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AFFLALO PICKS BRUINS

By Jeff Goodman
JGood67213@aol.com
April 14, 2003

It didn’t take long for Ben Howland to make an impact back on the West Coast.

The former Pittsburgh coach, who took the UCLA job after his Panthers got bounced out of the NCAA Tournament in the Sweet Sixteen, landed arguably the top junior in California when Arron Afflalo committed to the Bruins on Sunday night.

According to Afflalo’s AAU coach, Pat Barrett of the S.C. All-Stars, the 6-4, 195-pound guard from Compton Centennial (Calif.) will hold a news conference tomorrow to make it official.

Afflalo visited the UCLA campus this past Tuesday and Howland returned the favor by stopping by to watch him practice the following day.

``He went on campus and Coach Howland was a very positive guy," Afflalo’s father, Danny, said. "I think he’s going to accomplish what he’s set out to do. UCLA is close to home and it’s a good fit for Arron. He’s going to be able to contribute early and it’s a fit. It just all came together and there was no reason to take any trips."

Afflalo also considered DePaul, Oregon, Stanford and Kansas.

``Arron can do everything and I think he’s the best player on the West coast," Barrett said. "He can play either spot in the backcourt, shoots it well, handles it and has really worked on his body. I’ve had some good players in the program, including the O’Bannon brothers, Cedric Bozeman, Tyson Chandler, Josh Childress and Jamal Sampson ­ and he’s as good as any of them. I think UCLA got the total package." Afflalo averaged 25 points, 6.5 rebounds and 6 assists per game this season and is also a good student, with a 3.0 GPA and a 1050 on the SAT.

NOTES

The Tim Thomas Playaz won the Providence Jam Fest in Rhode Island this past weekend. Sean Singletary scored 22 in the finals. … Worcester Academy (Mass.) senior forward Nick Stafford is looking at VCU, George Mason and Maine. … Worcester (MA) Academy coach Mo Cassara has been hired as an assistant coach at Dayton. ... Don Bosco (N.J.) big man John Oates is playing with the New York Ravens this summer. … Northfield Mount Hermon (Mass.) should be pretty solid again next year with Dorien Brown, Alex Popp and Tony Gaffney coming in. Kashif Payne, who is playing this summer with the Long Island Panthers, will return for his senior season. … NMH’s Cori Boston is looking at LaSalle, LIU and Northeastern. … Holderness (Mass.) 6-7, 220-pound junior forward Ryun Howard is getting looks from William & Mary, BU, Vermont, Hofstra and Western Kentucky (prior to Dennis Felton’s departure). ... Sources tell us that Illinois transfer Kyle Wilson is close to committing to Wichita State. ...