Bruins nab future point guard

Great point guards want to play with great players. 2008 four-star point guard prospect Jerime Anderson out of Canyon High School in Anaheim, Calif., has the opportunity to not only play with great players, but also play for a great coach and play close to home.

"I'm excited for Jerime and for UCLA," said Canyon High head coach Nate Harrison. "Jerime had a lot of national options. Cal was the only other school to offer so early, but Gonzaga was pursuing him hard as were Washington, Illinois and Connecticut. Kentucky just got involved as well a couple weeks ago.

"But Jerime had his heart set on UCLA from the beginning. And why not? He's a SoCal kid. He will get to play for Ben Howland. And he can play with a great post player in Kevin Love."

Anderson, 6-foot-2, 170-pounds, averaged 16 points, 6 assists, 6 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game his junior year as a do everything natural point guard. As good as Anderson is now, Coach Harrison feels he has the right qualities to only get better and better.

"I know I'm biased, but I think he is the best pure point guard in the country," said Harrison. "But as good as he is, he is even a better person and teammate. He could get 50 points in a game, but he is a true team player and winner who thinks pass first.

"If he grows a little more and keeps progressing, you're looking at a NBA first round pick type of player."

Anderson, who is the No. 38 ranked prospect in the class of 2008, ran the point for Double Pump Elite on the 17-under circuit this summer. UCLA hopes to now land his friend and AAU backcourt partner Jrue Holiday, the No. 2 ranked prospect in the class of 2008.

Looking to take advantage of the wealth of 2008 talent out west, the Bruins are also targeting post players Luke Babbitt and Drew Gordon, and also have guards Malcolm Lee and Elston Turner in their sights.

Jerime Anderson scouting report:

Lengthy and still growing, Anderson is a pure point guard with upside. He can score the ball off the dribble or the catch, but has a pass first mentality. Defensively, he is a tough 94-foot on the ball defender. His game should only improve as he gets stronger.