Got game?

UCLA men’s basketball team plans to host tryouts for walk-ons

By RYAN MENEZES
Updated: September 28, 2010, 1:18 AM
The Daily Bruin


Pauley Pavilion sometimes opens its doors to the warriors of the Wooden Center for pickup basketball games, letting students play under the banners won by the men’s basketball team. Friday morning, those doors will be open again, but this time, it’s for a spot on the team that hung those 11 banners.

The men’s basketball team will host open tryouts on Friday starting at 6:45 a.m. The tryouts will be run by assistant coach Scott Garson.

Garson often hits the recruiting trail for coach Ben Howland but still runs the open tryout every year, hoping to capitalize on hidden athletic talent on campus.

“We’re looking for guys that just want to come out and help the program,” Garson said.

“Sometimes we keep one guy, sometimes we keep two or three.”

UCLA basketball has a long history of walk-ons. Some contact UCLA ahead of time to see if a non-scholarship spot is open on the team, while others make it through the open tryout. Recent graduate Spencer Soo, who became a fan favorite for his leaping ability, walked on after his tryout.

Walk-ons play a major role in practice, especially on the defensive end. There may not be much glory for the chosen few who can win the walk-on spot, which is why Garson looks at one thing when evaluating prospects.

“No ego, because a lot of the times the walk-ons don’t even get to dress for the games,” Garson said.

Garson pointed to Mustafa Abdul-Hamid, another recent graduate, as a perfect example of a walk-on, somebody who made many of UCLA’s stars work harder in practice.

“Mustafa pushed our players every day in practice,” he said. “Mustafa went head to head, nose to nose everyday with Darren Collison, with Russell Westbrook, with Arron Afflalo, with Jrue Holiday. He did a really good job.”

The UCLA athletic department requires that those trying out provide a physical and proof of medical insurance.

Physicals must be conducted on a form provided by the department, which can be picked up in the J.D. Morgan Center. The Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center schedules next-day physicals.
For more information or to inquire about the tryouts, contact the men’s basketball office at 310-206-6276.