Men's Basketball Enjoys Sights, Heights in Sydney
August 22, 2016 | Men's Basketball
The Bruins knew that their trip to Australia would include three basketball games and some sightseeing.
What some probably didn't know was that one of their greatest fears would be exposed. And conquered.
UCLA's primary excursion on Monday in Sydney took place in the morning at the Sydney Harbour Bridge – an iconic Australian structure standing 440 feet tall. The team travel party enjoyed unparalleled views from the world's largest steel arch bridge after making the trek to the top.
For Bruins' big men G.G. Goloman and TJ Leaf, the rise to the top was much more a mental test than any physical challenge. With self-admitted fears of heights, both players hung tough and met the challenge with their teammates cabled along their sides.
"You know that you aren't going to fall, or anything like that," said Goloman, a junior from Körmend, Hungary. "But you also know that once you get up there, you can't back out."
UCLA's climb participants were divided into groups of nine or 10, with each individual wearing a mandatory jumpsuit secured to the bridge using a cable and wire lifeline. The climb involved a series of walkways and staircases that ultimately traverse to the top of the 440-foot structure.
Walking up the 84-year-old bridge in Sydney ... don't look down!#BruinsDownUnder pic.twitter.com/cSQGOrme4M
— UCLA Basketball (@UCLAMBB) August 22, 2016
Coaches, players and members of the team's support staff took part in the 90-minute morning activity.
For Leaf, second guessing continued to creep into his mind. And he made sure not to "look down." Knowing that his teammates and coaches were doing the adventurous activity, he wanted to step up and take part.
"I mean, it's a once in a lifetime kind of thing," said Leaf, a freshman from El Cajon, Calif. "It was probably the scariest thing that I've ever done. I'm definitely glad that I did it."
Once at the top of the bridge, UCLA's travel party members soaked in the sights and posed for pictures taken by the bridge-climb company.
"It took me a couple minutes to get used to being that high up," Goloman said. "I was really holding onto the handrails. Once I realized that I was really safe up there, I enjoyed the view and thought it was very beautiful up there."
The bridge climb also served as a learning experience. Tour guides offered several tales associated with how the bridge was completed over the course of nine years, first opening in 1932. The Sydney Harbour Bridge continues to serve as the main artery connecting Sydney's central business district (CBD) with the North Shore.
On the day before the Bruins open their foreign tour with a game at Sydney University, head coach Steve Alford was encouraged to see that the climb also served as a valuable opportunity for team bonding.
"It's good anytime you can conquer fears," Coach Alford said. "That doesn't mean they won't be afraid of heights moving forward, but some of these guys did conquer a fear today, and they did it together as a team. It's great to see our guys trusting each other."
Building trust will continue to be a center theme as the Bruins tip-off Tuesday night at Sydney University.
The team's first game on Australian soil will also mark the first contest in which the team's three incoming freshmen – Ike Anigbogu, Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf – will don UCLA jerseys in a game.
While the games don't necessarily count toward any March Madness resume or the Pac-12 standings, the games will serve as a much-needed building block in the team's growth.
"We'll be changing lineups between all three games, and not just to start games but also to start halves," Coach Alford said. "We want to look at different combinations. Whether it's been vets or newcomers, our guys have worked extremely hard this summer."
Summer practices in preparation for UCLA's trip have offered the team's freshmen an immediate chance to mesh with each other and the returners. Players and coaches alike have underscored that the benefits are unmatched.
Leaf, a 6-foot-9 forward who starred at Foothills Christian High School, has had a blast getting to know both Anigbogu and Ball.
"Having two freshmen like that who have really become your close friends, guys who you've gotten along with so well right from the start, it's been huge," Leaf said. "I mean, we do everything together on campus whether it's been going to class or going to the gym. But even all the other guys on our team are so great. I think we're definitely getting a closer bond as teammates, and this trip is only going to help that."
As for a quick scouting report on Anigbogu?
"He's a different specimen," Leaf said. "You don't see someone who is 17 years old, at 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot-5 wingspan who's pushing toward 260 pounds, and he just jumps out of the gym. He brings such a high motor. He and Tom Welsh complement each other so well. They both bring different things to our frontcourt and they're both so good at them."
A former standout at Centennial High School in Corona, Calif., Anigbogu has impressed his teammates and coaches with his fantastic ability to block shots and his strong defensive awareness in the post.
Ball, a 6-foot-6 point guard from Chino Hills, Calif., will look to similarly invigorate UCLA's backcourt.
"Lonzo is a point guard who has a different gear," Coach Alford said. "You cannot teach that gear. You're going to see our pace increase because of what he can do. He's a great passer and he has the ability to score whenever he needs to."
Tuesday night will provide the Bruins their first chance to see how Anigbogu, Ball and Leaf have continued to adapt to their new college team.
Fans will be able to follow a live video stream, courtesy of Sydney University, on YouTube.com (direct link available here). Tip-off is set for 7:30 pm in Sydney – 2:30 am on Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Stay tuned to the Bruins' travels by following the team's official social media channels in addition to uclabruins.com. Follow "UCLAMBB" on Twitter (@UCLAMBB), Instagram (UCLAMBB), Facebook (facebook.com/uclamensbasketball) and Snapchat (uclambb).
