Despite the departure of freshman Trevor Ariza, not all is lost
for UCLA basketball.
“In the long run, we’re going to be fine,”
coach Ben Howland said. “It may hamper next season’s
team more than I’d like, but it’s going to give younger
kids opportunities.”
Ariza, who announced Tuesday he would make himself eligible for
the NBA Draft in June and was released from his scholarship
agreement, would have been UCLA’s starting power forward for
the 2004-05 season. Starting at small forward in all but one Pac-10
game this past season, Ariza averaged 11.6 points and 6.5 rebounds
per game.
Incoming freshman forward Lorenzo Mata and juniors-to-be Ryan
Hollins and Michael Fey should expect to receive more playing time,
Howland said.
Hollins started at center this past season, but the 7-footer
will get more minutes next season at power forward, his natural
position.
The 6-foot-9 Mata should now receive immediate playing time in
his first year out of South Gate High School.
UCLA is also very much in the running for 7-foot forward Robert
Rothbart from Natomas High in Sacramento. The first day of the late
signing period came Wednesday without a national letter of intent
from Rothbart, who is also considering Indiana.
Prep All-American Malik Hairston of Detroit Renaissance is also
considering UCLA, and there is a possibility the Bruins could sign
both he and Rothbart even though Mata, Jordan Farmar, Arron Afflalo
and Josh Shipp have already signed.
The 5/8 scholarship rule currently limits schools to giving out
five scholarships in one recruiting class and a maximum of eight in
two seasons, but it is currently under review by the NCAA and could
be repealed April 29.
“There’s a lot of support for (repealing) it, and
Ariza is a classic example why,” Howland said.
Under current regulations, although Ariza leaves, UCLA would
still not be able to sign more than five recruits. The abolition of
the 5/8 rule combined with the opening of a scholarship due to
Ariza’s early exit would mean that UCLA could conceivably add
both Hairston and Rothbart.
Hairston, though, is presumably the Bruins’ top
priority.