Ben Howland and the UCLA Bruins are already off to a strong start to their 2012 recruiting efforts. Top-100 prospects Jordan Adams and Dominic Artis have already committed to play at Westwood, but don't think for a moment Howland and his staff and done.
Shabazz Muhammad, the No. 1 ranked player for the 2012 class, and while his recruitment has been closely followed for months, not too much is known at this point other than he likes the UCLA program. The name that has been making the most news in recent days is Kyle Anderson.
What's the latest update on Anderson? According to a report from Bruins Ball, the forward currently favors UCLA:
Kyle Anderson, a 6'9 product out of New Jersey and the top ranked point guard in the 2012 class, is said to be choosing between St John's, Seton Hall, Florida, Georgetown, and UCLA. Sources close to Anderson have indicated, though, that Anderson is leaning toward playing for Ben Howland and the UCLA Bruins at the moment.
Once thought to be a hard pull from the east coast, Anderson said he has no qualms playing as far away from home as California.
"I could see myself out here (in California). Distance is not an issue. It's all about style of play and my history with the coaches," he told C2C Hoops yesterday at the Boost Mobile Elite 24 in Venice Beach, California. Anderson had 18 points and 8 assists and was co-MVP of the event.
Anderson has not made certain plans to visit any schools except Florida, which he plans to visit the weekend of September 16th. Anderson said that he is going to visit the other schools on his list, but that he has been on the UCLA campus many times before so he is unlikely to use an official visit to Westwood, which is not a bad sign for Bruin fans.
Anderson's commitment to the program would be absolutely huge for UCLA, though he will not be an easy pull for Howland and his staff. While it appears the forward will not make a decision for at least another month or two -- if not longer, to be perfectly honest -- the Bruins appear to have all of the momentum at the moment.
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