The Rundown: Jan. 26
UCLA alumnus Russell Westbrook was voted into the 2016 NBA All-Star Game as a starter. Westbrook is currently averaging 23.9 points per game and 9.7 assists. (Aubrey Yeo/Daily Bruin senior staff)
Check out a breakdown of the UCLA sports stories you might have missed this week.
In Russ we trust
UCLA alumnus and Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook was named last week as a starter for February’s NBA All-Star Game. The starting lineup is determined by fan voting.
Westbrook is currently averaging 23.9 points per game and 9.7 assists. Following two seasons as a Bruin, Westbrook was drafted fourth overall in the 2008 NBA Draft by the Thunder.
Cleveland Cavaliers forward Kevin Love, a fellow ex-Bruin who played with Westbrook on the UCLA team that reached the 2008 Final Four, is a candidate for an Eastern Conference reserve spot. The reserve rosters, determined by the coaches, will be announced Thursday.
Pugh passes on the pros – for now
Mal Pugh’s college career could have been over before it even started. According to the 17-year-old soccer standout’s father, there was a chance that Pugh would forgo her UCLA scholarship to go pro immediately.
Ultimately, though, the senior U.S. Women’s National Team player decided to include Westwood in her future plans. Last week’s National Women’s Soccer League draft came and went without Pugh’s participation in its new allocation system, and she will instead start school this fall.
The Colorado native made her USWNT debut Saturday against Ireland and made an early impact with a goal in the 83rd minute. Pugh is the sixth-youngest women’s player to score for the United States and was named the best women’s soccer player at the high school level in 2014-15.
Bruins need Howard’s help
The 2016 recruiting season is in the home stretch, with National Signing Day coming up on Feb. 3. After losing nine players to the NFL draft this year, UCLA will hope to find a boost from next year’s freshmen.
Five-star linebacker Mique Juarez, four-star tight end Devin Asiasi and four-star defensive tackle Boss Tagaloa represent the final three big names in play for UCLA.
But perhaps the most important player in the Bruins’ incoming class has already enrolled. Receiver Theo Howard, who committed to UCLA in the fall, graduated high school early and enrolled this month to get a jump on preparation for his first collegiate season.
Howard is a four-star recruit ranked No. 7 nationwide at his position. With the somewhat-unexpected departure of Thomas Duarte and the graduation of Jordan Payton, Howard will look to become quarterback Josh Rosen’s go-to receiver come spring practice.
Compiled by Claire Fahy and Tanner Walters, Bruin Sports senior staff.
