Howland gives recruit chance to opt out

Ben Howland’s 2003-2004 UCLA men’s basketball team
is beginning to take shape.

Sean Phaler isn’t ““ and in a meeting Tuesday with
Phaler and members of his family, Howland told the Villa Park High
phenom that he might have to look to other schools if he wants
playing time in Division I.

“He’s a great kid with a great attitude, but I just
don’t see him fitting the direction that our program is
going,” Howland said. “He’s 6-8, 175 pounds, so
defensively he’s going to have a hard time matching
up.”

Phaler signed his National Letter of Intent in November and has
been tendered a scholarship by UCLA. That was when Internet
recruiting sites listed the forward as 6-feet-9-inches and 165
pounds.

Since then it’s become clear to Howland that Phaler will
not develop into the kind of physically dominant player that have
led Howland’s teams in the past.

“We will certainly honor the scholarship, but I wanted to
be honest with him and make it clear he would not get a lot of
playing time here,” Howland said.

“There were a lot of great schools recruiting him.
We’re going to give him all the time he needs to make a
decision.”

Speaking from Villa Park on Thursday morning, Phaler sounded
like he was going to take his time.

“I hope to stay with UCLA,” he said; as far as where
else he might want to play, he said, “I have no
clue.”

Washington and Indiana were two of the schools interested in
Phaler last fall, but then-head coach Steve Lavin convinced Phaler
to stay close to home.

If those or any other programs are still interested in adding a
“tweener,” as Phaler has described himself, UCLA will
allow Phaler to opt out of his scholarship.

Should Phaler choose to leave UCLA, there would be two vacant
scholarships; the other was created when Andre Patterson was
dismissed by the university.

Should he choose to stay, Phaler might have a hard time fitting
in.

“(Howland’s) system is, four is 250 pounds and three
is an athletic guy,” Phaler said. “I’m not a
250-pound four or an athletic three.”

With contributions from Jeff Eisenberg, Daily Bruin Senior
Staff.