Mar 25, 2013

3/25/2013 04:24:00 PM
It was not a surprise to see the UCLA Bruins let go of Lead Man Ben Howland as hold on the UCLA Program has wavered in recent years with one of the more Storied Programs in the NCAA Men's Basketball. Yes when he first took the job its called getting Top Players and that he did with mainly local products mainly from L.A. and most of all West Coast Kids. He is early success in Westwood raised the level of expectations even more. Back to Back to Back Final Fours and a bevy of Top Tier NBA Talent...Howland couldn't miss early on.

In recent years the recruiting had been questioned and also his control of the Program. UCLA is no stepping stone to no other job as it is an Elite Job with the Wizard of Westwood...the Late Great John Wooden Success all over the Program. Then he brings in arguably the consensus #2 Class of 2012 with the likes of Shabazz Muhammad, Kyle Anderson, and Tony Parker and the UCLA Brass let Howland get another crack it. Expectations outweighed over all production as the Bruins won the Regular Season PAC 12 but didn't do anything in the Conference Tourney or NCAA Tourney and in the end you pay for top Level Recruits not producing like expected to as well as the overall grade of the Program as a whole.

Some of the Talent Howland recruited to wear BRUINS Duds (Whose who among Big Mac's and LA  Talent minus K.L. the "Lake Oswego Monster" who did play for LA's #1 AAU Organization "Pump and Run" L.A.)

Trevor Ariza (Los Angeles, CA Westchester HS) Knicks, Lakers, Rockets, Hornets, Wizards, Magic

Jordan Farmar (Woodland Hills, CA TAFT HS) Lakers, Nets

Arron Affalo (Compton, CA CENTENNIAL HS) Pistons, Nuggets, Magic

Russell Westbrook (Lawndale, CA Luezinger HS) Thunder

Darren Collison (Rancho Cucamonga, CA Etianda HS) Hornets, Pacers, Mavs

Kevin Love (Lake Oswego , OR HS) T'Wolves

Jrue Holiday (Hollywood, CA North Campbell HS) Sixers

Shabazz Muhammad (La Vegas, NV Bishop Gorman) 2013 Projected Lottery Pick

The Talent for Howland has always been there but the Lows eventually outweighed the highs and the Bruins had to make a change, The List will be filled with high-Profile Head Coaches as well as Top Flight Assistants. Look for the Bruins to waste no time in contacting VCU Rams Shaka Smart as they are probably calling him now as we got to Press. That would be a Grand Slam for the Bruins and all that Talent in and around LA County.  

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