Alford, Hamilton Set for Portsmouth Invitational 2017

Bryce will be playing for Sales System, Isaac for Roger Brown's Restaurant :-) 

apr 12, 2017 | UCLA MEN'S BASKETBALL PAGE | POST LINK

Alford and Hamilton started in 104 games for UCLA over the past three seasons.

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• Portsmouth Invitational Website

LOS ANGELES – UCLA senior guards Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton will compete in the prestigious Portsmouth Invitational Tournament (PIT) at Churchland High School in Portsmouth, Va., from April 12-15.
 
For 65 consecutive years, the Portsmouth Invitational Tournament has invited 64 of the nation's top college basketball seniors to participate in a four-day, 12-game tournament played in front of NBA scouts.
 
Complete rosters for this season's tournament were announced April 10. The tournament's schedule and rosters can be viewed by visiting www.portsmouthinvitational.com.
 
Alford averaged 15.5 points, 2.5 rebounds and 2.6 assists per game, starting all 36 contests, for the Bruins during his senior season. He set the school's single-season record for most three-pointers made (116) and ranked second in the Pac-12 in three-point percentage (43.0).
 
Hamilton registered 14.4 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game as a senior, starting all 36 contests alongside Alford. Hamilton and Alford each scored in double figures in 28 of the team's 36 games.
 
In fact, Alford and Hamilton have started in each of the Bruins' last 104 games – every game the previous three seasons.
 
Alford concluded his collegiate career ranking No. 5 on the school's all-time scoring list with 1,922 career points. In addition, he set the school's career record for most made three-pointers (326). Alford capped his UCLA career ranking No. 6 on the all-time assist list (537) and No. 7 in career free throw percentage (.825).
 
Hamilton finished his collegiate career with 1,426 points in three seasons, currently ranking No. 25 on the school's all-time scoring list.
 
Alford and Hamilton each tied the school's single-game record for most made three-point field goals. Alford shot 9 for 14 from three-point range in a win at Colorado (Jan. 12, 2017), while Hamilton made 9 of 14 three-pointers in the Bruins' home victory over Arizona State the following week (Jan. 19, 2017).
 
The duo of senior guards helped UCLA post a 31-5 overall record in 2016-17, including a 15-3 mark in Pac-12 play. The Bruins advanced to the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 for the third time in four seasons after having won a school record-tying 28 regular-season games.

LaMelo Ball vs Jaylen Hands! Battle of Future UCLA Point Guards at The Battlezone!

from Ballislife West 

Catching up with Jaylen Hands

2017 videos on the San Diego native. Thanks to the original posters on You Tube!!!

Thomas Welsh. Stuff you can do with math.

Thomas Welsh from Pac-12 Networks
"Watch UCLA basketball center and Economics major Thomas Welsh explain how math is a universal language that helps him excel on and off the court."

UCLA's Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday will declare for NBA draft without hiring agents

Thomas Welsh's Pick-n-pop from ncaabasket.net 

Aaron Holiday from ReBorn HD Highlights

apr 10, 2017 | BEN BOLCH | THE L.A. TIMES | ARTICLE LINK

UCLA’s basketball team, already in flux, is facing a few more potential departures.

Junior center Thomas Welsh and sophomore point guard Aaron Holiday are both declaring for the NBA draft, the school confirmed. Neither player is planning to hire an agent, thereby preserving their ability to return to college next season. They have until May 24 to withdraw their names from draft consideration.

“Both Thomas and Aaron are doing their due diligence in getting feedback from the NBA to determine what’s in the best interest for their basketball futures,” UCLA Coach Steve Alford said Monday. “Each of these young men come from strong families with great support networks, and I want them to know that we will fully support their decisions, whichever way they go.”

The departures of Welsh and Holiday would be a crushing blow to a team already facing the loss of freshmen Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu. Ball and Leaf have said they would hire agents, effectively ending their UCLA careers, and Anigbogu said he would not hire an agent in case he wanted to return.

Should all five players leave in addition to seniors Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton, the Bruins would be losing seven of their top eight players as well as 95.52% of their scoring from last season. That would leave reserve forward Gyorgy Goloman, who averaged 3.7 points and 2.4 rebounds in 11.5 minutes per game last season, as the most experienced returning player.

Two NBA scouts who spoke with The Times said they thought both Welsh and Holiday should return to UCLA next season to boost their draft stock. The scouts spoke anonymously because their teams had not authorized them to publicly discuss college players. Welsh faces questions about his defense, and Holiday has not shown how he would fare as a starter since his freshman season.

“I think people want to see what he’s like when he maybe runs the team again,” one NBA scout said of Holiday. “I think a year going back might be good for him to take over that point guard spot and run it full time.”

Welsh averaged 10.8 points and a team-leading 8.7 rebounds per game last season while blocking a team-leading 43 shots. Holiday averaged 12.3 points and 4.4 assists while bringing an infusion of defense off the bench as the sixth man.

Neither Welsh nor Holiday is listed on most mock draft boards, but one scout said they would both have a chance to make an NBA team. Holiday has NBA pedigree because his brother Jrue plays for the New Orleans Pelicans and his brother Justin plays for the New York Knicks.

“Those guys find a way through the backdoor to get on a roster whether through a tryout or a late second-round pick,” the scout said of Welsh and Aaron Holiday, “but rarely are they guys that you’re talking about really high up.”

UCLA will plug most of its holes with a six-man recruiting class ranked No. 2 nationally. Guard Prince Ali and forward Alex Olesinski will also return after redshirting last season because of injuries. But the loss of so much experience would make the Bruins almost exclusively dependent on freshmen.

Alford told The Times last week that he was hoping Welsh and Holiday would return to guide the newcomers.

“Well, there’s no question because it’s their team,” Alford said of the upperclassmen. “Aaron’s had two really good years under his belt, Tom three really good years under his belt, so just like Isaac and Bryce and their leadership this year, that would be turned over to Aaron and Tom — Tom leading the frontcourt guys and Aaron leading the backcourt guys, so those are two obviously very important big pieces to what we’re trying to build for next year.”

UCLA's Ike Anigbogu declares for the NBA draft. Will not hire agent.

apr 5, 2017 | BEN BOLCH | THE L.A. TIMES | ARTICLE LINK

UCLA center Ike Anigbogu has declared for the NBA draft, he announced Wednesday on Twitter, but Anigbogu has not hired an agent, meaning he will retain the option of returning to the team.

Anigbogu’s announcement means that all three Bruins freshmen have declared for the draft, though guard Lonzo Ball and forward T.J. Leaf said they would hire agents, making them ineligible to return. College players who declare for the draft but do not hire an agent can withdraw their names until May 24.

“It’s always been a dream of mine to play in the NBA, and I believe that this is the right time for me to make that transition to the next level,” Anigbogu said. “I’m especially grateful to UCLA’s entire coaching staff for everything they’ve done for me.”

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The 6-foot-10 Anigbogu could be drafted as high as the latter half of the first round, according to two NBA executives who spoke with The Times. Anigbogu averaged a modest 4.7 points and 4.0 rebounds in 13.0 minutes per game but is widely coveted because of his athleticism and potential as an elite defender.

“Ike quickly made a huge impact within our program and will be a tremendous addition to any team at the next level,” UCLA Coach Steve Alford said in a statement released by the school. “I know this wasn’t an easy decision for him, and he certainly has my support in making the jump to the NBA. We’re really going to miss him, his sense of humor and that seemingly shy smile that hides how fiery of a competitor he is.

“He’s worked very hard both on the court and in the classroom while at UCLA and has made tremendous strides. Ike is a terrific young man with limitless potential at the professional level, and I cannot wait to watch him continue to grow as a player and a person in the years to come.”

T.J. says goodbye.

T.J. on Twitter link

Thanks, Good luck, God bless, T.J.!!! Go, Bruins!!!