UCLA basketball: Bruins are the FBI investigations biggest beneficiary
With half of the top four Pac-12 teams involved in this pending FBI investigation, UCLA would stand to benefit the most, if they themselves are in the clear.
No conference may suffer a bigger blow with this FBI investigation than the Pac-12, who just recently gained back respect from college basketball fans. Last season, it had three teams in the top ten with Oregon, UCLA, and Arizona.
It was years since the conference sent a Final Four participant, and the Oregon Ducks broke through last season. This season\ the conference had a couple of Sweet Sixteen caliber teams in Oregon and UCLA, a Final Four contender in USC, and a championship roster with Arizona.
But Tuesday changed the direction of the conference for the near future. Two of the assistants arrested, who have now been suspended indefinitely come from the Pac-12with Emmanuel Richardson from Arizona and Tony Bland from USC. While it remains to be seen how both programs are affected, in the immediate future, the Bruins can take advantage of this.
Right now UCLA has just one commit for 2018 in forward David Singleton, a four-star recruit. The Bruins have three current seniors, including Thomas Welsh and Gyorgy Goloman. It’s likely that number increases if five-star freshmen Jaylen Hands and Kris Wilkes play up to their potential.
There’s a strong possibility that there are potentially ineligible players on the rosters of USC and Arizona, making their teams weaker and strengthening the Bruins chances to win the conference. But the big payout could be in 2018.
The Trojans have a five-star commit in Taeshon Cherry and the Wildcats have Shareef O’Neal, Jahvon Quinerly, and Brandon Williams, all top 30 players. With the news going on, there’s a chance that one or even all reopen their recruitment. Considering these guys are possible one-year players, any postseason ban will deter them from coming.
This also gives UCLA a leg up now with the uncommitted prospects for 2018. Top five player Bol Bol was just on a visit this past weekend, and Jordan Brown and Romeo Langford are possibilities as well.
One player to keep an eye on is Zion Willamson. South Carolina is one of the favorites to land him but Lamont Evans, one of the assistants arrested for fraud and corruption, was a former coach for Frank Martin and the Gamecocks.
Next: Everything we know about the FBI investigation so far
All of this comes with the caveat of the Bruins coming out clean in this ordeal. There’s actually a good chance, considering the history of the program and Alford’s recruiting ability makes it less likely they need to cheat to get top prospects. While there will be plenty of losers in this, those who are innocent will benefit greatly from this. The Bruins could be one of them.