Stover agrees to join UCLA men's basketball squad
By Brian Dohn, Staff Writer
Article Last Updated: 10/03/2008 12:00:58 PM PDT
Photo courtesy of Scout.com

Center Anthony Stover, UCLA's top remaining big man target, gave UCLA men's basketball coach Ben Howland a non-binding oral commitment this morning, according to his father, Craig.

The 6-foot-10, 205-pound Stover, who recently transferred from Renaissance Academy of La Canada, will have a press conference Monday at Windward High of Los Angeles.

"It was a family decision,''Craig Stover said. "We talked about it last night as a family and came to a decision, and called coach Howland this morning to let him know.''

Stover had more than a dozen scholarship offers, including from Connecticut, Washington and USC, and chose the Bruins over finalists Arizona and Creighton.

Stover joins power forwards Reeves Nelson of Modesto Christian and Branden Lane of Rocklin, as well as wing Tyler Honeycutt of Sylmar in the 2009 class. The players cannot sign binding national letters of intent until November.

Also, the Bruins are trying to add a guard to the class, and are hosting guard Michael Snaer of Rancho Verde of Moreno Valley on an official visit this weekend.


Original post Los Angeles Daily News on Stover oral commit


Some juicy Brian Dohn tidbits from his weekly Q & A's that preceded the Stover commit on how the class of 2009-2010 was shaping up...

Q: How bummed is Howland about losing Gaddy? Did he really think he would get him?
A: I don't know because Howland cannot talk about recruits. However, from what I understand, UCLA wasn't stunned Gaddy re-committed to Arizona, so being "bummed'' about not getting him is minimized.



Q: With Honeycutt committed and Gaddy now off the board, who is Howland's top remaining target for this class?
A: There are few, but I believe, when looking at it realistically, center Anthony Stover from Windward High of Los Angeles and guard Durand Scott from Rice High in New York.

Q: Who would you rather have on your team Tyler Honeycutt or Abdul Gaddy?
A: Gaddy. He has the ball in his hands much more.

Q: While none of our recruits are highly rated like Holiday was, do you consider
this class a good or a great class considering the coaches and the style of ball they play?
A: I think it is a strong class, but the need for a center and guard are still pressing issues. If UCLA can finish off the class with those players, I think it will be a tremendous class filled with Howland-type (tough) players.

Q: We're hearing that Renaldo Sydney may be following Brandon Jenning's footsteps by going to Europe. Is this one of many reasons that we're shunning away from him?
A: No. Let's just say Sydney may not have the opportunity to play in college. Understand?

Q: What's the latest on our recruitment of Snear, Noel Johnson, and the rest of the SG's in the 09 class? Do you think we will get one?
A: They'll get one, and I may have a new name or two in the next few days. I do not like UCLA's chances with Snaer, and am unsure about Johnson.

Q: What does the basketball scholarship situation look like for next year (09-10)? I know UCLA has 3 commitments (ATB: "That would be Brendan Lane [6-9/200/pf], Reeves Nelson [6-7/215/pf] and Tyler Honeycutt [6-7/190/sf]"), how many more are they trying to add?
A: It is my understanding coach Ben Howland wants to add to more players, a center (ATB:"That would now be Anthony Glover [6-10/210/c]")and a guard (ATB:"Snaer [6-4/170/sg]? Dohn mentioned Durand Scott [6-5/sg] out of New York").

Q: I know that you wrote about Honeycutt in other articles but can you elaborate why Honeycutt was regarded so highly? What kind of skills do he have and how do you expect him to perform at UCLA?
A: I thought it was pretty clear-cut from the stories. He can shoot the three, he can pass, he can defend on the perimeter and he block shots. He also has a good feel for the game. And he better bring all those skills to UCLA, because that is why he was recruited.

Q: Can you also shed similar light to Nelson and Lane as well?
A: Reeves Nelson is a big, banging body with skill around the basket. Lane is a rebounder who can shoot the mid-range jumper and can defend and rebound.

To sum,
2009-2010 UCLA class

Non-Binding Oral commits

Anthony Glover [6-10/210/c]
Tyler Honeycutt [6-7/190/sf]
Brendan Lane [6-9/200/pf]
Reeves Nelson [6-7/215/pf]

Dohn says UCLA is targeting a guard for this class:

Main target: Michael Snaer [6-4/170/sg]

Other names are...
Dohn mentioned Durand Scott [6-5/sg] out of New York
...a poster to Dohn's Q & A mentioned Noel Johnson [6-6, sg] out of Fayetteville, GA
...Xavier Henry sg/sf 6-6/210 out of Putnam City, Oklahoma City, OK who has Kansas, Memphis, UNC, Ohio State, Texas and UCLA on his list.