Sports
Keeping it Bruin: A Look into UCLA Athletes
By Tobi Umodu
Jul 6, 2008 - 8:02:27 PM

When someone hears the name UCLA, one of the first things that comes to mind is UCLA basketball. Some may reminisce about the legendary John Wooden and the 10 national championships he won while he was there. Some may think about the tall, skinny frame of a young man named Lew Alcindor towering over his opponents  in the middle of key or the dominance of UCLA basketball in the early ‘90s. Or if you had been around UCLA basketball the last few years, you might reminisce about the three straight final four appearances and three consecutive Pac-10 conference titles.  

Three Bruins who helped spearhead these memories have now taken their act to the grand stage of the NBA. On June 26, UCLA's Russell Westbrook, Kevin Love, and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute were taken in the NBA draft. Russell and Love were right after each other, 4th and 5th, in the first round, while Mbah a Moute was taken as the 37th pick in the second round. Westbrook, who attracted scouts with his raw athleticism and suffocating defense, was picked up by the Seattle Supersonics to form a solid duo with former number one draft pick Kevin Durant. Love was selected by the Memphis Grizzlies, but then in a surprising move was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for O.J Mayo who was from cross-town rival USC and Mbah a Moute was picked up by the Milwaukee Bucks.

Even though the UCLA basketball team is losing three very key players in their program, they plan to continue their success next season.

"Ben Howland and UCLA are a great combination," said Guerrero in a UCLA press release. "Ben is at the top of his profession and is deserving of this commitment by the University. He has returned UCLA to the nation's elite, as illustrated by three straight Finals Fours and three consecutive 30-win seasons. He is an outstanding recruiter, and the foundation Ben has built for our program promises to keep us at the forefront for the foreseeable future."

That foreseeable future looks very bright, with Howland bringing in the nation’s top recruiting class which includes guards Malcom Lee, Jru Holiday, and Jerime Anderson; forward Drew Gordan; and recently signed center J'Mison Morgan. With the return of Dareen Collison and Josh Shipp next season to go along with their great freshman class, the Bruins look to make another run at the NCAA title in 2009.

With the Olympics on our heels, Bruins from the past and present are bidding for a spot on the U.S. Olympic team. Two former Bruins are already on their way to the Olympics in Beijing. Sheena Johnson Tosta finished third in the 400 m hurdles and Suzy Powell Roos finished second in the discus. The current Bruins headed to the U.S. Olympic Trials are highlighted by the nine members sent by the swimming team made up of Kirsten Byers, Brittany Beauchan, Emily Bibb, Lauren Hall, Julie Imagane, Carly Lyons, Dani Milligan, Anna Poteete, and Sam Vaden Berge.


Note: Ben Howland was signed to a new seven year contract which will keep him at UCLA through the 2014-15 season.