Ron Holmes, the father of 2012 recruit Shabazz Muhammad, issued a statement of support for UCLA coach Ben Howland following the news that Howland will return next season.
“We are happy for Coach Howland,” Holmes told SNY.tv. “I feel if given the opportunity he will get UCLA back on track.”
Asked if UCLA was still on his son’s list, Holmes said, “Yes, they are.”
The 6-foot-6 Muhammad out of Las Vegas Bishop Gorman is also considering Kentucky, Kansas, Duke, Arizona and UNLV and is expected to announce in April.
As previously reported by CBSSports.com, the NCAA is monitoring Muhammad’s recruitment because it has reason to believe he may have received improper financial benefits.
Yet none of the aforementioned schools are known to have stopped recruiting Muhammad.
An NCAA spokesman declined comment on the matter.
Howland’s return means he will be around at least one year to coach incoming recruit Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony, who hopes to play alongside Muhammad in Westwood
The 6-foot-9 Anderson is currently riding a 63-game winning streak at St. Anthony and has never lost in a Friars uniform.
The Bruins are also recruiting 6-9 forward Tony Parker of Lithonia (Ga.) Miller Grove, who played with Anderson on the Playaz Basketball Club team that won the IS8 fall championship in Queens
UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero confirmed that Howland will return as head coach despite the recent damaging Sports Illustrated story.
“As I have stated before, at the conclusion of each sport’s season, a program and its coaches are evaluated,” Guerrero said in a statement. “That evaluation includes a comprehensive review of the performance of the team, including its competitive success and its continued commitment to academics, but where other aspects related to the overall management of the program are also considered.
“I had several discussions with Head Coach Ben Howland before deciding on what was best for the future of UCLA Basketball. Subsequent to these conversations, and in consultation with Chancellor Block, I have made the decision that the UCLA men’s basketball program will remain under Coach Howland’s leadership and direction.
“Obviously, we are aware of the recent criticisms of our men’s basketball program; Ben understands full well that the management and oversight of the program needs improvement. He has assured me that, going forward, both the character and performance among our student-athletes will reflect the University’s values and the basketball program’s storied tradition. I believe that his overall record and performance proves he is more than capable of delivering on these assurances.”
BostonCat / March 13, 2012
not a good sign when you have to evaluate after the season. i wonder if part of that evaluation would be who they could get as a replacement. maybe it wasnt a great list
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LS / March 13, 2012
Which big-name coach would want to deal with all the unreal expectations that go with that job, and likely not have their salary matched, let alone increased?
Even the top mid-major guys who you know will succeed anywhere are making more money these days than UCLA wants to part with.
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cjette / March 14, 2012
Howland is in the Top 10 of coaching salaries. Don’t write about what you don’t know.
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LS / March 14, 2012
Sorry, my mistake — I thought he had a low base salary juiced by boosters.
But what big-name coach would want any part of that job? Certainly not Pitino, Self, Cal, Izzo, Donovan, Calhoun, Barnes, Williams, Matta, or Coach K.
And will a second-rung coach leave job security for the UCLA pressure cooker?
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GanjahLuv / March 14, 2012
Pressure cooker? Hardly.
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kungpaochicken / March 14, 2012
Overall two pretty poor posts, LS. Obviously the coaches near retirement and the coaches already at destination jobs aren’t taking UCLA, but if you think UCLA is anything less than a top 3 coaching job you’re mistaken.
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GanjahLuv / March 14, 2012
UK,UNC,Kansas are all better than UCLA. dook only because coach k,once he is gone they fall off. UCLA has a lame fan base. I dont care if you in LA and all that crap.
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