In a long-rumored move, coach Ben Howland announced on Wednesday that sophomore forward Ryan Wright will not be returning for his junior season at UCLA.
Wright, who averaged 1.3 points and 0.9 rebounds last season, will finish out his spring quarter at UCLA, and transfer to another school at year’s end.
Although Wright has not announced where he will be transferring, it is largely speculated that he could end up at Santa Clara, where former Bruin assistant coach Kerry Keating, who first recruited Wright, is now the head coach.
“After speaking with my family and thinking about it for a long time, I feel that at this point in my career, the best thing for me to do is to explore other opportunities,” Wright said. “The coaching staff has helped me improve as a player and grow as a man, and I am thankful to them for that.”
Wright was likely going to see a logjam at the forward/center position next season, with incoming freshman Kevin Love playing the same position.
Wright will now have the opportunity to see significant playing time at another school, although he will have to sit out a year as is the rule with all transfers.
“Ryan is an outstanding young man and we appreciate what he has done for this program over the past two years,” Howland said. “He worked hard everyday, showed great improvement, and was an important part of our run to back-to-back Final Four appearances. We wish him nothing but the best.”
Wednesday’s announcement was a bittersweet ending for Wright during his time at UCLA. Although he participated in two consecutive Final Fours, Wright was largely a disappointment after being the top-rated recruit of the Bruins’ current sophomore class.
Wright had conversations with coach Howland prior to his freshman season about redshirting, and this past season, Wright was largely in Howland’s doghouse after struggling on defense.
On Wednesday, however, Howland had no hard feelings.
“He will always be a part of the Bruin family and we appreciate all of his efforts over the past two years,” Howland said. “He will stay a part of the team and continue to work out with his coaches as well as his teammates during the spring.”
Wright’s transfer opens up a pair of scholarships for the Bruins for either the 2007 or 2008 seasons. Since the team did not have a senior on this past season’s roster, they have two open scholarships for the 2007 recruiting class, and possibly three scholarships for the 2008 recruiting class.
COLLISON REPORT: At least half of UCLA’s vaunted backcourt will stay intact.
According to a FoxSports.com report, sophomore point guard Darren Collison will be returning to the Bruins for his junior season.
Collison met with coach Howland last week, and made his decision on Wednesday.
UCLA has not made the decision official, but Collison has until April 29 to decide whether to enter the NBA Draft.
Since Collison’s backcourt mate, junior Arron Afflalo, is putting his name in the NBA Draft for the second time, it is not likely that Afflalo will also return with Collison.
POSTSEASON AWARDS: In the Bruins’ end-of-the-year banquet on Monday, Afflalo was the big winner.
The junior won the Coach John R. Wooden award as the team’s most valuable player, and also was recognized as the team’s best defensive player for the third consecutive year.
Point guard Russell Westbrook was given the award for the team’s most valuable freshman, while sophomore center Alfred Aboya was given the Elvin “Ducky” Drake award for his unselfish contributions to the team.
DRIBBLERS: Former Michigan signee Alex Legion, who was let out of his letter of intent last week, reportedly took UCLA off the list of the four schools he is considering signing with.
Legion, a 2007 recruit who will be a freshman next year, is considering Connecticut, Kentucky, Kansas and Michigan.
The NCAA on Wednesday announced that they will be proposing a ban on text messages to recruits. Unlike phone calls and letters, text messages are not regulated by the NCAA. Former Bruin assistant coach Keating became famous for his use of the technology.