The men's basketball team will have new talent on the courts to regain its reputation and fill in the gaps with the Wear twins and Tyler Lamb
By JACOB RUFFMAN
Daily Bruin
Published June 26, 2011, 11:51 pm in Men's Basketball, Sports
It has been well documented that UCLA’s basketball program is known for being one of the elite powers in the nation, and this season will be a building block proving that the Bruins will return to the upper echelon of college basketball in the near future.
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Men’s basketball season preview
Key incomer:
De’End Parker, junior small forward
The versatile Parker should come in and play big minutes from the get-go. He will also see time as a point guard or shooting guard.
Key returners:
Reeves Nelson, #22, junior power forward
As the Bruins’ leading scorer and rebounder last season, Nelson will take the reigns as the team’s leader this season.
Joshua Smith, #34, sophomore center
The big-bodied Smith is a mastermind in the low post. If he can stay out of foul trouble this season, he could be the key to a UCLA run in the NCAA Tournament.
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UCLA lost two starters and All Pac-10 first teamers in shooting guard Malcolm Lee and small forward Tyler Honeycutt, both of whom were selected in the second round of the NBA Draft.
The backcourt will not be quite as strong as last season with the losses of Lee and Honeycutt. Senior point guards Lazeric Jones and Jerime Anderson will split time at the point while rising sophomore Tyler Lamb will fill in for Lee as the starting shooting guard next season.
Shooting guard Norman Powell is the Bruin’s lone incoming freshman, and he will be a crucial part of the UCLA backcourt next season thanks to his athleticism and defensive prowess.
Junior college transfer De’End Parker will also be a major player for the Bruins next season, as he has the ability to play anywhere from point guard to small forward. He is expected to step in and start in place of Honeycutt.
Undoubtedly, the Bruins’ strength will be their frontcourt. Former McDonalds All-Americans Travis and David Wear will be eligible to play after sitting out a year following their transfer from North Carolina and they should be major contributors from day one.
UCLA basketball also returns its starting frontcourt in rising junior power forward Reeves Nelson, who led the team in scoring and rebounding last season and also named in the All Pac-10 first team, and rising sophomore center Joshua Smith, who has the potential to be one of the most dominant post players in the nation.
Rising redshirt sophomore center Anthony Stover will act as a firm defensive presence, while spelling Smith and rising junior forward Brendan Lane will be a versatile frontcourt player.
While the Bruins are not anticipated to be contenders for the national title, UCLA should be one of the frontrunners to win the first Pac-12 title while also making some noise at the NCAA Tournament in March.
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