Tag: UCLA Bruins basketball

Nikolas Khamenia chooses Duke over UCLA, Gonzaga

Nikolas Khamenia heads to Duke.

On Tuesday, four-star power forward Nikolas Khamenia made his decision. The finalists for Khamenia were Gonzaga, UCLA, and Duke, and Khamenia announced his commitment via the live YouTube show.

“I would like to thank all the coaches who have recruited me in this long process. Despite the many ups and downs, this decision has been very difficult. Ultimately, I have decided to commit to Duke University.”

UCLA offered Khamenia earlier in the summer and emerged as a finalist for the talented forward. He also had scheduled a visit to Westwood in October before making his decision.

Khamenia is a 6′ 8″ 220-pound power forward from Harvard Westlake High School and is an intriguing prospect. He is rated as the No. 19 prospect by 247Sports in the Class of 2025, so this is a major get for the Blue Devils.

Khamenia had offers from plenty of top-tier programs, including but not limited to Arizona, North Carolina, Kansas, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Mick Cronin chimes on decision to honor Bill Walton

Mick Cronin shares his thoughts.

The UCLA Bruins will honor Bill Walton against Ohio State on February 23, 2025 at Pauley Pavilion.

It is a big move for the Bruins to honor one of the all-time greats in program history.

After the release came out, UCLA men’s basketball coach Mick Cronin spoke about the decision to honor him this season and why they chose to do so on the Ohio State game.

“It’s a difficult reality to know we’re getting ready to start a basketball season in Westwood without Bill’s presence,” saidย Mick Cronin. “He will forever be an icon in our great game, and his memory will forever live on at UCLA. For our program, especially over the past 12 seasons, he’s been a fixture while working as a broadcaster. On gamedays, he routinely chatted with our players, he shared advice with me, and he meant so much to everyone around our program. We want to honor Bill this season, and we’re grateful to have the support of his family. After conversations with his former teammates and with the blessing of his family, we wanted to select a game when we’re at home on the weekend, playing before a national television audience.”

Pauley Pavilion is always a packed house, and on that day, it should be an emotional night.

UCLA to honor Bill Walton in Big Ten game in February

Mark your calendars.

In May, UCLA Bruins legend Bill Walton passed away. It brought a number of reactions from players, coaches, and fans in general.

Walton will always be remembered for his success as a player and also his popular personality as a broadcaster.

As such, UCLA plans on honoring Walton. On Wednesday, the school announced it would do so in February against Ohio State, per the official release.ย 

The UCLA men’s basketball program will honor the late Bill Walton during the Bruins’ home contest against Ohio State on the afternoon of Sunday, Feb. 23, 2025.

Fans will also receive a commemorative poster.

UCLA will honor Walton during a halftime ceremony that afternoon and throughout the game itself. Fans at the contest against Ohio State will receive an exclusive, commemorative poster that celebrates Walton’s life and legacy. In addition, UCLA students will receive a custom tie-dyed t-shirt to celebrate Walton’s larger-than-life personality.

February 23 at Pauley Pavilion should be a packed house to honor one of the greatest Bruins of all-time, and there should be plenty of familiar faces making their way for that one.

UCLA basketball lands at No. 22 in preseason AP poll

The Bruins make the top 25.

The UCLA Bruins are 1-5 on the season for football and attention can start shifting soon to basketball. On Monday, the Associated Press released the preseason top 25 poll.

The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team made the list, coming in at No. 22 in the poll. Here are the top 25 from the AP.

1. Kansas Jayhawks
2. Alabama Crimson Tide
3. UConn Huskies
4. Houston Cougars
5. Iowa State Cyclones
6. Gonzaga Bulldogs
7. Duke Blue Devils
8. Baylor Bears
9. North Carolina Tar Heels
10. Arizona Wildcats
11. Auburn Tigers
12. Tennessee Volunteers
13. Texas A&M Aggies
14. Purdue Boilermakers
15. Creighton Bluejays
16. Arkansas Razorbacks
17. Indiana Hoosiers
18. Marquette Golden Eagles
19. Texas Longhorns
20. Cincinnati Bearcats
21. Florida Gators
22. UCLA Bruins
23. Kentucky Wildcats
24. Ole Miss Rebels
25. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

Others receiving votes:
Illinois 92, St. John’s 91, Xavier 73, Texas Tech 58, Wake Forest 37, Kansas St 30, Michigan St. 29, Ohio St. 29, Michigan 19, BYU 14, Oregon 12, McNeese St. 11, Miami 11, Boise St. 9, Saint Louis 9, Clemson 9, Providence 9, Mississippi St. 6, VCU 6, Wisconsin 5, Saint Mary’s 5, Louisville 4, UAB 4, Ark Little Rock 3, Grand Canyon 3, Arizona St 2, San Diego St. 2, Princeton 2, High Point 1, Maryland 1.

The Bruins come in right ahead of Kentucky, with new head coach Mark Pope, and three spots ahead of fellow Big Ten program Rutgers. Purdue and Indiana are the only other Big Ten programs to make the list, and they are both ahead of UCLA.

Examining the parallel between John Wooden and Nick Saban

The John Wooden-Nick Saban comparisons are certainly interesting.

Here at UCLA Wire, we’re dealing with an uncomfortable situation for both football and men’s basketball. Both programs are facing noticeable difficulties after previous successes. A lot of Bruin fans are depressed at the state of their football and men’s basketball operations (although DeShaun Foster might provide some hope). It’s exactly the right time to taste a little nostalgia for the past and the most famous coach in UCLA history.
John Wooden is the gold standard by which all other college sports coaches are measured. Not even Bear Bryant or Adolph Rupp or some of the other iconic coaches in college sports had the dynastic run Wooden and UCLA enjoyed from 1967 through 1975. UCLA won eight national championships in nine seasons. The Bruins won seven national titles in a row. Can you imagine that happening today? Imagine how that would play on social media and on television in the modern age. Of course, the NCAA Tournament was much smaller back then, but the accomplishment is still astonishing.
Nick Saban retiring at Alabama as — in many people’s eyes — the greatest college football coach of all time gives UCLA Wire a chance to remember what it was like when John Wooden, the greatest college basketball coach who ever lived, retired in 1975.
Let’s take a trip down Memory Lane, helped by Trojans Wire editor Matt Zemek. I talked to Zemek about Wooden-Saban comparisons, the final season for Wooden at UCLA, and the events that followed his retirement after a storied career in Westwood:

Four-star power forward to visit UCLA in October

Mick Cronin has a big visit coming up soon.

Though the UCLA basketball season is still months away, recruiters for the Bruins are still hard at work. This week, the Bruins secured a visit from a class of 2025 player who is fresh off of an inspired performance.

Nikolas Khamenia, a 6′ 8″ power forward from Studio City, California, will visit the Bruins on October 3rd according to On3’s Jamie Shaw. Also visiting Duke and North Carolina, Khamenia is making the rounds with college basketball’s blue bloods. Following an MVP performance at the FIBA U18 3×3 World Cup, Khamenia’s stock is at an all-time high.

With the Bruins needing help in the paint, both offensively and defensively following the departure of Adem Bona, Khamenia offers them the perfect solution to their problems down low.

Though their competition is stiff, the Bruins have the benefit of a track record of recruiting local talent and a 23.2% chance of landing Khamenia based on On3’s Recruiting Prediction Machine. If Khamenia can be swayed by the Bruins’ newest transfers and their proximity to his home, UCLA could have a true superstar on their hands.

Gabriela Jaquez continues to dominate in Mexico

Way to represent for the Bruins!

The dominating summer for UCLA Bruins women’s basketball star Gabriela Jaquez has continued. After leading her team to wins in the first two games of the 2026 FIBA World Cup prequalifying, she was once again leading scorer on Thursday night.

This time, Team Mexico lost, but will still move out of the Group Phase into tournament action. Jaquez was the top scorer in the game with 26 points, playing more than 37 minutes. The game went to overtime and Montenegro beat Mexico 74-71.

Jaquqez was 10 for 22 from the field and 4 for 6 from free throw line. She finished with 8 rebounds in the game as well.

The bracket is now set. The four teams in Mexico City that will battle it out are Korea and Montenegro, along with Mexico and Czechia. Jaquez and Team Mexico will play the second game on Saturday night.ย  It is slated for 6 pm local time.

Jaquez leads all scorers in the tournament with 22.3 points per game. Second, is Milica Jovanovic with 19.7 per game.

UCLA hoops announces nonconference schedule

This is a tough schedule for the Bruins.

The UCLA Bruins football program is set to begin the new era with DeShaun Foster on Saturday in Hawaii.ย 

However, the men’s basketball has now announced their nonconference slate for the 2024-2025 campaign. Here are the teams they will face before Big Ten play begins:

  • Cal State Los Angeles
  • Rider
  • New Mexico
  • Boston University
  • Lehigh
  • Idaho State
  • Cal State Fullerton
  • Southern Utah
  • Arizona
  • Prairie View A&M
  • North Carolina
  • Gonzaga

There are some massive games on the slate, which includes Arizona and UCLA playing each other in non-conference after they both left the Pac-12.

UCLA and Gonzaga face off, and the Bruins play North Carolina in Madison Square Garden as well as the New Mexico Lobos in Nevadaย 

Mark your calendars. Tickets can be purchased here.

UCLA Bruins men’s basketball sets details with New Mexico

UCLA set to face New Mexico.

It was announced back in June that the UCLA Bruins and New Mexico Lobos would get together in men’s basketball. Finally, in late August, the details were set and arranged for the first meeting.

The Bruins and Lobos will get together in Henderson, Nevada on November 8th. This will be the second game of the season for the Bruins in the 2024-2025 season.

Lee’s Family Forum in Henderson will be the venue for the game. Coach Cronin, when asked about the opportunity to play the Lobos was very excited about the opportunity. He had this to say about the meeting:

“We’re excited to add New Mexico to our schedule this season. This game provides us with another good measuring stick, early in the season, to see what our team is made of and how we stack up against a program that went 26-10 last year. I have a ton of respect for Richard Pitino, and he has put UNM’s program in a really strong position in the Mountain West. This game also gives our fans in the Las Vegas region a chance to come cheer on the Bruins in November.”

The Bruins and Lobos have split four games against each other in history. The last time they played was in 1997 when the Bruins beat the Lobos in Anaheim.

Brandon Williams reveals the message from Mick Cronin

Brandon Williams just wants to win.

The UCLA Bruins have a lot of new faces, but one returning piece is Brandon Williams.

He was a freshman in 2023-2024, but he decided to stay with UCLA even despite a large arrival of talented players via the transfer portal.

Brandon Williams gave a short message to Mick Cronin on his decision to stay in Westwood, per Ben Bolch of The Los Angeles Times.

โ€œHis meeting was, โ€˜I hate to lose, coach. I know youโ€™ve got to get some players,โ€™โ€ Cronin recalled. โ€œโ€˜Let me know if I can help, but I love you guys, this is where Iโ€™m supposed to be and I trust you, I trust the coaches, go get some players so we can win. I ainโ€™t going anywhere.โ€™โ€

Williams played in 32 games last season, averaging just 3.1 PPG with 2.2 rebounds in limited minutes.

It might be a similar usage for Williams, but as he said, he hates to lose.