UCLA men’s basketball may have lost some key members of last year’s backcourt to the NBA, but it got some good news regarding the future of those positions with four-star 2015 shooting guard recruit Prince Ali announcing his commitment to the Bruins Saturday.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound shooting guard from Pembroke Pines, Fla., is described by ESPN.com as very athletic, with a quick first step, strong driving ability, some point guard skills and defensive versatility.
Ali is coach Steve Alford’s second 2015 commit, as he will join four-star point guard Aaron Holiday, who committed earlier this year. With Ali and Holiday, the latter of whom is also an athletic defender, UCLA figures to have a dynamic defensive backcourt come 2015.
Ali’s commitment is also the newest in a string of many high-quality recruits picked up by Alford. Now entering his second season as UCLA’s coach, Alford has already received commitments from six players rated either four or five stars, including now-freshman forward Kevon Looney and 2016 five-star point guard Lonzo Ball. Alford was also able to convince now-sophomore guard Isaac Hamilton, a former four-star prospect, to transfer to Westwood before last season.
UCLA begins its 2014 season on Nov. 14 against Montana State.
Compiled by Kevin Bowman, Bruin Sports senior staff.