UCLA welcomes transfer from Princeton to team

By AJ Cadman
Daily Bruin Senior Staff

UCLA continued to build for the future of the men’s
basketball program with Tuesday’s announcement of 6-foot-7
sophomore forward Spencer Gloger’s transfer from Princeton to
UCLA.

The Santa Margarita High prepster had initially signed a
grant-in-aid contract at UCLA on May 24, 1999, but elected to play
for former Princeton head coach Bill Carmody at that time. A
grant-in-aid contract is not structurally binding and allows
student athletes to back out.

“Coach Lavin gave me an opportunity a year ago and now
he’s giving me another chance,” Gloger said in a
statement. “I’m grateful to him for this second
chance.”

The 205-pound Gloger started 28 games last season for the Tigers
as a true freshman. He signed a grant-in-aid agreement to return to
Westwood on Tuesday and is enrolled in classes this quarter.
Because of NCAA transfer rules, he will have to redshirt the
upcoming season and will have three years of eligibility
remaining.

“We are happy to have Spencer back with us,” Lavin
said in a statement. “At Princeton last season, he made an
immediate impact with the Tigers’ program as a true
freshman.”

Last season, Gloger tied the Ivy League single-game record with
10 three-pointers against Alabama-Birmingham, writing himself into
the record books alongside former Penn standout Matt Maloney. He
also set the Princeton freshman single-game record with 34 points
against Alabama-Birmingham.

Gloger set Tiger freshman records with 65 three-pointers during
the 1999-2000 season. He was Princeton’s second-leading
scorer, averaging 12.0 points per game to go along with a 3.4
rebound average. He shot a sizzling 43.8 percent from the field,
including a 40.9 clip from three-point range (65 of 159) and 75
percent from the foul line.

Gloger scored in double figures in 20 games, including the final
eight games of 1999-2000, and earned All-Ivy League honorable
mention.

“Spencer’s size, versatility, court sense and deadly
shooting stroke from long distance will be great assets to our
program,” Lavin said. “In Spencer, we are getting
another quality local student-athlete to join our Bruin
family.”

As the 1999 Orange County Player of the Year, Gloger was a
standout performer at Santa Margarita under coach Jerry Debusk. He
averaged 23.7 points and 6.0 rebounds a game during his senior
season. He returns to Southern California to play at Pauley
Pavilion in front of familiar faces.

“UCLA has everything I’m looking for in a
school,” Gloger said,

“including a great team with national-caliber academics
and the chance to play in front of my family and
friends.”