UCLA basketball: Top point guard prospect Dominic Artis commits to Bruins

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UCLA basketball: Top point guard prospect Dominic Artis commits to Bruins


By Ben Bolch | The Los Angeles Times | July 24, 2011 | 8:54pm


The Class of 2012 is already shaping up to be full of promise for UCLA.

The Bruins on Sunday received a commitment from Dominic Artis, a 6-foot-1 senior at Findlay Prep in Henderson, Nev., who is considered to be one of the top point guards in the country.

Artis becomes the second highly touted player to commit to UCLA, joining Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy small forward Jordan Adams. And the Bruins are still in the mix for Shabazz Muhammad, the consensus top player in the country.

"I'm really excited," said Artis, who picked UCLA over California, Florida State, Oregon, Georgia Tech, Baylor and Florida International. "It could be a great class."

Artis said he liked Bruins Coach Ben Howland's history of producing NBA point guards. He also liked that UCLA runs a lot of ball screens, something he said suits his game well, and is already friends with incoming guard De'End Parker.

The prospect of battling North Carolina transfer Larry Drew II for playing time doesn't intimidate Artis, who said Howland told him the duo would likely be on the floor together at times. And if Artis had to come off the bench?

"Of course I would want to start," Artis said, "but if I had to come off the bench and sacrifice for the team, it would be OK."

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Dominic Artis commits to UCLA

Posted By: Mitch Stephens
The San Francisco Chronicle
July 24 2011 at 11:27 PM



The Bay Area has been shut out again.

Dominic Artis, who three weeks ago announced he will transfer to national basketball power Findlay Prep from Salesian-Richmond, said Sunday from the Fab 48 AAU Tournament in Las Vegas that he will play his college ball at UCLA.

Artis, an incoming senior, told us last week his other finalist were Cal, Florida State and Oregon.

The 6-foot-1 point guard has risen his game greatly even after a superb junior season when he was named the Bay Shore Athletic League's Most Valuable Player and led the Pride to the state Division IV finals.

He joins Oak Hill Academy's Jordan Adams as early UCLA commits from the Class of 2012.

"I'm really excited," Artis told Ben Bolch of the Los Angeles Times. "It could be a great class. ... Of course I would want to start but if I had to come off the bench and sacrifice for the team, it would be OK."

Artis told Bolch he was attracted to UCLA because of its history of producing NBA point guards. He's also friends with former Lincoln and CCSF standout De'End Parker.

Artis is the second Bay Area elite star who will transfer to Findlay Prep. Bishop O'Dowd's Brandon Ashley, rated the sixth best player from his Class by MaxPreps.com, also is transferring to the Henderson (Nev.) school, which has claimed four NBA draft picks in the last two seasons including 2011 first-rounders Tristan Thompson and Cory Joseph.

Ashley also announced last week his seven college finalist - none of which included Cal or Stanford, but did include UCLA. Ashley's other finalists were Arizona, Georgia Tech, Kentucky, Oregon, Syracuse and Texas.

The duo play for the Fab 48 defending champion Drew Gooden-Oakland Soldiers who were upset and eliminated in the first round of the playoffs on Sunday.

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from ESPN Men's College Basketball Recruiting

Dominic Artis

Point Guard

CLASS: 2012

SCOUTS GRADE 91
Grading Scale

Hometown: Richmond, CA
High School: Findlay College Prep
Height: 5-11
Weight: 165 lbs
Position Rank: 16


Strengths:

Artis is looking like the No. 1 point guard prospect out west for his class. He has solid speed, quickness, and he changes gears very well to separate from opponents. He doesn't have ideal height for the high-major level, but he does have very long arms and he looks very young in the face-which may suggest he isn't through growing. In terms of skill he has a tight and crafty handle and he can get into seams of the defense to set up his teammates. He advances the ball well in transition and generally exhibits a high basketball IQ while operating the half-court offense.


Weaknesses:
Artis must get stronger to play at the highest level, but that should come with maturity. In addition, he needs to continue to improve his shooting touch beyond the arc. His shot is playable, but it needs to get more consistent to keep the defenses honest.


Bottom Line:
Although the point guard class is weak nationally, Artis projects well at the highest level. He isn't as quick as former Bruin Tyus Edney, but he does have similar characteristics in terms of playing style.


Notes
Travel Team: Oakland Soldiers...Committed to UCLA in July 2012...