Jordan Farmar and Arron Afflalo officially began testing the NBA
Draft waters on Monday. Farmar worked out for the Los Angeles
Clippers on Monday and has workouts with the Los Angeles Lakers and
the New Jersey Nets scheduled for later, the Los Angeles Daily News
reported. Afflalo, meanwhile, is also trying to move his name up
NBA Draft boards with impressive workouts. Afflalo reportedly has
scheduled workouts with four different teams: the Los Angeles
Lakers, the Cleveland Cavaliers, the Indiana Pacers and the Chicago
Bulls. In unofficial mock drafts conducted by different media
outlets, Farmar has been slated to go either in the late first
round or early second round in the NBA Draft, which is scheduled to
take place on June 28. It has been rumored that if he solidifies
his position in the first round based on these workouts, Farmar
might forgo his last years of eligibility at UCLA. Meanwhile,
Afflalo has been projected as a second round pick at best by
analysts. Afflalo has said repeatedly that he will use these NBA
workouts to showcase skills he hasn’t often used at UCLA,
such as ballhandling skills. If Farmar and Afflalo decide to return
to UCLA for a third season, they will have until June 18 to do so.
While Farmar and Afflalo work out with NBA teams, Lorenzo Mata will
be active as well. Mata will play for the Mexican National Team in
tournaments in Costa Rica from May 26 to 27 and in Mexico from May
29 to 30.
FOOTBALL: Two UCLA coaches were among a field
of 25 coaches selected to participate in the 2006 NCAA Expert
Coaches Academy. UCLA Defensive Coordinator DeWayne Walker and
Running Backs/Recruiting Coordinator Dino Babers will participate
in the event, which takes place from May 29 to 31 in Orlando, Fla.
The academy will address the shortage of minorities in college
football coaching positions.
MEN’S TRACK AND FIELD: The UCLA
men’s track team announced the recruitment of five new
athletes Monday. The Bruins added talent to a recruiting class
already rated among the top in the nation. Thrower Tyler Dragon,
sprinter Zack Fowler, distance runners Alex Crabill and Jake
Matthews, and pole vaulter Jonathan Quinn will all join the 2007
Bruins. Crabill (Charles Wright High School, Tacoma, Wash.) and
Matthews (Folsom High School) will add depth to a distance running
squad that is on the rise. “We are really excited about
Alex’s potential as he has been a very underevaluated
recruit,” coach Art Venegas said. “Jake is another
great addition to our cross country team and distance
corps.”
Complied by Ben Azar, Bruin Sports senior staff.