UCLA adds forward to growing class
After missing out on some high profile targets, UCLA’s coaching staff is suddenly molding a top three or four recruiting class within the Pacific 10 Conference and Top 20 class nationally.
And it can only get better, depending on the pending decision of forward Alfred Aboya.
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The Friday announcement by 6-foot-7 forward Luc Mbahamoute (Montverde, Fla., Academy) – like Aboya (6-9, The Tilton School in New Hampshire), a native of Cameroon – gives the Bruins a November signee that Coach Ben Howland targeted after watching him in July at the Nike All-America Camp in Indianapolis.
His effort – including on the defensive end of the floor – along with his quickness and selflessness are what caught the attention of keen-eyed recruiters and scouts in Indianapolis, and also led to scholarship offers by South Carolina and Virginia Tech (his other two finalists).
He figures to challenge for immediate playing time as a freshman for the Bruins, who have three senior perimeter players this season in Cedric Bozeman, Dijon Thompson and Brian Morrison.
Mbahamoute becomes the third UCLA commitment from the high school Class of 2005, joining forward Ryan Wright, who announced for the Bruins on Monday, and point guard Darren Collison, who ended his recruiting in the spring.
Coming on the heels of landing Jordan Farmar, Arron Afflalo, Lorenzo Mata and Josh Shipp from the Class of 2004, the current recruiting effort gives Howland and his staff a second consecutive exceptional group of newcomers – regardless of whether Aboya picks UCLA or his other finalist, Georgetown.
Right now, only Washington and Arizona have commitments that form classes superior to UCLA’s. Stanford and Arizona State, with three commitments apiece, would round out a top five for the Pac 10.