UCLA's softball team earned a No. 2 seed for the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins host Nevada, Purdue and Cal State Fullerton in a regional beginning Friday. UCLA plays Cal State Fullerton in Friday's second game.

The UCLA women's water polo team beat USC 6-3 today to win the NCAA Championship. It was UCLA's fourth consecutive water polo title, and the school's 101 national championship. The Bruins had an undefeated season at 33-0.

Stan Love is a former Laker, but he wouldn't mind at all if Kevin Love was selected by the Clippers in the NBA draft. He believes Love would be a good fit for the Clippers.
``If the Clippers have the pick, I don't think they'd let Kevin go no matter what position and whatever their needs are,'' Stan Love said. ``I think they'd try to keep Kevin in town since he played (college) in town. He'd be a natural.''

Hope you guys have a great Mother's Day. And in case you forgot, this is your friendly reminder to call your mom!

The top-seeded UCLA women's golf team won the NCAA West Regional today in Austin. Freshman Maria Jose Uribe - a tremendous talent who's fun to watch - tied for first place medalist honors with a 2-under-par 70 at the University of Texas Golf Club. The Bruins advance to the NCAA Championships at the University of New Mexico May 20-23.

The UCLA women's water polo team defeated UC Davis 11-4 today, using a six-goal third period to start the rout. UCLA will play the Stanford-USC winner for the national championship at 6 p.m. tomorrow at Stanford.

I'm not hearing anything new with LSU signee J'Mison Morgan, but here's an article that ran in today's The Advocate, which talked about a Trent Johnson appearance this week. Both Johnson and Les Miles are doing a tour of the state to chat with fans and talk about the state of the program. At each stop. Johnson has had to address the situation with Morgan.
Click here to read the story.

The UCLA women's water polo team will play UC Davis at 4 p.m. today in the NCAA semifinals. Two more wins and the Bruins water polo team will win its fourth consecutive championship.

Diablo Valley junior college offensive lineman Donovan Edwards was originally scheduled to take his recruiting trip to UCLA this weekend but I'm hearing that was rescheduled, probably for next weekend.

Terrence Austin, who had considered competing in the high jump in UCLA's track meet in Modesto this weekend, is not entered. Austin still could compete in next weekend's Pac-10 Championships.

UCLA pole vaulter Johnny Quinn broke his back in September, but he has since recovered and set a personal-best at 17 feet, 5 inches in winning the pole vault in last weekend's USC-UCLA dual meet. He'll compete in the Modesto meet this weekend.
He was out for four months.
``I just got back about five or six weeks ago,'' Quinn said. I had to wear a brace for three months. It sucked. It was a brace that went all the way around my chest. My coaches have been great, and I had great support from everybody.''

I just talked to an LSU official who said the decision on whether J'Mison Morgan is released from his letter of intent will be made in the coming weeks. Doesn't sound like this matter will be resolved any time soon. Trent Johnson has talked to local reporters about continued talks with J'Mison Morgan's mom. Click herefor a story in today's Shreveport Times. The information on Morgan is at th end of the story.

Click here for the Kevin Prince story that ran in today's paper.

Kevin Love was invited to the Orlando pre-draft camp May 27-30, but he won't participate in it.
``He's not playing ball or participating in it,'' Stan Love said. ``He's just going to get measured and those things. It's a guard kind of thing. It doesn't do anything for Kevin.
``The guards just jack the ball up. It's very difficult when you're at a camp with all the guards trying to impress. As a big guy, they're not throwing you the ball. You're not going to show anything. Private team workouts will be much better for both parties.''

Brian reported last month that UCLA coaches asked Kevin Prince if he would enroll early (Prince was scheduled to enroll in January of '09), and Prince told me today that he's willing to do that. However, it's not official that Prince will enroll because UCLA needs to figure out its scholarship situation. Each football program has 85 scholarships, and the Bruins need to assess injuries, walkons who received scholarships in the Karl Dorrell era, and newcomers (UCLA has offered a scholarship to a junior college offensive lineman) to see if there is a scholarship available. The Bruins haven't reached the 25 new scholarship limit for each season, so that wouldn't be a problem.

I just talked to Crespi quarterback Kevin Prince, and he said he'll honor UCLA's request to enroll in school early. Prince originally was set to begin school in January, but he'll enroll in June, he told Rick Neuheisel. It's not definitive that it will happen, and I'll have more on that later.

I just talked to Stan Love, and he said Kevin Love had a bad flu bug that kept him from his training regimen for three to four days. He said Kevin was supposed to get back to a full workout (in preparation for NBA team workouts) today. Kevin Love has yet to hire an agent.

The UCLA women's water polo team is 30-0 and will try to extend its perfect season on Friday when it plays Pomona-Pitzer (17-11) in the NCAA Tournament. The Bruins are seeking their fourth consecutive national title.

Here's an article that was published in today's Advocate in Louisiana. It has comments from J'Mison Morgan's mom, who says Morgan is leaving. That makes three family members - J'Mison, brother Ronnie and mom Bianca - who all say J'Mison is requesting his release from LSU.
Click hereto read the story.
This Morgan story has drama written all over it.

I just got back from seeing ``Gunnin' for that No. 1 Spot.'' It was an interesting documentary following eight standout high school basketball players who have NBA aspirations - including Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Brandon Jennings. The documentary tells each kid's story and then follows them to the Elite 24 All-Star game at the Rucker in Harlem (the game was Sept. 1, 2006). Love has more hair and even more of a baby face than he has now (he was two years younger in filming).
Love and Beasley - who are playing on opposing teams in the All-Star Game - have some great conversations. You can sneak a peak into the Love household in Lake Oswego, Oregon and even his grandma makes her film debut.
I think it's a must-see. My only problem was some of the ever-moving cameras made me a little nauseas. But, I felt like I got to know these kids a little better. You learn what a crazy youngster Beasley was in kindergarten and first grade.
The movie comes out June 28, the day after the NBA draft.

I am going to see the documentary ``Gunnin' for No. 1'' in an hour. Kevin Love is in the movie, so I'll have a report on it this afternoon. I'll update you as soon as possible if there's anything new on J'Mison Morgan.

Craig Sheppard, a walkon, was a heartwarming story as he moved up the depth chart from fifth-string tailback because of injuries to the running backs corps. He scored the only touchdown against Oregon.
This season, he's a fifth-string tailback again, plus he faces extensive recovery from reconstructive shoulder surgery.
``I don't know a lot of the details. I just know it's big-time surgery and a big-time recovery,'' Sheppard said.
Sheppard said his left shoulder is in an immobilizer for two weeks and will be in a sling after that.

This is from UCLA....junior tailback Craig Sheppard had reconstructive surgery on the AC joint of his left shoulder late last week. He will be sidelined four to six months.

(So, that means the earliest he could return is early September. Or, he could be out for most of the season).

Also, senior quarterback Ben Olson underwent successful surgery on his right foot this afternoon. A screw was placed in his right fifth metatarsal. Expected recovery time is six to eight weeks.

Here is a release from UCLA regarding its APR.

UCLA pitcher Jason Novak was named the Pac-10 player of the week. Here's the release:

I've spoken to LSU officials regarding J'Mison Morgan twice today, and they have yet to receive official paperwork from Morgan regarding his request for release from his letter-of-intent. Morgan told the Dallas Morning News that he submitted the paperwork on Sunday.

I just spoke with Ronnie Morgan, J'Mison Morgan's brother, and he said ``he's planning for sure to attend UCLA next year.''
Morgan also said he believes LSU will let J'Mison Morgan out of his letter-of-intent, paving the way for Morgan to play for the Bruins this season.
``They haven't made an (official) decision yet, but they say they're going to (grant the release),'' Ronnie Morgan said.

The Dallas Morning News talked to J'Mison Morgan, who prepped at South Oak Cliff, and he told the DMN he turned in his request for a release from LSU and is considering attending UCLA in the fall.
Click herefor the story.
LSU has to grant Morgan's release or Morgan would have to sit out a year according to NCAA transfer rules.

J'Mison Morgan, who signed a letter-of-intent with LSU, has reportedly asked for his release from the school. The rumors were swirling about the center today, but I couldn't confirm anything. I talked to AAU coach Jazzy Hartwell before he had a meeting with Morgan and his mom tonight, but he said at that point he didn't know what was going to happen.
Click herehere to read the report.

Offensive lineman Donovan Edwards (6-foot-5, 285 pounds) of Diablo Valley CC said today that he was offered a scholarship by UCLA. Edwards said he'll go on his recruiting trip to UCLA this weekend. UCLA is the first school to offer him a scholarship, Edwards said.

Quarterback Ben Olson will have surgery on his broken right foot tomorrow. He will have a screw inserted in the fifth metatarsal. Recovery time is an estimated six to eight weeks.

Kevin Brown has signed a two-year deal with Seattle after attending the Seahawks mini-camp last week.

UCLA senior baseball standout Alden Carrithers is on the Wallace Award watch list, an award given the country's top collegiate baseball player. Here is the release:

John R. Wooden High School in Reseda has made a mural to honor John Wooden's life. The mural - 20 feet by 25 feet - will be unveiled in a dedication ceremony on June 6. Coach Wooden and his family, along with LAUSD officials and civic leaders will be in attendance, according to a release from Wooden High principal Jay Kessler.

Former Bruin Trevor Ariza is still recovering from a broken right foot, and it will be probably at least another week before he can be cleared to play. He's been sidelined since January.

Former Bruin Jordan Farmar was 0 for 5 from the field yesterday in the Lakers' 109-98 win over the Jazz. He had two rebounds and a steal in nine minutes.