Now that we have 100, let's get No. 12


A year ago, when the women’s water polo team beat ’SC to seal UCLA’s 99th title, the campus started waiting for 100.

Now that the banner is up, the praise delivered, and the rallies concluded, it’s time to focus on another monumental number for the Bruin athletic department – 12.

The UCLA coaches all talk about the championship vibe of their department and many of them have the numbers to back it up. Adam Krikorian won his sixth women’s water polo title Sunday. Al Scates has a whopping 19 crowns to his name as coach of the men’s volleyball team.

Ben Howland is on his way to joining this group of champions by hanging UCLA’s 12th men’s basketball title banner in Pauley Pavilion.

Everyone knew Howland was a great with the X’s and O’s. His teams have always played savvy defense and passable offense. It was the NBA talent he lacked.

Howland’s best team at Pittsburgh lost to a Marquette squad led by guard Dwyane Wade. In the past two years, Howland’s Bruins have fallen to Florida – a team loaded with NBA lottery picks.

Only two Ben Howland recruits have ever been chosen in the NBA Draft, Jordan Farmar at UCLA and Chris Taft at Pittsburgh.

All that is about to change.

Forget that Arron Afflalo will hear his name this June, probably in the first round, maybe in the early second. Darren Collison will be a lottery pick soon. And Josh Shipp and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute will get a serious look from the NBA.

It’s the recruiting Howland has done since bringing UCLA back from the dregs of the Steve Lavin era that really distinguishes the current state of the program.

Kevin Love, the best high school big man in the nation last season, is just weeks away from Westwood. With the addition of Love and the maturation of Collison, Mbah a Moute and Shipp, the Bruins will be title contenders in 2008.

But Ben has solidified UCLA for years to come with his 2008 recruiting class, consisting of Drew Gordon, Malcolm Lee and Jerime Anderson. Jrue Holiday, the top guard of the class, has narrowed his list to UCLA and Washington.

UCLA has clearly used its postseason success to reach the top of the recruiting world. The visibility of the team in March, when the nation turns its eye to the college game, has given the Bruins a recruiting edge. UCLA is beating out teams like North Carolina and Arizona for the elite high school stars.

The NBA Draft’s new age limit has played a pivotal role in the rise of UCLA recruiting too. All of a sudden, high schoolers want to make their names during March Madness since they aren’t allowed to go pro right away.

The tournament has given the spotlight to players like Joakim Noah, whose success in March caught the eye of NBA scouts and GMs. The consistent tournament success of Howland’s teams makes UCLA a perfect option for high school standouts.

Of course, all the recruiting is useless without the coaching and development provided by Howland and his staff. But the top talent is necessary. In 2000, Michigan State was the last team to win a championship without a top NBA prospect in its lineup.

Now UCLA is consistently attracting the top talent. Holiday is a perfect example. Most thought he was headed to North Carolina, Arizona or Washington. Now UCLA is one of his final two choices.

At this year’s Final Four, the UCLA faithful held their collective breath. It could have been No. 100, but there would have been enormous revelry regardless.

This week’s celebration is about the continuous triumph of UCLA sports more than it is a reflection of historic dominance. All UCLA fans know what the school has achieved over the years – it is the present-day dominance that really stands out.

And with Howland’s recent recruiting and his team’s tremendous success in the past two seasons, UCLA may be in a similar state of celebration in springs to come.

See more at www.dailybruin.ucla.edu