Scott Duncan has never lived in Los Angeles or California.
But after getting the Bruins’ assistant coach job on Wednesday, he certainly didn’t need any introduction to the basketball legacy in Westwood.
Duncan, who has spent the last seven years as an assistant coach at Oregon, fulfilled a lifelong dream by coming to the Bruins.
“When you think of college basketball, there is one school you think of,” Duncan said. “UCLA is the premier college basketball program in the country.
“I would have not left Oregon for any other assistant coaching position in the country.”
Duncan, who was hired to replace former assistant Kerry Keating, is known as one of the top recruiters on the West Coast and was recently honored by Rivals.com as one of the top assistants in the country.
Duncan’s most recent prized recruit was Oregon guard Bryce Taylor, who signed with the Ducks after being recruited by Duncan in the Los Angeles area.
“I am very pleased that Scott Duncan has accepted the position of assistant coach,” coach Ben Howland said.
“He comes with a great background in coaching and is very well respected as an outstanding recruiter.”
“He is a very experienced coach, an outstanding person, and I feel very fortunate to have him join the Bruin family.”
Duncan’s most recent coaching background was with the high-octane offense that the Ducks have run in the Pac-10 for the last seven seasons.
But after coaching against Howland and the Bruins for the past four years, Duncan certainly knows first-hand the defensive-minded mentality that he will be working with at UCLA.
“I am excited for the challenge,” Duncan said. “Hopefully, whatever I learn from the other coaches, I can add into my cupboard along with my 26 years of coaching experience.”
When he arrives in Los Angeles from Eugene this weekend, Duncan’s first responsibility will most likely be finding a possible recruit to take the place of departed junior Arron Afflalo.
But after spending the majority of his coaching career recruiting in California, it’s something that Duncan will not be fazed by.
“UCLA is certainly not doing anything wrong where they are,” Duncan said. “I just have to step in and pick up where they need me.”
WOODEN UPDATE: Legendary coach John Wooden could be released from an area hospital today, UCLA announced.
Wooden, who was treated for a reaction to a combination of medications, has been hospitalized since Sunday and was reported to have been walking around a little bit the last few days.
“Dad is feeling better and we hope he will be released (today),” said his daughter, Nan Muehlhausen.
“The doctors wanted him to have some solid food in his system before they let him go home. Hopefully, that will be (today).”
Wooden was hospitalized in April 2006 for a symptom similar to what he felt this week. Last year, he suffered from diverticulitis, an inflammation of pockets in the colon.