Matt Carlino to leave UCLA

Freshman guard Matt Carlino (Photo from The Official UCLA Men's Basketball website


Matt Carlino To Transfer From UCLA

The freshman guard will transfer from UCLA immediately.

The Official UCLA Men's Basketball website
Dec. 10, 2010


LOS ANGELES - UCLA men's basketball head coach Ben Howland announced today that 6-foot-1-inch freshman guard Matt Carlino will not be returning next quarter. Carlino, from Scottsdale, Ariz., and Blooming South High School (Ind.), will transfer to play his final years at another school.

Carlino will leave UCLA immediately and hasn't made a decision as to where he will transfer.

"Matt is a good kid and I have enjoyed having him in our program," Howland said. "I wish him nothing but the best as he searches for a program where he will have a chance to play more minutes than we envision he will have here."

Carlino didn't play in a regulation collegiate game. He took a hard fall in practice after the first exhibition game and had a concussion, which sidelined him for the last exhibition game and the first three games of the season. He was medically cleared to play in the Bruins' last four games, but did not due to coaches decision.

He played nine minutes in the blowout exhibition win over Westmont (Nov. 4), registering four points, two assists, one rebound and one steal.

"It is with great humility that I declare my intentions to transfer from UCLA," Carlino said in a statement. "I want to thank the University, Coach Howland and his staff for affording me the opportunity of a lifetime. However, I believe a new destination would be much healthier for me both personally and athletically. I sincerely apologize to all those, especially those closest to me, who may find my decision disappointing, and I want to wish all of my coaches and teammates at UCLA best of luck going forward.

"I hope to be enrolled in a new educational institution by next semester, though I've not yet determined my schools of interest. I will have no further comments on this matter."
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UCLA basketball: Matt Carlino will transfer

By Ben Bloch
The Los Angeles Times
December 10, 2010 | 2:01 pm


In a decision that further depletes UCLA's depth, freshman shooting guard Matt Carlino has announced that he will transfer at the end of the quarter, Coach Ben Howland said Friday. His departure will leave the Bruins with nine available scholarship players.

"I'm obviously disappointed because it leaves us short-handed," Howland said.

Carlino had not played this season after sustaining a concussion in practice Nov. 8. He was only cleared to play prior to UCLA's game against Kansas on Dec. 1, but Howland did not feel comfortable letting Carlino make his college debut on the road against the fourth-ranked Jayhawks.

Howland said he regretted not letting Carlino play during the Bruins' 66-57 loss to Montana on Sunday.

"I probably should have played him in the Montana game and we might not be having this discussion," Howland said.

But Carlino didn't play, and his father, Mark, came to campus this week to meet with Howland. Carlino graduated a year early from Bloomington (Ind.) High to enroll at UCLA. He averaged 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his final high school season.

In better news for the Bruins, Howland also said that sophomore shooting guard Malcolm Lee should be able to play against Cal Poly on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion even though Lee tweaked his previously sprained ankle in practice Thursday and is suffering from patellar tendinitis after hurting his knee against Montana.
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