May 07
Here is the rotation I think UCLA will be looking at for next season.
Center: J’Mison Morgan/Alfred Aboya
PF: Mbah a Moute/James Keefe OR Drew Gordon
SF: Josh Shipp/Malcolm Lee
SG: Jrue Holiday/Darren Collison (I didn’t say it. Howland did.)
PG: Darren Collison/Jrue Holiday/Jerime Anderson
Thoughts?
Stanback’s transfer means that no matter what, UCLA will have the scholarship room for J’mison Morgan.
I’m also hearing that another high profile big might be seeking a transfer to UCLA…I should have more on that soon.
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Tags: Basketball, Ben Howland, Recruiting, the prince
May 7th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
if so, that would be the most talented, most balanced bruin line-up since 1995. looking for a four-peat and hopefully #12! go bruins!!!!!
May 7th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
@george:
I think it goes to show you what a blessing Ben Howland is (and Donny Daniels who has done a fantastic job recruiting Morgan). I did not think it was possible to get more excited for the 2008 season than the 2007 one. Well, if everything works out, I most definitely will be.
May 7th, 2008 at 4:23 pm
Collison/Lee/Anderson
Holiday/Lee/Anderson
Shipp/Roll/Dragovic
Love/Mbah a Moute/Aboya/Gordon/Dragovic
Morgan/Love/Gordon
Explanation here
May 7th, 2008 at 4:42 pm
PG Collison, Anderson, Lee
SG Holiday, Lee, Roll
SF Mbah a Moute, Dragovic
PF Keefe, Gordon
C Morgan, Aboya
Lee wont play SF, he’s real thin. Shipp wont be back and we wont need him. Love is gone. Roll is gonna have a hard time getting in if Holiday is hitting his 3’s. If Luc comes back it will be at SF(his pro position) so he could work on defending faster players and improving his shot. He still hasn’t showed the scouts he can step away from the basket.
May 7th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
@ln23:
If Lee bulked up a bit could he play SF? I know he’s got he height and the length to do it and we seemed logjammed at the guard position with collison, lee, anderson, and holiday. They are all tremendously gifted players and Lee seems like the only one of the 4 who’s got the physical tools to play the 3, but I guess he’d have to bulk up.
I disagree on Mbah a Moute. Mbah a Moute will have to play the position that will help him contribute to the team, not the position he’d play in the NBA. Look at how Love played center even though he’s going to play PF in the NBA. We’re going to need Luc’s experience at PF.
Luc’s only question mark (even as an NBA prospect) is his outside shot. If he could hit that as consistently as Westbrook does right now (which isn’t all that consistent) he’d be a lottery pick. Dragovic at SF is an interesting proposition. I remember Howland say he was kinduva slacker and that he has limitations athletically. We’ll see how he develops. The depth at SF, at least to me, is too much of a question mark to not strongly consider Malcolm Lee at the SF if he can pull it off. I can’t believe I forgot about Roll.
What about Roll at SF?
May 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
If Love stays, I will explode…but I’m pretty sure he’s gone.
That being said, if he did stay and UCLA didn’t win the national championship, I’d poke my eyes out.
May 8th, 2008 at 10:29 am
So where do you put Drew Gordon? The kid is a top 20 player in the nation. Keefe at the Center, Drew Gordon at the PF, Moute at the SF, Jrue at the 2 and Collison at the point. This is your starting 5…UNLESS J’Mison Morgan comes to Westwood. If he comes we have options because he will be the starting Center.
May 8th, 2008 at 3:05 pm
I don’t think Keefe can guard centers, I really think he’s gotta play PF. Drew Gordon has incredible upside but I keep hearing he’s pretty raw. He’s still really really strong, has a great motor, and should be able to defend and rebound immediately at this level immediately. It’s his offense game that needs work.
Good point bringing up Gordon. I think he’ll get significant playing time as the year goes on and could be a starter by his second year (though he’ll be competing for PT with Reeves Nelson…another uber-recruit…I love Ben Howland)
Mbah a Mboute can’t play SF if he has no shot. He’s such a talented rebounder that I think it’s a waste making him play SF.
May 10th, 2008 at 11:13 am
If Moute can’t play the SF, then he should go pro because Drew Gordon WILL be the starting PF.