Reeves Nelson Dismissed From UCLA Basketball Team

Reeves Nelson Dismissed From UCLA Basketball Team

The junior forward is being dismissed immediately from the program.


The Official UCLA Men's Basketball website
Dec. 9, 2011


LOS ANGELES - UCLA Men's Basketball Coach Ben Howland has dismissed Junior forward Reeves Nelson from the team, he announced today.

"After much thought and deliberation, I have made the decision to dismiss Reeves Nelson from the UCLA Men's Basketball Team effective immediately," said Howland. "This decision is not one that I take lightly, but it is in the best interest of both the program and the student-athlete."

Nelson had started in only one game this season and played in six of the seven contests. He was seventh on the team in scoring at 5.7 points per game and fourth on the team in rebounding (4.5 rpg).

He was a first team All-Pac-10 selection after the conclusion of the 2010-11 season as he led UCLA in scoring (13.9 ppg) and rebounding (9.1 rpg).

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Reeves Nelson dismissed from UCLA basketball team

The Los Angeles Times
December 9, 2011 | 11:19 am


Reeves Nelson, UCLA's leading scorer and rebounder a year ago, and a Sports Illustrated cover subject on its basketball issue two months ago, has been dismissed from the UCLA basketball team, Coach Ben Howland announced Friday.

Nelson, a 6-foot-9 junior forward from Modesto, was in the process of serving his second suspension of this season when he and Howland met Friday after Nelson finished final exams.

"After much thought and deliberation, I have made the decision to dismiss Reeves Nelson from the UCLA men's basketball team effective immediately," Howland said in a statement.

Both suspensions this season had come because of insubordinate behavior. In what turned out to be his final game for UCLA last Saturday, a 69-59 loss to Texas, Nelson spent the entire second half on the bench and was seen laughing and pointing to a small group of people in the crowd at the Sports Arena that was chanting his name near the end of the game.

Tuesday, a day after Nelson was suspended for the second time, Howland said there were defined things Nelson needed to do to begin practicing and playing again.

"He needs to stay consistent," Howland said. "The last time he was suspended, when we did bring him back, he had the best practice the first practice, the first day back. Last week’s practices, he was falling back into the same habits.

"It's definitely a distraction and we don’t need any distractions. It’s tough enough to come together without being distracted. It’s a tough situation with them (the team) because many of them are close friends with Reeves off the floor."

UCLA (2-5) plays its next game at 4 p.m. Saturday against Pennsylvania at the Honda Center.

No easy answer to Reeves Nelson situation

No easy answer to Reeves Nelson situation

By Peter Yoon
ESPNLA.com, UCLA Report
December, 6, 2011 7:21 PM PT


Reeves Nelson needs help.

And now, Ben Howland does, too.

Howland suspended Nelson after the 6-foot-8 power forward continued a pattern of mercurial behavior that points to underlying issues that may be beyond Nelson’s control.

He lashes out at teammates on the court. He shuts down mentally when things aren’t going his way and refuses to hustle in those stretches. He sits out of team huddles during timeouts and last month got into a verbal altercation with Howland at a team film session.

And Howland has struggled with how to deal with it.

His first instinct as a coach and a mentor is to try and help the kid, so he hasn’t thrown Nelson out on the street just yet. He has tried talking to him, tried taking away playing time, and has now suspended him for the second time this season.

The question is: Will it be enough?

Nelson clearly went unaffected by the suspension earlier this season that lasted all of one game. He came back, had a good couple of practices, but then missed the team plane to Hawaii for the Maui Invitational.

Once he got on the floor, he played well for parts of two games, but his behavior began to regress. Saturday against Texas, Nelson reverted to his old self in the first half by failing to hustle on defense, was benched for the second half and was laughing and joking with teammates and fans during the waning moments of a 69-59 loss.

That led to the current suspension and a lot of head scratching in the Howland camp about how to proceed. On the one hand, Howland is adamant that his job is to try and help a troubled kid, but on the other hand, he’s trying to figure out just how many chances Nelson should get.

“These kids aren’t professional athletes, they’re college kids,” Howland said. “I work very hard to try to work with each kid but as it reflects and affects the team as a whole, there is a point where enough is enough. Are we there at this point yet? We’ll see with our next meeting.”

Nelson’s attitude problems have cropped up throughout the last two seasons. He often sulks when things aren’t going well and has a strong enough personality to bring down the energy level of the team. But it works the other way, too and when Nelson plays his best, it’s no surprise the UCLA often does too.

He lead the team in scoring and rebounding last season, when the Bruins came within a game of wining the Pac-10 Conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA tournament. This season, with Nelson struggling, the Bruins are 2-5 and have lost to mid-majors Loyola Marymount and Middle Tennessee State.

The team’s struggles seem clearly related to the Nelson distraction.

“There’s obviously issues off the court and issues going on in practice and that’s something for coach Howland to deal with,” forward David Wear said. “That’s obviously taking away from concentrating on doing what we have to do when there is time and energy spent on dealing with those other issues.”

But Howland needs to spend that much time on those issues because they are complex. Nelson is a complex personality. For every emotional outburst, there is a genuine smile. For every deep stare through his deep eye sockets, there is a warming glance. For every snide remark, there is a thoughtful insight.

And for every lackadaisical minute on the floor, there is one of brilliant play. It’s a Jekyll-and-Hyde type of behavior pattern that makes you wonder what inner demons Nelson might have swimming inside his head.

“I don’t know about demons,” point guard Lazeric Jones said. “I see a passionate guy. He fights on the court. He wants to win, he wants to be great. That’s what I see.”

Others see a spoiled prima donna who can’t handle it when things don’t go his way, or a kid who behaves this way because he’s never been held accountable for it.

Howland expected more with Nelson entering his junior season and returning as a leader of a team that had high hopes entering this season. But things haven’t gone quite as planned to start the season. Josh Smith became the focal point of the offense. The Wear twins were getting a lot of minutes and taking away scoring opportunities from Nelson. The team has been losing.

“I expected more,” Howland said. “As players get older and mature, there’s more expected in terms of maturity. I don’t know if some of this comes with the pressure of the notoriety and the expectation of being a returning all-league player. It’s hard for me to say.”

But Howland is the one who now has to say. He has to decide whether Nelson is a lost cause. Howland must decide whether to give Nelson one more chance, or to cut ties with him before he puts even more of a strain on the season.

Howland has to decide the best way to help Nelson.

And to do that, he could use some help.

UCLA's Howland: Teachable moment for Nelson

Thanks to sydbruin for posting this story on BZ.

UCLA's Howland: Teachable moment for Nelson

The Orange County Register
Published: Dec. 6, 2011 Updated: 6:05 p.m.


Junior forward Reeves Nelson was suspended indefinitely Tuesday for his behavior during UCLA’s loss to Texas this past Saturday. It was his second suspension in three weeks. Might it be for good?

Coach Ben Howland met with reporters and spoke at length about Nelson and the circumstances surrounding his suspension.

Here are the highlights:

Has Nelson given you any indication he will change?
Ben Howland: “I’m hoping it’s a teachable moment. His behavior on the bench Saturday was totally against what UCLA basketball and our program stands for. We’ll see. I met with Reeves this morning after his first final. In our meetings he was cordial. It’s a difficult time right now because he’s still got two more finals to complete.”

Have you ever had a kid you weren’t able to get through to like this?
BH: “These kids aren’t pro athletes, first of all. They’re college kids. I work very hard to try to work with each kid. But as it reflects and affects the team as a whole, there is a point that enough is enough. Are we there at this point yet? We’ll see at our next meeting.”

Has it been a distraction?
BH: “There’s no question it has. It’s been very difficult. It’s definitely a distraction. And we don’t need any distractions. It’s tough enough to come together without a distraction in the group.

“It’s a tough situation for them. They’re very close, good friends with Reeves off the floor. On the floor sometimes he loses his cool or will lose his head.”

Are you concerned about potentially losing your credibility with the players?
BH: ” It’s a very sensitive thing.”

What does Nelson need to do to get back on the team?
BH: “Stay consistent. Last time he was suspended, when I did bring him back, he had his best practice the first day back. I thought last week’s practices he was falling back into some of the same patterns and we talked about it. And then he had a good showing Friday. Just be consistent, be consistent with attitude, with effort, with those things that are expected.”

He’s had episodes in the past. Is he different this year?
BH: “I expected more. As players get older and they mature, there’s more expected in terms of maturity. I don’t know if some of this comes with the pressure and notoriety and expectation of being a returning all-league player. It’s hard for me to say.

“I think now when things should be improving every year and in every aspect, as a player on the floor but also you should grow and mature as a person. That’s kind of the expectation that I have.”

What exactly was he doing on the bench during the Texas game?
BH: “When I’m in the middle of the game, I’m not looking down at the bench. But even with a minute to go, Reeves was visibly smiling on the bench and joking around. It was totally inappropriate. There were a couple other things that occurred during the game that I spoke with him about that I’m not going to share that were very much inappropriate. I’m not the only one that feels this way. My staff, we talk a lot about this.

“The problem is the distractions take you away from what I’m supposed to be doing, which is coaching everybody. As talented a player Reeves is, he’s got to to understand no one’s bigger than the the team. The team comes first. There are certain values and principles that are part of being a UCLA basketball player.”

If that’s the case, why not kick him off the team?
BH: “This isn’t a pro deal. This kid that actually turned 20 this summer. It is something that we’ve been working and talking about for quite a while. At what point does that happen, that’s the all important question.

“There’s no question when I suspended him the first time and met with him, he was very contrite. I think there’s a lot of reflection that goes on when something like this happens. Today when I met with him he was very reserved.

“It is very difficult because I think that after things happen sometimes and he gets away from the emotion of the game or away from the outburst, he recognizes over and over again, I was wrong, I’ll do better.”

Are there a finite number of chances?
BH: “Yeah. I’m not sure what that is. I’m not going to pigeonhole that. We’ll see where we are next time we meet.”

How will you measure his progress if he will not be with the team and you won’t be around him?
BH: “I want him to have some time away. It’s a privilege and honor to be part of the UCLA basketball program.”

Are his issues at all related to academics?
BH: “It’s basketball.”

Have you spoken with his parents and are they on your side?
BH: “I talk to his parents all the time, especially his mom, and I’ll be contacting them tonight. They want what’s best for Reeves.”

Did his previous issues in high school concern you?
BH: “His issues as far as we knew didn’t crop up until spring of his senior year. He committed to us as a junior. There was an issue off the floor that was concerning.”

Will he play Saturday?
BH: “It’s unlikely he’ll play Saturday.”

Have you noticed any difference in the team when he’s playing as oppose to when he’s not?
BH: “I actually thought in Maui he played well in stretches, in parts of the first two games. In our last game against Texas, he’s not playing to the level he’s capable of and he hasn’t been since we started. This has been a very difficult thing for me and it’s not fun. And it’s not fun for our team. You want to have consistency without this kind of distraction.”

What is Nelson’s explanation for his behavior?
BH: “I don’t know about an explanation, typically Reeves is more apologetic than anything. That’s after you sit down with him. On the floor it may be a little different. I think where it becomes an issue is when he gets into competition and sometimes the adversity of situations are what he has difficulty dealing with.

In the past he’s responded with anger. Has it been different this year?
BH: “Sometimes Reeves — this is the first time I’ve seen this ever — sometimes when he has adversity he’ll shut down and stop trying. That is baffling. I’ve never seen that in anybody.”

Reeves Nelson suspended indefinitely from UCLA basketball team

Reeves Nelson suspended indefinitely from UCLA basketball team

By Diane Pucin, Los Angeles Times
10:46 AM PST, December 6, 2011


Reeves Nelson, UCLA's leading scorer and rebounder last season, has been suspended for the second time this season, basketball coach Ben Howland announced in a statement released Tuesday morning.

Nelson, a 6-8 junior forward, had already served a suspension last month for insubordinate behavior. Since then, he missed the team plane to Hawaii, where the Bruins played in the Maui Classic, and was seen during last Saturday’s loss to Texas pointing to, and laughing with, fans in the stands who were chanting his name.

Nelson, who was on the cover of Sports Illustrated's West Coast version of its college basketball issue, played only 12 minutes in the 69-59 loss to Texas at the Sports Arena -- none in the second half -- and was scoreless.

The Bruins (2-5) are off until they host Penn on Saturday at the Honda Center.

This suspension, according to the UCLA statement, is for conduct unbecoming a member of the UCLA basketball team.

“This continues a trend of very disappointing behavior by Reeves,” Howland said in the statement. “I personally have worked hard with him to illustrate the importance of the code of conduct for our student-athletes, as well as the ramifications for violating it. I am disappointed that he has continued to fall short of my expectations.”

There is no specific timetable for the reevaluation of Nelson’s status with the team. Howland has a regularly scheduled weekly media conference at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

On Monday, Howland spoke to Times columnist T.J. Simers and said he had made mistakes in his handling of Nelson; Howland seemed particularly displeased with Nelson's behavior on the bench Saturday.

Nelson, very active on Twitter, had only one this morning, saying, "8 AM final this morning. Yippeeeee."

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UCLA's Ben Howland admits mistakes, says, 'We're going to fix it'

Basketball coach is upset beyond the 2-5 record, saying Reeves Nelson's behavior is 'totally uncharacteristic' of what's expected, and Josh Smith 'didn't do the work' to stay fit in off-season.

T.J. Simers
The Los Angeles Times
8:35 PM PST, December 5, 2011


His UCLA office was stifling. Ben Howland went through three bottles of water while fidgeting there on the hot seat.

"I like it warm,'' he says, which is good, because it's time to turn up the heat on Howland.

The Bruins were the pick to win the Pac-12 Conference this season, but right now they are as disappointing as a Rick Neuheisel-coached team.

"We're 2-5 and we're UCLA and that's not a good position to be in," says Howland. "Yeah, I feel the heat — the heat I put on myself. We've got to do a lot better than what we are doing, and we will."

Nice speech, but atop all the losses there's the feeling Howland's team might be getting away from him.

"No, it's not," Howland insists. "We're going to fix it."

Yet his two top players have done nothing so far but disappoint. In addition to Josh Smith taking the off-season off to eat away his effectiveness as a player, there were disturbing media reports over the weekend about Reeves Nelson.

Broadcasters and reporters noted that Nelson, suspended once already this season for his poor behavior, was sitting on the bench and laughing it up while his teammates were losing to Texas.

For a guy who likes to call timeouts as much as Howland does, what's stopping him now?

Why is Nelson still wearing a UCLA jersey?

As much of a control freak as Howland appears on the sideline, it appears his players do not share his intensity.

And that has to be troubling to Howland with pressure mounting on the basketball program now that football has been so disappointing.

The Bruins lost to Loyola Marymount, and Steve Lavin wasn't within a thousand miles of the building. And Loyola Marymount was without its top player.

Then Howland suspended Nelson indefinitely, the Bruins losing to Middle Tennessee and scheduled next to go to Maui with possible opponents like Duke, Kansas and Michigan.

Nothing cuts an indefinite suspension to one game like the urgency to win again.

Down 0-2, as soon as Howland reinstated Nelson, the kid missed the team bus and plane to Hawaii. Who misses the chance to go to Hawaii?

Who makes such a blunder right after having an indefinite suspension lifted?

Why didn't Howland tell the kid to stay home after missing the team plane?

"In retrospect, you're probably right for sure," says Howland. "But I think my charge is to try and help these guys."

Last week against Texas, Nelson irritated Howland so much that Howland decided at halftime not to play Nelson the rest of the game. The Bruins went on to lose and Nelson appeared unfazed.

Howland says he was unaware of Nelson's behavior on the bench, which included pointing to folks in the crowd and laughing, according to media reports.

Was the kid challenging Howland's authority?

"No question," Howland says. "And no question his behavior is totally uncharacteristic of what we want from a UCLA basketball player representing this history and tradition.

"It's something that is going to be dealt with when we get together again. It's been an ongoing problem the past two years which has gotten worse.

"And I get it. I understand where people are on this. I know people are disenchanted that this could be happening here. If you knew how miserable I was, you'd know where this whole thing is headed. I just want a guy who puts the team first and understands what a privilege and honor it is to wear this uniform at UCLA. But he hasn't gotten that yet."

As for Smith, Howland says, "We had high expectations for him, but he didn't do the work necessary in the off-season to be in the condition necessary."

Is this UCLA basketball?

Howland had UCLA in the Final Four three times early on while spoiling everyone here. But the last few years it's been a struggle to recapture the magic.

"I really do believe we're going to get this turned around," he says.

What does that mean?

"I believe we'll be competitive in every game."

Is this UCLA basketball?

"The only way we can get into the tournament now based on our record is to win the conference tournament," he says. "So we have to evolve as a team, grow and come together. And we will."

That gives Howland until March to get things right, about the same time folks can expect Dan Guerrero to hire a football coach.

To read the rest of this article, click here.

UCLA's Ben Howland: Reeves Nelson won't start 'any time soon'

UCLA's Ben Howland: Reeves Nelson won't start 'any time soon'

By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
November 27, 2011 | 4:56pm


Just because Reeves Nelson is back playing for UCLA doesn't mean he has left Coach Ben Howland's doghouse.

Howland said Sunday that Nelson, his only returning all-conference player, would not start "any time soon" in the wake of his early-season suspensions that sidelined him 1 1/2 games before he returned during the Maui Invitational.

"He's got to have a good attitude, be accountable for a while here before that's going to happen," Howland said.

Howland said he was pleased with Nelson's behavior during the second half of the Chaminade game, which was his first time back on the court since the Bruins' opener, and the Kansas game, "but sometimes he slips back to his old practice habits and he's just got to get better."

Nelson was suspended indefinitely after UCLA's season-opening loss to Loyola Marymount in part because he was late to a team meeting, then sat out the first half of the Chaminade game after missing the team bus to the airport and the team flight to Hawaii.

For UCLA (1-4) to rebound from a lousy start, Nelson must revert to the player who averaged 13.9 points last season and played hard-nosed defense during a home victory against Arizona, not the one prone to sulking and disappearing for stretches. Nelson has made one start this season and is averaging 8.0 points and 5.5 rebounds.

In injury news, Howland said sophomore forward Travis Wear practiced Sunday and was expected to play against Pepperdine after needing five stitches to close a wound he suffered while snorkeling in Hawaii. Sophomore center Anthony Stover tweaked his shoulder injury but is expected to play. But junior forward De'End Parker will remain out because of a knee injury.

Howland said guard Larry Drew II, who must sit out this season after transferring from North Carolina, injured his groin before the team left for Hawaii and remains sidelined.

Reeves Nelson's preps coach suggests counseling for UCLA forward

Reeves Nelson's preps coach suggests counseling for UCLA forward


By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
November 15, 2011 | 4:40 pm


Gary Porter, who has known Reeves Nelson since Nelson was in the fifth grade and coached him at Modesto Christian, suggested that the troubled UCLA forward could benefit from counseling to help manage the behavior issues that led to his indefinite suspension.

“My recommendation would be to seek a little outside help of some kind so you get past this thing and move on to bigger and better things,” Porter said Tuesday. “The right counseling probably wouldn’t hurt.”

Porter said he spoke with Nelson on Monday night after the junior was suspended by Ben Howland for what the Bruins coach termed conduct unbecoming a member of the team.

Reeves appeared to tune out coaches during timeout huddles in UCLA's loss to Loyola Marymount on Friday.

Porter described Nelson as “down a little bit, a little disappointed with himself,” but said he did not get the sense that the junior was contemplating quitting the team. Nelson will sit out the Bruins’ game against Middle Tennessee State on Tuesday night at the Sports Arena before meeting with Howland about his status later in the week.

A family member who answered the phone at the Nelson home in Modesto said the family had no comment.

Behavioral issues are nothing new for Nelson, prone to sulking and berating his teammates during his first three years at UCLA. Porter said he suspended Nelson for “quite a few games” during his high school career for conduct that included yelling at teammates and kicking a chair during a game.
“He would just lose it and get mad because I don’t know if he really knew what to do with that anger,” Porter said. “It’s just a control problem more than anything.”

Porter said he informed Howland of Nelson’s issues early in the recruiting process.

“We both seemed to think it was something he would outgrow,” Porter said.

Porter said he traveled to Westwood once earlier in Nelson’s college career to support him through a difficult stretch and regularly spoke with former UCLA assistant Scott Duncan whenever issues arose.

When Porter spoke with Nelson on Monday, the coach said, he told his former player that he was there for him but that he needed to better control his temper.

“He said he was working on it,” Porter said.

UCLA's Reeves Nelson is suspended over behavior issues

UCLA's Reeves Nelson is suspended over behavior issues


UCLA forward is out indefinitely after ill-tempered lapses in season-opening loss, including tuning out coaches and appearing irked about his role on offense. Coach Ben Howland weighs his options.


By Ben Bolch
The Los Angeles Times
10:55 PM PST, November 14, 2011



The enigmatic career of UCLA's Reeves Nelson veered into uncertainty Monday when Coach Ben Howland indefinitely suspended the temperamental forward for what was termed conduct unbecoming a member of the team.

Nelson, the team's leading scorer and rebounder last season, will not be with the Bruins on Tuesday night at the Sports Arena when they play host to Middle Tennessee State. His status will be reevaluated after a meeting with Howland later this week.

"This is a very disappointing situation for Reeves and for our basketball program," Howland said in a statement. "We have a high standard and code of conduct that our student-athletes are expected to adhere to, and Reeves has fallen short of our expectations."

Nelson's most recent behavioral lapses occurred during and after UCLA's season-opening loss to Loyola Marymount on Friday. The 6-foot-8 junior seemed increasingly frustrated as the Bruins' 69-58 defeat progressed, tuning out coaches during timeout huddles and appearing irked that he was not a focal point of the offense.

Nelson finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, taking eight of his 12 shots — and all three of his three-point attempts — in the second half.

Howland said on Monday afternoon that he planned to meet with Nelson regarding "just his behavior after the game, for example, walking off the court the other day, a number of things of that nature."

Nelson, who last week appeared on a regional cover of Sports Illustrated, could not be reached for comment.

Asked whether he had spoken to Nelson about his status before the suspension was announced, sophomore center Joshua Smith appeared to indicate that Nelson was thinking of quitting the team.

"I've talked to him, but there's not really any information to tell me where he's leaning," Smith said. "I want him to stay."

Nelson has been a mysterious figure for much of his UCLA career, sulking when things aren't going well on the court and occasionally berating teammates. He threw the ball at teammate Brendan Lane's chest during a game last year.

Nelson can also be a galvanizing player, firing up the crowd with hand gestures and playing tight defense when inclined to do so.

He was a first-team All-Pacific 10 Conference player last season and a big reason the Bruins were picked by the media as the preseason favorite this year in the Pac-12.

"His biggest battle is mental," said Gary Porter, Nelson's coach at Modesto Christian. "It's not the physical part. The kid is a specimen when he wants to play."

Porter said he suspended Nelson for "quite a few games" during his senior season in high school because of a poor attitude.

"When things weren't going great for him or the team, he would take his frustrations out on some of his teammates," Porter said. "I had to get in his face many times. That's what you have to do with him."


Smith apologizes

Sophomore center Joshua Smith apologized to his teammates Saturday for a derogatory tweet he posted about Loyola Marymount after UCLA's season-opening loss.

On the bus ride back to campus from the Sports Arena, Smith tweeted, "Just lost to some straight bums lol." He then deleted the tweet after talking to teammate Tyler Lamb about whether it was inappropriate.

"It was just a little immaturity," Smith said. "I said something I shouldn't have said."

UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero apologized to Loyola Marymount on Smith's behalf.

Howland said he couldn't ban players from tweeting because it would infringe on their 1st Amendment rights while attending a public university.


Rim shots

Sophomore center Anthony Stover, who has not played this season because of a shoulder injury, could resume contact drills later this week, Howland said.

UCLA, which opened the season at No. 17 in the Associated Press media poll, dropped out of the national rankings.

UCLA suspends Reeves Nelson

UCLA suspends Reeves Nelson

By Peter Yoon
ESPNLosAngeles.com
Updated: November 15, 2011, 1:55 AM ET


UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland has suspended junior forward Reeves Nelson indefinitely for conduct unbecoming a member of the UCLA basketball team, the school announced in a statement Monday night.

Nelson did not show up for practice Monday, when the two were supposed to meet face to face, but Howland spoke to Nelson on the phone, according to a source familiar with the situation. Nelson's status with the team will be re-evaluated when the two meet face to face, but Nelson is not expected to attend UCLA's game against Middle Tennessee State Tuesday at the Los Angeles Sports Arena, the school's statement said.

"This is a very disappointing situation for Reeves and our basketball program," Howland said in the statement. "We have a high standard and code of conduct that our student-athletes are expected to adhere to and Reeves has fallen short of our expectations."

Nelson, who led the team in scoring and rebounding last season and was an all-conference selection, appeared to be sulking during UCLA's season-opening loss to Loyola Marymount on Friday. He did not join the team in the timeout huddle on a couple of occasions and walked past teammates who were attempting to give him a high five walking off the court.

He finished with 13 points and eight rebounds, but had only four points on two of four shooting in the first half while twins David and Travis Wear -- also forwards -- combined for 20 points on nine of 16 shooting in the first half.

Nelson has been a polarizing figure during his three-years with the Bruins, with the ability to take over games at times and the equal ability to disappear for long stretches. His mood swings were often cited for UCLA's inconsistent level of play last season.

UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Bruins sign two of nation's top small forwards

UCLA BASKETBALL NOTEBOOK: Bruins sign two of nation's top small forwards

By Jon Gold, Staff Writer
Long Beach Press-Telegram
Posted: 11/09/2011 10:21:44 PM PST
Updated: 11/09/2011 10:42:53 PM PST


UCLA signed two of the nation's premier high school basketball players Tuesday.

Now comes the hard part.

Waiting on a couple more.

For now, coach Ben Howland is ecstatic to get the signatures of No. 2-rated small forward Kyle Anderson and No. 15-rated small forward Jordan Adams.

A 6-foot-7 Swiss army knife out of St. Anthony High in New Jersey, Anderson is considered one of the top prospects in the country, rated a five-star prospect across the board and ranked as the No. 4 overall player in the 2012 class by Scout.com, No. 2 by Rivals.com and No. 5 by ESPN.

"He's got unbelievable skills for a guy his size with the ball," Howland said. "He's really improved his shot in the last year. He's really smart. He's way ahead of the game in terms of understanding the game."

Anderson is expected to play point guard on offense for the Bruins, though with the glut of small, quick ballhandlers in the Pacific-12 Conference, he might start off guarding the three position.

"It goes both ways - he has to be better at the other end - but he's a very difficult matchup against anybody," Howland said about Anderson's size advantage on offense. "He's a great passer, anywhere he gets the ball. Out on the post, in the perimeter, pushing it in the break. He sees the floor so well."

Adams, meanwhile, is one of the best pure scorers in the country, rated the No. 73 overall prospect by Scout.com and No. 74 by Rivals.com.

"Jordan Adams is a really good shooter," Howland said. "He's a team captain for Oak Hill, a very good team, one of the best in the country.

"We're really excited about him. Watched him play a lot this summer. He can play the wing, play the two, play the three. He's used to winning."

Howland now will have to get used to waiting.

UCLA is still awaiting the decisions of No. 1 overall prospect Shabazz Muhammad, who indicated he's waiting until spring to make his decision, and highly regarded center Tony Parker, who is expected to announce his decision in December.

Quick jinx?

The Sports Illustrated cover jinx has struck Westwood.

On the same day UCLA junior forward Reeves Nelson adorned the cover of one of the regional college basketball preview issues, he had an X-ray to determine the extent of an ankle injury suffered in Tuesday's practice.

The results came back negative, however, and Nelson is considered day-to-day but expected to play in the team's season opener against Loyola Marymount on Friday at the Sports Arena.

Nelson hurt his foot/ankle late in practice Tuesday and was held out of practice Wednesday but is expected to return today.

The team's returning leading scorer had 16 points and 10 rebounds in the Bruins' 80-72 exhibition win over Cal State San Bernadino on Sunday.

Interview With UCLA Forward Reeves Nelson

Thanks, sydbruin for the post on BZ.

Interview With UCLA Forward Reeves Nelson

by Brett Pierce
Bruinsball.com
Published on 10-20-2011 12:00 AM

Here is a Bruinsball.com exclusive interview with UCLA Junior Forward, Reeves Nelson.


How was your offseason?
Reeves Nelson: It was good. Right after last season ended, just took like a week or two off taking it easy and then from that point on I pretty much hit the gym all day every day, 7 days a week.


How hard was it being so close to beating Florida and then coming up short? A few more breaks and you guys would have won. Did coming so close put that much more of a drive in you?
Reeves Nelson: Yeah. Losing the way we did in a close game like that, I was obviously happy that we were in the game, but then to lose like that kind of hurts a little more than getting blown out or something like that. So, just knowing that a couple small things could make that much of a difference, made me work that much harder.


With the addition of the Wears, your frontcourt is pretty deep. Do you think you are going to be seeing more time at the 3 this season?
Reeves Nelson: Yeah, either me or David Wear will probably see a good amount of time at the 3 position. It’s not really gonna matter too much because Coach [Howland] says we’re gonna play 4 out, 1 in on our motion offense so pretty much, both wing positions will be the same whether you are the 3 or 4. I worked a lot of my free throws, getting ready to handle the position, so I think that will be good for our team.


So, are you the same weight/build as last season, or did you try to cut down so you can guard small forwards on other teams?
Reeves Nelson: I’m actually like 5 or 6 pounds less and I’m down to 5% body fat, so I trimmed down a little bit from playing so much and working out so hard.


Are we going to be seeing more outside shooting from you this year?
Reeves Nelson: Yeah, definitely. That’s one of the main things our team picked up was trying to become a lot more comfortable shooting the ball from the outside in a game situation. And from our first couple days of practice, Coach has definitely allowed me to do that so I look forward to being able to show that part of my game.


What are your individual goals for this season and what are your team goals?
Reeves Nelson: Individually… I really don’t have any individual goals for myself as far as [awards]. I just want to play as hard as I can and do everything I can to help our team win as many games as possible. Team, I think we definitely want to win the new Pac-12. I think we’re definitely capable of that and if we do that I think we have the potential to make a really deep run in March Madness. So that will be good.


Even though you lost Malcolm Lee and Tyler Honeycutt, do you think this team might be better than last year’s team? You guys definitely have more experience.
Reeves Nelson: I think that even though Malcolm and Tyler left, our team has a good amount of experience coming back and also the Wear twins being able to play, and De’End [Parker] and Norman [Powell] coming in. I think we are a deep team and a lot more experienced, so we can use that to our advantage.


What players over the offseason impressed you the most?
Reeves Nelson: I worked out a lot with Zeke [Lazeric Jones]. Me and Zeke, especially for the first half of summer, were pretty much in the gym together every day and every night. And then the Wear twins have impressed me. They are going to help us out a lot. And then Tyler Lamb I know made a lot of improvement. And then also Anthony Stover, he went to Vegas for like 6 weeks for like a camp type thing, and he improved a lot, especially offensively.


I then talked to Reeves about our mutual love for lead singer Jim Morrison and the band, The Doors.


How did you get into The Doors? That’s not a band most basketball players nowadays are listening to.
Reeves Nelson: I got into them from my Dad. And then once I got into high school I learned a lot about Jim Morrison and I read his biography, “No One Here Gets Out Alive.” Then I downloaded all of their music and then I just got really into it. I think [Jim Morrison] is one of the most genius people that has ever lived.


What is your favorite Doors song?
Reeves Nelson: I don’t know if I could pick just one. I like Roadhouse Blues, L.A. Woman, People Are Strange, Five to One, then obviously Break On Through, Riders on the Storm. I like all their songs.


Have you ever thought of getting a Jim Morrison quote as a tattoo?
Reeves Nelson: Well actually, nobody has really seen it yet, but I got a tattoo that basically I have headstones around my shoulder and inside the headstones I have Jimi Hendrix, Tupac, and Jim Morrison. There are little mini portraits of them inside [the headstones].

Locked out players find UCLA class doors open

Russell, Sean and B Diddies, Reeves in summer school. Photo credit: I saw somewhere kluv took this photo? Thanks to kluv if true.



Locked out players find UCLA class doors open



By Michael Martinez
FoxSportsWest.com
August 18, 2011



Baron Davis knew he'd be back. First of all, there was the promise he made to his grandmother, and he had no intention of breaking that one.

There was also a simple thirst for knowledge and a need to find out more about the world and his place in it. Davis figured out long ago that there's life after basketball; maybe it was time to start planning for it.

That's what brought him back to college, back to a classroom at UCLA after a 12-year break. With a near-hopeless NBA lockout threatening the start of the next season, Davis is in school – and he's not alone.

Several other former Bruins and current NBA players – Kevin Love, Russell Westbrook, Trevor Ariza and Luc Mbah a Moute – are enrolled in summer school at Westwood and earning credits toward their degrees.

It was a collective decision to return, Davis said. He and Kenny Donaldson, UCLA's assistant director of academic services, encouraged the group to make use of their time by returning. If the lockout is a long one, it just makes good sense.

"I know they all talked about it," Donaldson said. "If there wasn't a lockout, it would be iffy whether all of them would have come back. I think (the lockout) encouraged them, and I think Baron had a big influence."

Davis, the Cleveland Cavaliers guard who has played 12 years in the NBA, had already decided he would get back in the classroom. This summer, he's taken three courses – African-American history 1600-1865, U.S. history 1900-1928 and fundamental screen writing – and is currently enrolled in an American pop culture class with Love, Westbrook and Ariza.

"I'm just building," Davis said. "I think from where I am and where I sit, it's just being a sponge, trying to soak up as much knowledge and meet with as many different people and start to figure out what I want to do."

Davis said he plans to take a full load of classes if the lockout stretches into the fall. He's a history major and a film and television minor and has screenwriting aspirations. He's already working on a script, but not about basketball. It's a comedy.

When he left school after two years to enter the NBA draft, Davis was focused on his playing career. Now that he's older, he appreciates the importance of an education.

"You know what you want," he said. "You know what life is about. You can apply the lessons to what you're living. And I think that's the beauty of going back to school – you want to go back. I'm not doing it because I have to, I'm doing it because I want to. I want to make straight As, and I want to learn what's going on around me. I'm interested in the subjects that I'm taking."

Love, the Minnesota Timberwolves star who left UCLA after one year, said he hopes to become a college coach when he's done playing, so a college degree is a necessity. But it goes beyond that.

"I know it's going to be a lengthy process, but I'm only 22, so I definitely want to get started on it," he said. "Plus, it's a way to get my mind working again and keep sharp. It brings me back on campus around all the regular students and makes me feel like a regular person again, like part of the family."

That's not a bad thing, but most students make note of the celebrity factor pretty quickly.

"People knew who I was, but nobody really paid attention," Davis said of the first time he walked into his African-American history class. "A couple of times people asked to take pictures for their kids or their brother and sister or asked for an autograph. But that was it."

Davis promised his grandmother, Lela Nicholson, that he would return at some point to get his degree, but she passed away in March. It's one of his great regrets that she couldn't see him graduate.

"She always stayed on my case about education," he said. "She never really cared about basketball in my life. She only cared about school and having a solid foundation. That's why I made the promise to her. I wanted her to see me accomplish so much, but I feel like I didn't get an opportunity to do what I needed to do."

Now he does. But it's not just about school. Davis also spends time every summer working with his foundation, Rising Stars of America. The organization conducts an annual youth basketball camp designed to teach ethical and social values to kids from different socio-economic backgrounds.

The camp is over, so Davis is just like every UCLA student, carrying books and rushing to class. In time, he hopes to wear a cap and gown and walk with other graduates who have earned degrees.

"That's what I wanted to do in my life, be a Bruin and graduate from UCLA," he said. "That's more than an honor and a privilege -- not to say that I went there but that I have a degree, and to share that with all the great alumni that come from that school."

WHO'S YOUR DIDDY?

Two diddies, Russell and Reeves (?) in summer school.

from Arek Kissoyan on ballislife.com

Super-sized Bruins

Strength and size of Bruins’ frontcourt give coach Ben Howland many choices for next season

By SAM STRONG
The Daily Bruin
Published May 27, 2011, 2:02 am in Men's Basketball Sports


It’s a Wednesday morning in late May, but don’t tell the UCLA basketball team that.

The Bruins are going full speed during the last week of their offseason workouts. As they prepare for next season’s schedule, the competition among them is ramping up.

With Joshua Smith, Anthony Stover, Travis and David Wear, Reeves Nelson, and Brendan Lane, coach Ben Howland might have too many options in the frontcourt.

He doesn’t seem worried.

Junior forward Reeves Nelson (6-8, 235)



Junior forward Brendan Lane (6-9, 223)



“We’ll end up playing with Dave Wear at the three (small forward) some,” Howland said. “And then you look at the other bigs that you’re playing with, and Brendan gives us some depth at the big position. We’re really deep up front.”

Howland will have to depart from his team over the summer. He’s not allowed to contact them until school is back in session, an NCAA rule that he’s made clear he’s not too fond of.

When you consider that the Bruins are also changing their offensive philosophy, Howland has only a limited amount of time. That prized depth at the four and five positions allows him to do something new with his offense.

“With the post presence that we have, we’re going to be able to run motion,” said Howland, who is about to enter his ninth season at the helm of UCLA’s program. “We’re going to run set plays, but we’re going to run more motion than we ever have since I’ve been here.”

A lot of screening and two-man work is getting done down low as the NCAA also mandates that only four players can work out at the same time. As such, Howland and his assistants hold four 30-minute practice sessions to facilitate the entire 12-man roster.

A glance at assistant coach Scott Garson’s pile of tools might suggest he’s getting ready to take to Spaulding Field and hit with the football team. He wields a blocking pad in one arm to keep his big men out of the paint and a padded broomstick in the other that he uses as a makeshift shot blocker.


Brothers Wear (Travis wears 43 [6-10, 220], David wears 34 [6-10, 225]).



Of particular note, the morning session consists only of the rising redshirt sophomore twins, Travis and David Wear. The natives of Huntington Beach and graduates of Mater Dei High School haven’t seen NCAA game action in more than a year after transferring from North Carolina and being forced to sit out last season per NCAA rules.

The pair averaged about 10 minutes per game during their freshman season as Tar Heels and didn’t contribute much in the scoring column, both of them averaging fewer than five points per game. Tar Heel fans would hardly recognize them now.

“I trimmed my body down,” Travis Wear said of his hiatus from the game. “I got a lot more lean and a lot more cut. I’ve been doing a lot of lifting, and I think I’m a lot more athletic. I think I’ve improved a lot since my freshman season.”

The twins go one-on-one at times, two-on-broom dummy at others, working on their post footwork as well as their outside shooting, something David Wear thinks can help next year’s team.

“What helps with me and my brother and Reeves is that we all can step out and shoot, so we’re all going to be able to play on the court at the same time,” he said.

Howland, for one, is excited to see them finally able to compete.

“The Wears have been terrific in terms of how they eat, how they take care of themselves, how they lift,” he said. “They’re doing yoga three days a week. Their commitment is really impressive. That’s what it takes to be great.”


Super soph center Joshua Smith (6-10, 305)



The session adds centers in rising sophomore Joshua Smith and rising redshirt sophomore Anthony Stover to the mix. Smith was key to UCLA’s run to the second round of the NCAA Tournament last season and is showcasing that familiar dexterity with the ball through a number of challenging drills.

But his endurance is another issue. Conditioning and foul trouble were two of Smith’s limiting factors as a freshman, and Howland hasn’t seen much progress there.

“It needs to get better,” Howland said of Smith’s conditioning. “He knows that, and we all talk about that. He’s put on some weight since the season ended. That’s Josh’s whole hurdle. When Josh Smith gets his body fat to 12 percent or 13 percent, he’ll be the best big guy in the country. But when he does that is everything for him and for our team.”


Soph center Anthony Stover (6-10, 235)



With an overabundance of size and a question mark at the two-guard spot, a lot of questions remain as to who will play where.

Howland looks on, sipping on a water bottle as his last group of players finishes a workout.

“Bottom line is, right now, we’ve got 12 guys on scholarship and one of them is a redshirt, so we’re 11 guys deep and strong as we go into the season,” he said with a smile.


No new assistant yet

Howland has yet to hire a third assistant coach to fill the void left by Scott Duncan, who departed to Wyoming last month.

He said he expects to reach a decision sometime in the first two weeks of June.

“I’ve been in no hurry to do that,” Howland said. “We’ve just been focusing on what we’re doing here. I’ve got one or two more interviews to complete, and then we’ll make the decision.”

____________


Travis and David Wear ready to contribute

By SAM STRONG
The Daily Bruin
Published May 18, 2011 in Sports: Bruin Sights
Updated: May 20, 2011, 12:39 AM


It’s been more than a year since UCLA forwards Travis and David Wear have played in an NCAA game.

The rising redshirt sophomore twins have been going at their teammates and each other in practice over the course of that year after transferring from North Carolina at the conclusion of their freshman season. Now, they have just one offseason left before they take the floor for the Bruins in the fall.

“I trimmed my body down. I got a lot more lean and a lot more cut,” Travis said. “I’ve been doing a lot of lifting and yoga, and I think I’m a lot more athletic.”

The Daily Bruin got a chance to see the pair compete at a team workout Wednesday morning in a number of drills that included a look at their outside shooting game.

“I think we both shoot the ball equally well,” Travis said. “He might shoot it more often because he’s playing the three more but I would say that both of our jump shots are equal and both of our inside games are equal.”

For those having trouble distinguishing between the twins, David is in a white top and makes the first jumper in the video. Travis is wearing a grey top and makes the second fallaway jumper.


DailyBruinSports on You Tube for the vid

As Reeves Nelson goes, so goes UCLA

posted by amadbruin on Bruin Zone

Reeves Nelson had a career-high 27 points in UCLA's upset of No. 10 Arizona on Saturday. Photo from BYU game.


Good Reeves Nelson great for UCLA. Forward proves against No. 10 Arizona that as he goes, so go the Bruins

By Peter Yoon
ESPNLosAngeles.com
Archive
Updated: February 27, 2011, 2:09 AM ET


LOS ANGELES -- As Reeves Nelson goes, so goes UCLA.

He's the emotional leader for the Bruins, an intense, tattooed human barometer whose energy level dictates that of the rest of the team.

He's the team's resident drill sergeant, constantly barking at teammates and even coaches during games.

When Nelson pays hard, the Bruins follow suit. When Nelson plays well, UCLA wins more often than not. When Nelson has energy, it fires up the team.

So it's no surprise UCLA played its most complete game of the season when Nelson played his.

The Bruins thumped No. 10 Arizona 71-49 in the final men's basketball game at Pauley Pavilion before the facility is shut down for a year-long renovation project.

Nelson played the part of bulldozer, razing the Wildcats for a career-high 27 points and adding 16 rebounds -- one short of his career high -- as the Bruins (21-8, 12-4) forged a tie with the Wildcats (23-6, 12-4) for first place in the Pac-10.

But the numbers on Nelson's stat line pale in comparison to the job he did defensively after begging for the opportunity to guard Arizona forward Derrick Williams, a leading contender for Pac-10 player of the year and a projected first-round NBA selection.

So while John Wooden's great-grandson brought UCLA coach Ben Howland to tears by making the final basket in Wooden's old stomping grounds, Nelson brought the Wildcats to their knees with a virtuoso performance that will probably get lost in the hoopla of the circumstances but will probably lift UCLA into the national rankings for the first time in nearly two years.

"Reeves Nelson had the game of his career to this point," Howland said. "This is by far our best game of the year. This was the best 40 minutes."

It's a fine line Nelson walks, sometimes bringing the team down when his mercurial persona falls into a lull, and other times injecting a surge of energy. Some say there are two sides to Nelson: Good Reeves and Bad Reeves.

Bad Reeves occasionally drags the team down by sulking when things aren't going his way. He sometimes triggers defensive lapses when he forgets to hustle back after making a turnover. Sometimes he doesn't make the effort to block out if he's still caught up in a foul call that didn't go his way.

Good Reeves showed up Saturday, hustling for loose balls, fighting for rebounds battling inside and making strong moves from all around the basket. But his defensive performance turned this into Really Good Reeves.

Williams torched UCLA last month in Tucson, scoring 22 points and delivering several highlight-reel worthy dunks. Nelson asked Howland earlier this week for the assignment, but Howland had Anthony Stover and Joshua Smith on Williams to start the game.

Williams appeared to be on pace for another huge game with 13 points on 4-for-7 shooting with 5:22 left in the first half. That's when Nelson got in Howland's ear.

"I remember Reeves saying, 'I want him, Coach. Don't take me out when he's in the game,'" Smith said. "'When he's out of the game, you can take me out.'"

Nelson remembered it this way: "I went right up to Coach and said, 'I'm going to guard him the rest of the game no matter what,'" he said. "It was a strong request."

Williams had only two points on 1-for-4 shooting the rest of the way. And Nelson wasn't hacking Williams to keep him at bay. Williams, the nation's leader in free throw attempts, did not get to the foul line while Nelson was guarding him.

"I know he's a really great player and he's going to play basketball for a long time for a lot of money," Nelson said. "I just tried to do my best to make it difficult for him. I knew if we did a good job on him, we'd have a good chance of winning the game."

Sometimes Nelson rubs people the wrong way. He can be brash and even downright rude, with little filter for saying what's on his mind.

Saturday, for instance, he called out a reporter for intimating that he was a weak defensive player.

"I've been told that some people say I can't play defense really, so I just take that very personally," he said. "If Derrick Williams is a top-five pick in the NBA and I hold him to two points in the second half, I think I'm proud of my own effort."

Stover acknowledged Nelson can sometimes go over the top, but said he's also misunderstood.

"He's a really emotional person and it comes out the wrong way sometimes, but he always means the best," Stover said "He breathes on everyone the hardest because he's driven to win and he pushes us to do that."

Forward Tyler Honeycutt, however, said Nelson has made great strides toward keeping his emotions in check.

"He's stronger mentally," Honeycutt said. "He's not letting little stuff get to him. He's improved as a player as well as person -- being patient, being able to listen and being coachable."

Nelson embraces the role of emotional leader. He relishes the idea that he can inspire the team when it needs inspiration and that he can energize the team when it hits lulls. But he realizes things can go the other way, too.

"I try my best not to let my emotions get the best out of me positive or negative," Nelson said. "I'm still working on that as well and that's probably the most difficult part of my game."

After Saturday's game, Nelson regained the team lead in scoring with 14 points a game and he also leads the team in rebounding with nine a game. It's no surprise that some of Nelson's lowest scoring games of the season -- five points against Kansas and Montana and seven against California -- resulted in Bruins losses, because as Nelson goes, so goes UCLA.

But it's his perch as the team's emotional leader that has as much influence on how UCLA plays as any statistics he puts up.

"We feed off of each other so as soon as his emotion is up to his peak, we have to play with him," Stover said. "We have to play as a team and we all played to Reeves' level tonight."

On Saturday, that level was pretty high.

Peter Yoon covers UCLA for ESPNLosAngeles.com.

Post-WSU interviews

Preview of Howland interview

By Jon Gold on December 28, 2010 5:45 PM
Inside UCLA, The Los Angeles Daily News

I had a long one-on-one interview with Ben Howland, who really opened up about the last few years of UCLA basketball, including this quote that caught me just a bit off guard...

Me: So if you guys get hot, play well in conference, get a couple tournament wins, finish with 22, 23 wins...

Howland: "God, I'd kiss you right now. I swear to God. I would come over there and I'd kiss you if we got 23, 24 wins. Are you kidding me? I'd be so happy. Are you kidding? That's so nice to even project that possibility."

More from the interview over the next couple days, and a ton of press conference videos. Stay tuned.

And with that...


Coach Howland Part 1


Coach Howland Part 2


Coach Howland Part 3


Player interviews

Reeves Nelson


Malcolm Lee

Reeves Nelson Named UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week

Post updated Dec 21 2010 8:03 am Pacific
Photo courtesy of www.uclabruins.com


Reeves Nelson Named UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week

Sophomore led UCLA to upset win over previously-unbeaten BYU.

From The Official UCLA Men's Basketball website
Dec. 20, 2010


Sophomore forward Reeves Nelson (Modesto, CA/Modesto Christian) of the UCLA men's basketball team was selected as the UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week for Dec. 13-19.

Nelson led the Bruins to a pair of victories over UC Davis and previously unbeaten No. 16 BYU last week, averaging 18.0 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 54.5% (12-for-22) from the field. He scored a career-high 23 points in the 86-79 win over BYU on Saturday, helping the Bruins snap a five-game losing streak to ranked teams. Nelson finished 8-for-17 from the field and 7-for-13 from the free-throw line while adding four rebounds and two assists. In the 74-67 win over UC Davis earlier in the week, he had 13 points, nine rebounds, one block and one assist.

This is Nelson's first UCLA/Muscle Milk Student-Athlete of the Week honor of the season and second of his career.
________

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UCLA basketball: Reeves Nelson is Pac-10 player of week again
By Ben Bolch
The Los Angelinos Times
December 20, 2010 | 12:43 pm


Reeves Nelson was selected the Pacific 10 Conference's player of the week for a second time this season, after leading UCLA to victories over UC Davis and No. 16 Brigham Young.

The sophomore forward scored a career-high 23 points on eight-for-15 shooting during the Bruins' 86-79 victory over the Cougars and had 13 points and eight rebounds during a 75-67 triumph over UC Davis.

Nelson becomes the second player to be selected by conference officials for the award a second time this season, joining Washington State's Klay Thompson.

"It's very flattering," Nelson said. "I just try to not pay attention to anything the media says, no offense to you guys. They'll love you one week and get on you the next week, so I just try to stay even. It really comes down to my teammates, and that's all I really care about."

UCLA (6-4) plays host to Montana State (6-5) on Tuesday at Pauley Pavilion.

Reeves Nelson adds jumper, new ink

Reeves Nelson adds jumper, new ink

By Blair Angulo
ESPN Los Angeles
October, 14, 2010 Oct 1411:32AM PT

Reeves Nelson spent a lot of time in the paint last season, drawing a bruise here, a black eye there.

But with the arrival of highly touted freshman center Joshua Smith, Nelson's role figures to change this year. He expects to play on the wings, a spot he spent his entire high school career at.

"Last year I just kind of did what I had to do to help the team out," Nelson said Wednesday during UCLA's media day inside Pauley Pavilion. "This year I'll be going back to my natural position."

As a result, he has worked extensively on his perimeter shooting.

Take a look below, as Nelson talks more about his work, his thoughts on the 2010 season and some new tattoos.

DraftExpress: On Reeves Nelson

DraftExpress: On Reeves Nelson

#9 Reeves Nelson, 6-8, Sophomore, Power Forward, UCLA
11.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, .4 assists, 1.7 turnovers, 65% FG, 52% FT

By Walker Beeken
DraftExpress
Sept 23 2010

Sophomore forward Reeves Nelson will look to help UCLA rebound from an abysmal 2009-2010 season in which the Bruins finished with a 13-17 record and missed the postseason for the first time since coach Ben Howland's first season at UCLA in 2003-2004. After a solid freshman season as one of the team's lone bright spots, Nelson will need to continue to develop his game to help the Bruins improve and to get himself on the radar of NBA scouts.

From a physical standpoint, Nelson is far from the ideal NBA power forward prospect. He's a bit undersized at 6'8”, and his strong, bulky frame could use some tightening up. He does have quick feet and a decent first step for a guy his size, but he's primarily a below-the-rim player with limited elevation and explosiveness.

On the offensive end, Nelson combines a nice blend of power and a knack of how to finish around the rim, which contributed to him shooting an outstanding 64.7% from the field last season. His strong body and aggressive mentality help him to get position around the basket, and his scoring instincts enable him to finish, despite his lack of physical tools. He's comfortable playing with his back to the basket and can also face up and put the ball on the floor and finish with either hand going either direction. Nelson has to potential to be a force offensively around the basket at the college level, but this success may not translate well against longer, more athletic, defenders in the NBA.

Nelson's shooting is an area where he could use quite a bit of work. He shot a very poor 52% from the free throw line as a freshman, and he didn't show any flashes of being able to knock down a mid-range jump shot, with most all of his field goal attempts coming in the basket area. Developing a reliable jump shot from about fifteen feet would help him tremendously to become a more well-rounded offensive threat.

Defensively, Nelson displays good energy and intensity, as he's clearly an extremely tough player, and plays for an excellent defensive coach in Ben Howland, but he may lack the physical attributes needed to have great success defending at the NBA level. Tightening up his body may help some, but his lack of length and lateral quickness will certainly be an issue. Nelson's rebounding numbers were solid last season but not spectacular (9.9 rebounds per forty minutes pace adjusted). Really focusing on attacking the glass would give him another area to hang his hat on.

Overall, Nelson still has quite a bit of work to do before having his name come up in draft discussions. His toughness, aggressiveness and scoring instincts around the basket give him a base to build on, but he'll probably need to develop a mid-range jump shot and work on improving his body and athleticism to become a realistic NBA prospect. Fortunately, he still has three seasons remaining at UCLA to shore up his weaknesses and work on his game.

Reeves Nelson is a sight for sore eyes, and UCLA fans

Pump fake (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times / March 11, 2010)UCLA forward Reeves Nelson gets Arizona center Kyryl Natyazhko to leave his feet with a pump fake before taking a shot in the first half Thursday.

Reeves Nelson is a sight for sore eyes, and UCLA fans

Freshman returns after suffering a torn retina and leads Bruins over Arizona in Pac-10 tournament opener.

By Bill Plaschke
The LA Times
March 12, 2010


On his face were broken goggles. In his heart was a broken promise.

But it was OK, because back home in Modesto, Reeves Nelson's grandmother was breaking eardrums.

‘'Oh, my God!'' shouted Marilyn Sieferer, her cheers echoing off a giant television a few feet away.

Three weeks after suffering a torn retina in his left eye, UCLA's Nelson returned to the court Thursday to lead the Bruins to a 75-69 win over Arizona in the first round of the Pacific Life Pac-10 basketball tournament.

He did so amid the fear that he was genetically disposed to suffering the sort of detached retinas that changed his grandmother's life. He did so after promising his beloved ‘'Granny'' that he would not play basketball again this season.

But it was OK, because he not only broke that promise, he broke up the Wildcats with 19 points and 10 rebounds while helping force five turnovers by Wildcats freshman forward Derrick Williams.

And it was OK because Granny was hollering in support of every move, her eyesight forcing her to sit close to the TV, her love for Nelson allowing her to step back.

"This is about him,'' Sieferer said. "He loves basketball, and if doctors say he is going to be fine, then he needs to keep playing.''

He not only kept playing, but so now does UCLA, this nightmare season extended one more day, next season's prospects sunnier by one serious beam.

"The guy is a stud,'' UCLA Coach Ben Howland said of Nelson, a 6-foot-8 freshman who looks like a wrestler, plays like a linebacker, and possesses the heart of a child.

Seriously, after he injured his eye against Washington State, he comforted his grandmother by vowing that he was finished for the season.

‘'I saw what she went through, and I thought about how she would feel if that happened to me,'' Nelson said. ‘'I promised Granny I would not play.''

Nelson grew up in a house with his grandmother, so he saw how her cloudy vision prevented her from driving a car or pursuing her dreams.

"He was scared, we were all scared,'' said his mother, Sheila.

Two laser surgeries later, Nelson was cleared to play last weekend in the two games in Arizona. But shortly before the first game, still worried about his grandmother, still stuck on that promise, he couldn't do it.

Said Nelson: ‘'I just needed more time.''

Said Howland, who has perhaps mellowed with all the losing: "I totally understood. You have to understand. I put my arm around him and said it was OK.''

By early this week, doctors had convinced his mother that the eye was fine and risked no further damage. She finally gulped and phoned Nelson and told him that, indeed, some promises are truly made to be broken.

"I told him, ‘This is going to show who you are as a person, as a man,' '' said his mother. ‘'I told him, ‘How you handle yourself here will tell everything about you to your teammates.' ''

Nelson listened. He waited for his mother to pass along his grandmother's approval. He listened some more.

‘'Basically, she told me that I had to stand up to my fear,'' he said. ‘'So I did.''

That fear was soon transferred to the Wildcats, who couldn't seem to figure out how to handle the hulking guy with the seven tattoos, the seemingly permanent black eye and, now, goggles.

‘'I hated those goggles," Nelson said. ‘'But they won't let me play without them.''

The eyewear, a gift from the Lakers, fogged up during the game, at times forcing Nelson to stay clear of the ball. Shortly after the game began, the nose piece fell to the gym floor, his embarrassment saved by a timeout.

As if this wasn't enough eye drama, Nelson also should be wearing contact lenses when he plays. He refuses because he claims they're always getting knocked out.

"I guess I can see good enough,'' he said.

On Thursday, he was certainly impossible to miss, screaming at teammates, stopping one Arizona fastbreak by kicking a Wildcat while lying on his back, and ending the game with a thundering dunk.

You could see why his teammates named him ‘'Rage.'' At one point, his rebounding and defense so unsettled Arizona that its coach was the one who was raging, Sean Miller loudly screaming to his players that they had turned it into a "playground game."

"I guess I just go and do what I do,'' Nelson said. ‘'I do anything to help the team win.''

While he plays in the post now, he is not a natural center, and will move to the power forward spot next season. In a dreadful season full of Howland recruiting mistakes, he is the perfect Howland player, a solid foundation for the rebuilding that must happen immediately.

From making promises to becoming one, Reeves Nelson seems ready to take this program on a ride that even a granny would love.

‘'Great game,'' his grandmother said Thursday evening. ‘'Going crazy.''

Senior Michael Roll makes All-Pac-10 First Team

Tyler Honeycutt and Reeves Nelson also honored by the Pac-10 coaches.

Michael Roll Highlights UCLA's All-Pac-10 Honors
from the Official UCLA Men's Basketball website
March 8, 2010


WALNUT CREEK, Calif. - In a vote of the 10 Conference coaches, California senior guard Jerome Randle has been named the 2009-10 Pacific-10 Men's Basketball Player of the Year, Arizona forward Derrick Williams has been named Pac-10 Freshman of the Year; Oregon State senior guard/forward Seth Tarver has been named Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year; USC sophomore forward Nikola Vucevic has been named Pac-10 Most Improved Player of the Year and Herb Sendek of Arizona State is the Pac-10 Coach of the Year, Commissioner Larry Scott announced today.

The Complete Conference Honors:


ALL-PAC-10 TEAM
FIRST TEAM
Name, School, Pos, Yr, Ht, Wt, Hometown (Last School)
Ty Abbott, ASU, G, Jr., 6-3, 207, Phoenix, Ariz. (Desert Vista HS)
Patrick Christopher, CAL, G, Sr., 6-5, 215, Compton, Calif. (Dominguez HS)
Landry Fields, STAN, G/F, Sr., 6-7, 200, Long Beach, Calif. (Los Alamitos HS)
Quincy Pondexter, WASH, F, Sr., 6-6, 215, Fresno, Calif. (San Joaquin Memorial HS)
Jerome Randle, CAL, G, Sr., 5-10, 160, Chicago, Ill. (Hales Franciscan HS)
Michael Roll, UCLA, G, Sr., 6-5, 200, Aliso Viejo, Calif. (Aliso Niguel HS)Isaiah Thomas, WASH, G, So., 5-8, 180, Tacoma, Wash. (South Kent School, Conn.)
Klay Thompson, WSU, G, So., 6-6, 200, Ladera Ranch, Calif. (Santa Margarita HS)
Derrick Williams, ARIZ, F, Fr., 6-8, 235, La Mirada, Calif. (La Mirada HS)
Nic Wise, ARIZ, G, Sr., 5-10, 180, Houston, Texas (Kingwood HS)


SECOND TEAM
Name, School, Pos, Yr, Ht, Wt, Hometown (Last School)
Jamal Boykin, CAL, F, Sr., 6-8, 230, Los Angeles, Calif. (Duke/Fairfax HS)
Jeremy Green, STAN, G, So., 6-4, 190, Austin, Texas (Bowie HS)
Calvin Haynes, OSU, G, Jr., 6-2, 185, Reseda, Calif. (South Kent Prep)
Theo Robertson, CAL, F, Sr., 6-6, 225, Pittsburg, Calif. (De La Salle HS)
Nikola Vucevic, USC, F, So., 6-10, 220, Bar, Montenegro (Stoneridge Prep)


Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes):
DeAngelo Casto (WSU, So., F), Derek Glasser (ASU, Sr., G), Dwight Lewis (USC, Sr., G), Roeland Schaftenaar (OSU, Sr., F/C), Seth Tarver (OSU, Sr., G/F).

PAC-10 ALL-FRESHMEN TEAM
Name, School, Pos, Ht, Wt, Hometown (Last School)
Tyler Honeycutt, UCLA, F, 6-9, 180, Los Angeles, Calif. (Sylmar HS)
Trent Lockett, ASU, G, 6-4, 211, Minnetonka, Minn. (Hopkins HS)
Reggie Moore, WSU, G, 6-2, 178, Seattle, Wash. (Brewster Academy, N.H.)
Reeves Nelson, UCLA, F, 6-8, 225, Modesto, Calif. (Modesto Christian HS)
Derrick Williams, ARIZ, F, 6-8, 235, La Mirada, Calif. (La Mirada HS)


Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes):
E.J. Singler (ORE, G/F).

PAC-10 ALL-DEFENSIVE TEAM
Name, School, Pos, Yr, Ht, Wt, Hometown (Last School)
DeAngelo Casto, WSU, F, So., 6-8, 231, Spokane, Wash. (Ferris HS)
Jorge Gutierrez, CAL, G, So., 6-3, 185, Chihuahua, Mexico (Findlay College Prep (Nev.))
Justin Holiday, WASH, F, Jr., 6-6, 180, Chatsworth, Calif. (Campbell Hall HS)
Venoy Overton, WASH, G, Jr., 5-11, 185, Seattle, Wash. (Franklin HS)
Seth Tarver, OSU, G/F, Sr., 6-5, 205, Portland, Ore. (Jesuit HS)


Honorable Mention (receiving at least three votes):
Eric Boateng (ASU, Sr., C), Patrick Christopher (CAL, Sr., G), Marcus Johnson (USC, Sr., F), Nikola Vucevic (USC, So., F).