Ben Howland didn’t want this. Neither did Lolita Ariza,
who apparently had disapproved of this type of behavior from her
son.
But emerging UCLA basketball star Trevor Ariza did it anyway,
announcing at a press conference Tuesday afternoon that he would
send in a letter today making himself eligible for the NBA Draft on
June 24.
Ariza, 18, will not hire an agent, thus preserving his
collegiate eligibility should he withdraw from draft consideration
by June 17. But the 6-foot-7 forward essentially ended his UCLA
career by asking for and being granted a release from his
scholarship agreement.
“This is what I want to do,” Ariza said.
Ariza, who averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds per game for
UCLA is the second Bruin this week to make himself eligible for the
NBA Draft. Junior swingman Dijon Thompson held his press conference
last Wednesday, though he will stay in school is expected to
withdraw and return to the team after receiving his evaluation from
the NBA.
Both Thompson and Ariza have asked to have their draft prospects
surveyed and will receive their results May 3.
But Ariza dropped his spring quarter classes so he could begin a
daily training regimen with a personal trainer. Because he is no
longer in school, it would be difficult for him to maintain his
academic eligibility should he wish to return to UCLA.
“Right now, the way things are looking, I don’t
think it’s possible,” Ariza said.
Ariza would be expected to transfer to another Division I school
and sit out a year should he withdraw. But Coach Howland believes
the scenario is unlikely because Ariza would rather play in another
domestic league or overseas should he not be taken in the two-round
draft.
“Trevor is going into this expecting to be drafted and
make a team,” Howland said.
Howland had up until last week expected Ariza to return for the
2004-05 season, given that he and Lolita Ariza, Trevor’s
mother, advised him to stay in school.
“It would have benefitted him both as a student and as a
basketball player,” Howland said.
But Ariza changed his mind and brought his family in to meet
with Howland last Tuesday to inform the first-year coach of his
intentions.
Asked who originally encouraged him to turn pro, Ariza said,
“A lot of people,” mentioning a former assistant coach
at Westchester High School in Los Angeles, where he won two state
titles. But he failed to identify any others.
Ultimately, he has his family’s blessing.
“I stand behind him,” Lolita Ariza said.
“She said I have to live my life, and if this is what I
want to do to chase (my) dream,” Trevor Ariza said.
Ariza’s nightmare, of course, would be not hearing his
named called on draft night. With the influx of high school and
foreign players in recent years, it is very possible Ariza will not
be one of the 60 players selected.
Not that Ariza sees it that way.
“I’m not really thinking about what if it
doesn’t happen, because I don’t think that’s
happening,” he said.
“My dream has always been to go to the NBA ever since I
was little.”
Ariza must bulk up his 205-pound frame and improve his
ball-handling and shooting skills to improve his stock.
UCLA loses its third-leading scorer, second-leading rebounder
and steals leader in Ariza. Junior Josiah Johnson is the only
returning forward on a team that went 11-17 this past season.
“My overall college experience was good except for losing
too much,” said Ariza, who made the All-Pac-10 Freshman
team.
But Howland sees the bright side.
“It gives others an opportunity next year, and in the long
term, we’re going to be just fine.”
With reports from David Regan, Bruin Sports Senior
Staff.