Transfer point guard Jon Octeus denied admission to UCLA
By Chris Kalra
Sept. 15, 2014 1:54 p.m.
Former Colorado State University point guard Jon Octeus has been denied admission at UCLA, Matt Stephens of the Coloradoan reported Monday.
Octeus, a senior, first committed to transfer to UCLA in late June and would have been eligible to play immediately, providing the Bruins much-needed depth at point guard.
Having played almost 34 minutes per game for Colorado State last season, Octeus averaged 13.4 points per game, 4.7 rebounds per game and 2.3 assists per game.
He was expected to back up sophomore point guard Bryce Alford this year.
The news of Octeus’ denied admission comes on the heels of that of four-star freshman guard/forward Jonah Bolden, who was recently ruled ineligible for the upcoming year. Both were expected to contribute immediately.
Now, with Octeus out, the Bruins are left direly thin at the point guard spot. Only Alford remains at the position.
For Coach Steve Alford, a few options are still on the table.
He could try to give sophomore guard Issac Hamilton some playing time at point guard, though Hamilton’s game appears to be better suited to shooting guard.
Or Alford could scour the college landscape and hope to find another transfer eligible to play immediately, though most transfers have already committed to other teams at this stage of the year.
As it stands right now, with Bryce Alford’s game probably serving better as a two guard than a one, the Bruins are without a true point guard on their roster for the upcoming season.
Overall, UCLA’s backcourt duties for the 2014-2015 season appear to lie on the shoulders of just three players now: Alford, Hamilton and senior guard Norman Powell.
Compiled by Chris Kalra, Bruin Sports senior staff.
