The long-term and immediate future of UCLA men’s basketball looks to be more stable after news came by Tuesday night regarding two players wearing Anderson on the back of their jerseys.
First, top prospect Kyle Anderson announced via his Twitter account that he will attend UCLA in 2012.
Anderson, a 6-foot-7-inch swingman from St. Anthony’s High School in New Jersey, is the Bruins’ third commit for the class of 2012 and is ranked as the No. 5 recruit in the country by ESPNU, No. 2 by Rivals.com and No. 4 by Scout.com. He joins top 100 recruits Jordan Adams and Dominic Artis as UCLA commits.
Anderson projects as a point guard, a position that Howland had whiffed on in recruiting in the past, and one that previously looked thin for the Bruins before Artis and Anderson chose UCLA. Larry Drew II, a North Carolina transfer, is the only returning point guard on the roster for the 2012-13 season, which will be his redshirt senior year.
Could Anderson’s commitment be a harbinger of another key recruit heading Westwood’s way? Last month, hoops writer Adam Zagoria caught up with both Anderson and Shabazz Muhammad, the guy that tops recruiting charts and 2013 NBA Draft boards seemingly everywhere, at a Venice Beach tournament. UCLA’s recruiting class is already rated as one of the top in the nation, but the rich could be getting richer if Muhammad also picks the Bruins. Here’s an excerpt of his story:
Asked if UCLA was the only potential landing spot for both players, Anderson said, “Yes.”
Muhammad, a 6-6 shooting guard from Las Vegas Bishop Gorman ranked No. 1 in the Class of 2012, also said the dynamic duo have developed a strong friendship and have discussed playing together with the Bruins.
“Kyle, me and him really want to play together in college,” Muhammad said. “Just building a relationship with these guys, trying to build up a team for college. We need guys to go with me so our team can be a national championship contender.”
Asked about the UCLA possibility, Muhammad added, “Yeah, I think it’s an option. We’ve been really talking about that. Pretty much he’s like my best friend now, so I’m always hanging around with him. We’re just talking about UCLA, what other schools he likes, what other schools I like.”
The other news Tuesday night resolved the status of Jerime Anderson. The rising senior point guard, who was suspended by Howland indefinitely on July 27 after being arrested the previous day, was reinstated to the team and will serve a two-game suspension.
According to UCLA, Anderson plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of appropriation of lost property and trespassing stemming from his alleged theft of a laptop on campus. He must complete 300 hours of community service and will serve no jail time.
“Jerime has been very remorseful in acknowledging his mistake and accepting responsibility for his actions. I believe he has learned a valuable lesson,” Howland said in a statement.
Anderson will miss the Bruins’ lone exhibition game against Cal State San Bernardino and the season opener against Loyola Marymount, and UCLA fans can breath a sigh of relief that Howland didn’t deem him worthy of a longer suspension or dismissal. Anderson and fellow rising senior Lazeric Jones are the only two scholarship point guards on the roster for the 2011-12 season (Drew must sit out the year per transfer rules).