Baby Bruins



NEW YORK -- Prior to boarding his cross-country flight out of Los Angeles to New York last Wednesday, Jrue Holiday, a senior guard at Campbell Hall (North Hollywood, Calif.), knew that he forgot to pack something.

"I saw DeMar DeRozan, who's going to USC, in the terminal rocking a phone flip with USC on it and a USC sweater," says Holiday, a UCLA recruit who traveled alongside his future collegiate counterpart to the Elite 24 Hoops Classic in Harlem. "I guess I should have worn some of my Bruin gear."

Recently, USC has made a run at UCLA as the top program in L.A. First, there was the grand opening of the Galen Center last fall. Then, there was the Hollywood signing of sensation O.J. Mayo. In March, the team's Sweet 16 run came a year earlier than most expected. But while DeRozan, whom Rivals.com ranks as the No. 2 player in the class of 2008, appeared comfortable in the Trojan garb, it is the verbal commitments from three top-50 senior guards and bouncy bruiser Drew Gordon that has helped the Bruins remain atop the L.A. scene for the moment.

On the heels of back-to-back Final Four appearances and landing high school player of the year Kevin Love, Howland has hauled another class of defensive-minded prep stars to Pauley Pavilion. "I think it's simple what we all see: two straight final fours and a coach that gets you to play defense," says Holiday, the class's jewel, whom Rivals.com ranks as the No. 3 senior.

Complementing Gordon and Holiday in that class are Malcolm Lee, a 6-foot-4 combo guard from J.W. North in Riverside, Calif. and point guard Jerime Anderson (6-2) from Canyon High in Anaheim, Calif. All three guards teamed up at the USA Basketball Youth Team Festival in Colorado Springs, Colo. in June. "With guards like them and another bruiser underneath in Drew, that's dangerous," says Love, who was the counselor for Holiday and Anderson's team at the Adidas Nation event in New Orleans last month. "I'd love to get out there and throw the outlet pass to them. I think players are looking at the success of a guy like Jordan Farmar going and playing for the Lakers right away because Phil Jackson says he came to the league prepared to play defense. Guys want to get better and coach Howland is a proven commodity."

What Holiday did bring with him to New York was a small contingent of UCLA-oriented recruits, current players and former Bruins stars. At practice last Thursday at Columbia University and sitting on the bench as coaches for the Earl Manigault team Friday night at Holcombe Rucker Park were former Bruins star and current Golden State Warriors guard Baron Davis and Love. On the court, playing as two of the top 24 preps prospects in the country were Holiday and Gordon. "I guess I better get used to being surrounded by Bruins," says DeRozan, a 6-5, 195-pound combo guard from Compton, Calif., who opened the scoring on Friday night with an alley-oop from Brandon Jennings, who initially committed to USC before changing his mind for Arizona.

It is the athleticism and open-court abilities of the guard recruits that many believe will allow Howland to run in the open court. "I think Ben is going to take the reigns off a little bit and let them run when this class gets out there," says Holiday's coach Terry Kelly.

Holiday, whose brother, Justin, will be a freshman at Washington, was recruited by the Huskies as well. As the younger brother of the pair, some coaches attempted to recruit the elder brother as a means of getting to Jrue, but that became evident to the family. "They tried that and they got caught. Washington's Lorenzo Romar and coach Howland, however, recruited the right way," says Kelly.

A smooth ball handler who, while not ambidextrous, is adept at using both hands, so much so that he can shoot from the outside with either hand, if necessary, Holiday showed his own brand of defense in the playground-style game at Rucker. While others played matador D, Holiday stood in against the likes of Tyreke Evans and Jennings. "It showed that the West Coast is just as good as the East Coast," says Jennings. "Jrue is smooth and he plays at a high level."

After the game, with the park lights out in Harlem and Holiday having been named one of the game's four MVPs, there was Love, wearing his New York Yankees hat and talking with players. Earlier in the week, Holiday and Gordon talked of their ideal to play with Love, who many consider to be a one-and-done star just like Mayo at USC. "I'd love to run with these guys and get that outlet going," says Love. "There's a lot coming in. There's no guarantee I leave after one year. We all want to get better and be prepared for the league. It's about tradition, too."

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