Brain, Mustafa Abdul-Hamid
Men’s basketball ““ Redshirt junior guard
On the court and off, Abdul-Hamid’s intelligence is legendary. The communication studies and global studies student emerged as one of the men’s basketball team’s most vital minds in running the offense.
“To be able to facilitate, manage and control a game is really important, and then communicating that to other people is really important,” Abdul-Hamid said. “And that’s my focus.”
Balancing basketball and his studies are nothing new for Abdul-Hamid.
“I remember back in high school, I would work out the night before a game, and I would study the same night and I would stay in the gym until 2, 3 o’clock in the morning,” Abdul-Hamid said just outside the locker room in Pauley Pavilion. “There’s been some late nights here. I’ve almost stayed till the crack of dawn.”
Hair, Nick Vogel
Men’s volleyball ““ Sophomore quick hitter
With his 9-inch-long hair, Vogel stands out at any volleyball game and even when walking to class.
“It’s something to notice on campus. A tall skinny white guy with long hair and a goatee just makes me a little more noticeable. In the game, it might even serve as a distraction. Like, “˜Oh look at that guy, he looks like a tall, handsome Jesus,’ but then I block him straight down and there’s the distraction.”
Vogel hasn’t cut his hair in more than two years and said he “isn’t a big fan of haircuts.” Men’s volleyball coach Al Scates hasn’t really bugged him about his hair though.
“Yeah, I might cut, when I die,” Vogel said. “Yeah, there it is, I said it.”
Mouth, Rahim Moore
Football ““ Rising junior free safety
One of the Bruins’ most vocal players, Rahim Moore has a special position on the team. After the Bruins’ loss to USC on Nov. 28, 2009, Moore was especially vocal on USC coach Pete Carroll’s decision to go for a touchdown with the game already decided.
Here’s an excerpt from Brantley Watson’s Daily Bruin column after that game:
UCLA players, however, weren’t so subtle about their frustration with the late-game pass.
One of them was the outspoken sophomore free safety Rahim Moore.
“We was pissed,” Moore said. “I was shocked actually, how they just scored on us. They low-key disrespected us.”
Moore didn’t stop there.
“They came out in a regular formation, and I bet everybody thought they was going to run the ball,” Moore said. “But they end up passing it, and everybody was like, “˜Wow.’ They was just shocked.”
“I was speechless man, I don’t even know what happened.”
And then Moore had just a little bit more to say.
“They felt like, “˜OK, they want some more,'” Moore said. “Knowing their coaching staff, they was like, “˜OK, we going to take a shot on them.’ We should have known that man, but, hey, they caught us slipping.”
He’s like a quote factory, that Rahim Moore.
Eyes, David Estrada
Men’s soccer ““ Senior forward
Estrada has an impeccable ability to thread any pass between defenders and is tied for the lead in assists this season with the Bruins. UCLA will be missing Estrada’s passing; he got picked up by the Seattle Sounders with the 11th pick in the MLS SuperDraft in January.
Shoulders, Reeves Nelson
Men’s basketball ““ Freshman forward
The ornaments on his shoulders aside, Nelson has been using his deltoids to make himself a major inside presence for the Bruins in his freshman season. Nelson’s philosophy on his aggressive play in the paint is simple: “You just have to be physical and play as hard as you can, that’s all.”
Left Arm, Haythem Abid
Men’s Tennis ““ Redshirt senior
The Tunisia native overcame wrist injuries this season to become a critical part of UCLA’s recent tournament runs. Abid was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection as a junior and teamed with Nick Meister to knock off Mississippi’s top-ranked doubles team in the 2009 NCAA quarterfinals.
Right Arm, Dan Klein
Baseball ““ Redshirt sophomore pitcher
The former high school quarterback has emerged as a shut-down closer for the Bruins, recording nine saves and posting a 2.23 ERA.
One of coach John Savage’s most trusted arms, Klein appeared in 31 of UCLA’s first 52 games after recovering from shoulder surgery, which forced him to redshirt last season.
“The arm feels great,” Klein said. “I had surgery last year, rehabbed for a long time and worked for a long time to get where I am. It feels awesome now.”
Klein’s football background ““ at the sport’s most integral position, nonetheless ““ has familiarized him with having the ball in his hand in clutch situations. And while he possesses mid-90s velocity, control has been Klein’s greatest asset.
“What’s made me successful this year is my ability to throw all four pitches for strikes,” he said.
Lungs, Marco Anzures
Men’s cross country ““ Senior
Anzures was the Bruins’ No. 1 runner in half his races this season and No. 2 in the other half. Few players have the endurance he has to keep going for all 10 kilometers of an NCAA race.
Abs, Chay Lapin
Men’s water polo ““ Redshirt senior goalkeeper
The “cagey” senior boasted the stomach of steel that is necessary to his position. Lapin’s ability to move horizontally and vertically to block shots with his body allowed the Bruins to be one of the nation’s best defensive teams.
Legs, Nelson Rosario
Men’s track and field ““ redshirt sophomore jumper; Football ““ wide receiver
Rosario is one of UCLA’s rare two-sport athletes, and his talents in both are unmatched. His hops make him a huge target for quarterbacks and the go-to man for the track and field team’s jumping events. Not to mention, his jumping ability makes him a tough cookie for anyone playing basketball in the Wooden Center.
Left Foot, Jeff Locke
Football ““ Rising redshirt sophomore punter
The only thing higher than Locke’s punts is the regard in which he is viewed in college football. In his first year in Westwood, Locke was one of 10 semifinalists for the Ray Guy Award and was named Freshman All-America, as well as to the Pac-10 Second Team. He averaged 43.6 yards per punt.
Right Foot, Kai Forbath
Football ““ Rising redshirt senior placekicker
Perhaps the most reliable Bruin in the past four years, Forbath is fresh off a season in which he won the Lou Groza Award for the nation’s best placekicker. He is entering a season for which he’s already been named a Lindy’s Preseason First-Team All-American. With his senior season ahead of him, look for Forbath to knock the football between the uprights.
Compiled by Ryan Eshoff and Farzad Mashhood, Bruin Sports senior staff. Graphic by Maxwell Henderson, Bruin senior staff.