A lingering knee injury has prevented Ryan Hollins from
competing for a spot on the 2004 USA Basketball World Championship
20-and-under team.
But he is still expected to recover in time for UCLA’s
season opener November 20 against Chicago State.
Hollins, a redshirt junior who started 16 games last year at
center and averaged 6.5 points per game, was one of 24 players
selected to participate at the National Team Trials and training
camp taking place this week in New Jersey.
But Hollins recently informed USA Basketball that he would not
be able to attend because of the injury, which might require
arthroscopic surgery.
He also will miss the remaining portion of the Nike Los Angeles
College Pro-City League, which he played in last summer but had not
yet suited up for this year. He attended Sunday’s
Sinclairs’ Bruins and Playmakers game to watch many of his
teammates play.
The 6-foot-11 center was not wearing any visible braces and was
walking without a limp. He was unavailable for comment when
contacted regarding the injury.
Having lost the starting center job to teammate Michael Fey at
the beginning of last season, Hollins emerged as one of the few
bright spots for a Bruin team that went 11-17.
Hollins is once again expected to compete for the starting
center position along with Michael Fey once again this year.
But the two may share the court frequently this upcoming
season.
The Bruin frontline from last season has been depleted with the
graduation of T.J. Cummings and Trevor Ariza’s decision to
leave for the NBA.
Should Hollins’ injury force him to miss part of the
regular season, the void would most likely be filled by Josiah
Johnson, Matt McKinney and incoming freshman Lorenzo Mata.
With reports from Sagar Parikh, Bruin sports
reporter