Ladies and gentlemen, meet the latest member of the 2010 UCLA basketball recruiting class, Matt Carlino.

Carlino is a 6′2 PG/SG out of Bloomington, Indiana. He’s actually a member of the 2011 class, but was held back a year as a child, so technically he’s already 18 with enough credits to graduate early which he has chosen to do. The Bruins add some much needed guard depth in the crafty Carlino who can stroke it with the left, and create inside.

Additional info via LA Times

Highlight video after the jump…

Class of 2010 point guard and McDonald’s All American, Ray McCallum Jr will be playing for his father next season at the University of Detroit. McCallum made the announcement yesterday, live on ESPNU’s college signing day special.

Additionally, ESPNU top 50 rated shooting guard Trey Ziegler will play for his dad as well, at the University of Central Michigan. Trey’s dad Ernie was an assistant coach under Ben Howland during the back to back to back Final Four runs.

This is a devastating blow for UCLA with the lack of guards for next season, and limited amount of unsigned talent available. Coach Howland has stated he would like to give out at least one to two more scholarships for the upcoming season, but may be at a loss after missing out on Wednesday.

Reaction around the net:

LAtimes.com - UCLA loses out on two recruits

BruinsNation.com – An uneventful but very predictable signing day for UCLA

Well deserved, Mike.

Release from UCLA:

UCLA senior guard Michael Roll was given the Coach John Wooden Award as the Bruins’ Most Valuable Player Monday night at the 2010 UCLA Men’s Basketball Awards Banquet held at the Hyatt Century Plaza.

Roll, a first team All-Pac-10 selection, led the Bruins in scoring at 14.1 points per game, ranking 11th in the league. Additionally, he earned the UCLA Alumni Association Award (team assist leader), averaging 3.6 assists per game (115), which ranked 6th in the Pac-10 Conference. He also ranked 3rd in three-point field goals made per game (2.5), 4th in three-point field goal percentage (.426, 80-for-188) and 2nd in assist to turnover ratio (1.9).

Senior forward Nikola Dragovic was awarded the Bob “Ace” Calkins Memorial Award (free throw champion) by shooting 77.8 percent (84-for-108) from the charity stripe. He shot 81.3 percent in Pac-10 play, which ranked 10th in the league.

Junior guard Mustafa Abdul-Hamid was given the Elvin C. “Ducky” Drake Memorial Award for Competitive Spirit, Inspiration and Unselfish Contributions. Abdul-Hamid, a first team Pac-10 All-Academic selection, was given the UCLA Faculty Athletic Representative Award (Academic Achievement and Team Contribution) for the second straight year. He posted a 3.81 grade point average in Global Studies and will graduate this spring.

Sophomore guard Malcolm Lee was also a two-time award winner, receiving the Bruin Hoopsters J.D. Morgan Memorial Award (Outstanding Team Play). He also garnered the Irv Pohlmeyer Memorial Award (Outstanding Defensive Player).

Freshman guard Tyler Honeycutt was a three-time award winner on the night. He took home the Gerald A. Finerman Award (team rebounding leader), averaging 6.5 rebounds per game, which was 9th in the Pac-10 Conference. It also was the third time in the last five years that a freshman led the Bruins in rebounding (Kevin Love in 2007-08 and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute in 2005-06). He also won the Bruin Bench Basketball Award for Most Improvement in All-Around Play and Mental Attitude.

Honeycutt shared his last honor with fellow freshman Reeves Nelson. Both were named as co-winners of the Seymour Armond Memorial Award (Most Valuable Freshman). Honeycutt was fifth on the team in scoring at 7.2 points per game. In addition to his rebounding, he led the Bruins in blocked shots (1.2 bpg) which ranked 7th in the Pac-10. His 2.0 offensive rebounds per game ranked 10th in the league while his 4.5 defensive rebounds per game ranked 7th in the Pac-10. Nelson was 4th on the team in scoring at 11.1 points per game and second on the squad in rebounding at 5.7 rebounds per game, which ranked 11th in the Pac-10. He also ranked 2nd in the Pac-10 in field goal percentage, shooting an outstanding 64.7 percent (119-for-184) from the floor.

**UPDATE** Angelo Chol has officially eliminated UCLA from his school list.

Class of 2011 forward standout Angelo Chol has officially trimmed his list of choices.

“Last week I took off Arizona State and Wyoming” Chol said, “I’m down to eight now”.  Among those still in the running, UCLA, who will have to compete with Alabama, Florida, Georgetown, Kansas, North Carolina, UCONN and Washington.

The San Diego elite prospect has stated that distance is not a factor. ” “I really don’t care where I go. It doesn’t matter if I stay home or leave.”

Sorry for the long absence, tough to be a one man site. Let’s get back into the swing of things!

In what could potentially be the last game of the season, UCLA takes on Arizona at Staples Center at noon pacific time. The Bruins were swept by the Wildcats in the regular season, recently losing in Tuscon after leading by double digits.

The game is officially a “pick ‘em” on various gambling sites. That sounds about right to me. Standout big man Reeves Nelson returns to action, after sitting out due to two laser surgeries to repair a partially torn retina in his left eye. He was missed severely, and could be the difference maker.

This should be another barn burner, but I think the Bruins prevail late. Arizona presents match up problems with the guard trio of Nic Wise, Lamont Jones, and Kyle Fogg. Limiting penetration and open three’s will be key for the defense. With Reeves Nelson back in the line up, UCLA should free up space beyond the arc. Look for seniors Mike Roll and Nikola Dragovic to knock some down from deep.

My prediction, UCLA by 5.

Keys to a Bruin victory:

1) Box out! Second chance attempts will kill the Bruins. I’m looking at you Drago.

2) Limit penetration. Lamont Jones was vital to the Arizona win in Tuscon. His penetration single-handedly killed UCLA.

3) Free throws. UCLA has been terrible from the charity stripe. Knocking down the freebies could be the difference between a victory and a loss.

4) Convert the easy buckets. The high percentage attempts must go down. No highlight reel stuff, just get the two points.

Here’s what they’re saying around the net about today’s game:

Examiner.com – Arizona Wildcats ready for Pac-10 tournament

ESPN.com – Previewing the Pac-10 tournament

Wildcat.Arizona.Edu – Bruins hope third times a charm

NBC Los Angeles – UCLA’s last hope. Three wins in three days

LA Observed – The Pac-10 tournament

Senior forward James Keefe will undergo season ending shoulder surgery, effectively closing out his career at UCLA. This is the same shoulder he had surgery on, and dislocated three times.

A former McDonald’s All American, Keefe seemingly battled injury after injury during his Bruin career, never quite getting on track. A sad way for a hard working local kid to see his playing days come to an end.

Freshman Brendan Lane is expected to get the start tonight against Washington State.

Additional info via LAtimes.com

**UPDATE** Deonte Burton committed to Nevada.

Compton Centennial high school took out the #1 state ranked Hoover Cardinals, 80-68. In what could be a particularly sweet treat for Bruin fans, Compton’s Deonte Burton (#24) and Hoover’s Angelo Chol (#3) squared off, perhaps giving a glimpse of what may be down the road.

Burton dropped 20 pts in the win, while Chol notched 21 pts.

For a full game recap, check out SanDiegoReader.com

McDonald’s All American Terrence Jones is in no rush to make a decision. Partly because he remains undecided,  but also to give his teammates some exposure and hopefully land a scholarship.

“It’s only right. Coaches may like what they see while they’re coming to look at me. We all help each other out like that.”

Jones has a list of five schools he’s considering, Oregon, Kentucky, UCLA, Washington, and Oklahoma. He’s made official visits to all five campuses. There’s  been no indication on his part as to who may be the leader, however whispers among recruiting circles have said Kentucky is the front runner.

Jones explains:

Well, with Kentucky they’re a powerhouse right now. They win and they put guys in the NBA. Oregon is my home state, and I have a great relationship with the players. At UCLA, Coach Ben Howland is trying to put big things together down there for next year. It’s a great city and they’ve got good players. Washington’s coach, Lorenzo Romar, is an excellent coach on and off the court. I’ve got a great relationship with Abdul Gaddy (UW) too. With Oklahoma, I’ve gotten to know Coach Jeff Capel really well. I got a feel for how it’s a family environment down there. Then I know Tiny Gallon (UO) really well too, so that’s a plus.

For the full interview, check out HighSchoolHoop.com

In what has been a never ending season of disappointment, the Bruins were swept by the Trojans, losing at the Galen Center 68-64.

Not much to say about this one, as it went about expected. USC’s athleticism and experience played a heavy factor against UCLA, forcing the Bruins to give up unwarranted turnovers.

A one-two scoring punch for the Trojans helped secure a victory. Senior guard Dwight Lewis led all scorers with 23 pts, while Junior reserve guard Donte Smith scored a career high 12 pts. UCLA was held to 39% FG, and surprisingly out-rebounded USC by a wide margin, 36 to 23. That was the only factor keeping them in the game.

The one positive Bruin fans can take from this was Coach Howland inserting Brendan Lane who logged 16 minutes of playing time. Fellow freshman Mike Moser saw limited action, notching four minutes. Could Howland finally be waiving the white flag, prepping his young guys for next season?

The answer is yes, and no.

Winning the Pac-10 outright is highly unlikely at this point, however winning the Pac-10 tournament still holds a flicker of hope. Now is the perfect opportunity to give some of the younger guys much needed game experience for next season. I expect to see Moser, J’Mison Morgan, and Lane continue to see minutes the rest of the way, especially with James Keefe out another game or two due to injury.

Official Boxscore

No recaps from around the net, as this was simply another tough one for Bruin fans to stomach. Let’s simply move on…

Random fact – This is the first time USC has beaten UCLA three times in a row (two during the regular season, and once in last season’s Pac-10 tournament) since the Wooden era. Yikes.

Bruin fans got an early glimpse at their future when Kentwood high school’s Josh Smith took on Jefferson high’s Terrence Jones last night on ESPN 2. Smith is a 6′9 center, ranked #11 in ESPN’s top 100, with Jones coming in at #13.

To put it lightly, this was an ugly game. If you’ve become accustomed to the grace and beauty of the NBA, the determination and effort of NCAA hoops, then you might have forgotten how unrefined high school sports are. Granted they’re kids in every sense of the word, but it doesn’t deter you from cringing every now and again.

The silver lining was the play of UCLA commit Josh Smith, and 6′7 stud Terrence Jones. Smith is a wide bodied center, with soft hands who can eat up space. He’s light on his feet, and clearly knows his place is on the block with his back to the basket. Don’t let his frame fool you (tipping the scales at about 270lbs), Smith finished the game with 11 rebounds and nine blocked shots. His offense wasn’t a factor only notching nine points, however this was only his third game back from a partially torn patellar tendon. He certainly made his presence felt down low, though. Something the Bruins can definitely combo with undersized center Reeves Nelson next season.

With that said, the real star of the game was Terrence Jones.

The silky smooth lefty dominated at every end of the floor, with Oklahoma head coach Jeff Capel watching in the stands. Jones dazzled the crowd with effortless dribble-drives, tipjams, and no look passes. He lead all scorers with 20 points, and filled up the stat sheet with a four steals, four rebounds, and four assists. An early comparison would be a raw Lamar Odom, as Jones looks very comfortable running the point forward. As a freshman, he was a 6′3 PG, who sprouted to the 6′7 he now stands at. His ability to handle the ball remains a weapon in his arsenal.

Jones has yet to choose a school, with UCLA, Washington, West Virgina, Oklahoma, and Kentucky competing for his services. To my knowledge, the Bruins are aggressively recruiting Jones, but I’m sure his stock rose after playing on ESPN 2 national television. Howland recently visited Jones while up in Eugene, Oregon to battle the Ducks.

Additional game notes at Seattletimes.com

P.S. – Sorry for no post game wrap up’s for UCLA vs. Oregon and Oregon State. A busy schedule and a wife did not allow me to write anything up.

Let’s just say the Bruins remain in the thick of the Pac-10 race, but going 2-0 on the road would have marked a turned corner in the season, which they did not accomplish. Tyler Honeycutt and Reeves Nelson continue to impress. Malcolm Lee, where have you gone?