Star Norman Powell verbally commits to UCLA basketball team for 2011-2012 season
UCLA basketball coach Ben Howland and the Bruins look to improve upon last year’s disappointing season with their future recruiting classes.
By Daily Bruin Staff
Sept. 28, 2010 1:28 a.m.
Correction: The online version of this article contained an error in the headline. Norman Powell’s first name was misspelled.
With just more than a month remaining until the UCLA basketball team opens its season, coach Ben Howland reportedly received a verbal commitment from one of the top high school shooting guards in the nation on Sunday.
Norman Powell, the No. 15 shooting guard in the nation and a four-star recruit according to Scout.com, gave the Bruins a verbal commitment to play for the 2011-2012 team.
Powell comes from San Diego’s Lincoln High School where he averaged 19.7 points and 4.9 rebounds per game. He is billed as an incredible athlete and impressive leaper at 6 feet, 4 inches and 200 pounds.
Powell reportedly took a recruiting visit to UCLA earlier this month, but the UCLA athletic department declined to comment on his status. He turned down a chance to stay close to home by choosing UCLA instead of San Diego State. Powell also showed interest in Arizona and Arizona State.
After losing star point guard recruit Josiah Turner to Arizona earlier this month, the team focused all of its attention on Powell.
Powell is the only recruit to commit to the 2011 class and will likely remain as such, with no seniors appearing on this year’s roster.
Highlights from last year’s recruiting class included North Carolina transfers Travis and David Wear, along with former Washington center Josh Smith and Tyler Lamb from nearby Mater Dei High School.
Powell and Lamb are slated to provide depth behind current junior shooting guard Malcolm Lee. Lee has yet to emerge as the dominant scoring threat that has typified Bruin guards in years past.
The addition of Powell could allow sophomore Tyler Honeycutt to permanently move to his natural small forward position, where he would be better suited to battle for rebounds and score in the paint.
After a season that saw the Bruins miss the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years and the second time in Howland’s tenure, UCLA fans can expect this young team to return to the big dance this season.
The Bruins begin the season against Westmont College in Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 4. Other noteworthy games include a potential trip to New York for the finals of the Dick’s Sporting Goods NIT Season Tip-Off, provided they win their opening-round games at home, and a midseason matchup against St. John’s, which is coached by former UCLA coach Steve Lavin.
