UCLA Freshman Jonah Bolden Ruled Ineligible by NCAA
By Daniel Tran
The UCLA Bruin’s vaunted recruiting class took a hit as Jonah Bolden was ruled ineligible by the NCAA today. The 6-9 power forward from Australia will still be under scholarship and able to practice with the team.
According to ESPN, sources say the issue was Bolden leaving Australia after his senior season and had already begun to attend Findlay Prep located in Las Vegas. Because of this, the NCAA ruled that Bolden was only partial eligible and would have to sit out the 2014-15 season. Bolden is appealing the decision.
More from Pac-12
- Oregon Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24
- Colorado Basketball: Doryan Onwuchekwa becomes first commit in 2024 class
- USC Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24 season
- Washington State Basketball: Projected depth chart and rotation for 2023-24 season
- Arizona Basketball: Projected starting lineup and depth chart for 2023-24 season
UCLA had an impressive haul for their top-10 2014 recruiting class bringing in lauded recruits such as forward Kevon Looney (ESPN 100 No. 12), center Thomas Welsh (ESPN 100 No. 36), and Bolden (ESPN 100 No. 69). Bolden would have provided scoring the Bruins desperately needed with the losses of Zach LaVine, Ryan Anderson, and Jordan Adams.
Even if Bolden sits out the season, it’ll be a great opportunity for him to adjust to the more physical nature of the college game in practice and add more strength and bulk to his rail thin 6-9, 205 pound frame. For the Bruins however, the chances of them improving on their 2nd place finish in the Pac-12 is looking less likely with the loss of an important piece of their team.