTosiFanClub]

Cal's backcourt should be arrested for abhorrent play, same goes for Ben Braun which is why I have no faith in that squad. Stanford returns their entire backcourt and Goods will be healthy so they should be fine in both aspects. Frontcourt play doesn't really mean all that much, UCLA's frontcourt has been below average since Ben Howland arrived and they've been fine and Arizona has rarely had a superstar on the blocks during Lute's era.

 

[Russ Smith]

Looks like Howland wants one more player in 08, and he wants a big. Supposedly UCLA offered J'Mison Morgan 6'10" from Texas over the weekend, and they're expected to be in the final 5 for Olek Czyz 6'8" from Nevada who's come out of nowhere in recent months. Polish kid who apparently can jump out of the gym, UCLA hasn't offered him yet but it's believed if they can't get Morgan then Czyz is their 2nd choice.

Morgan won't be easy he's still got heavy hitters on his list including Kansas.

And I have a new favorite player in HS, Brendan Lane from Rocklin, CA(near Sacramento). Apparently a very good prospect, but if the rumors are true an even better kid. Reportedly he told an Inside Carolina reporter a story about Tim Floyd that made me laugh. He was playing at an event and Tim Floyd came in and saw the last 10 minutes of the game.

After the game Floyd talked to him and said that's the first time I've seen you play, very impressive, and then offered him a scholarship on the spot. Lane looked at him, laughed, and said "you saw me play for 10 minutes and you're offering me? What kind of coach are you? No thanks." The quote is making the rounds on the Scout network so who knows, but if it's true this kid is tops in my book.

 

[Mulli]

Jrue and J'Mison? Come on now.

/J*Mulli.

 

[Russ Smith]

Jrue and J'Mison? Come on now.

/J*Mulli.

If they got J'Mison the 5 man class would have 3 J's, him, Jrue and Jerime Anderson. And 2 Drews, Gordon and Jrue which is pronounced Drew.

I don't know how Malcolm Lee got in there he may have to change his name.