June 13, 2009

LOS ANGELES - UCLA guard Jrue Holiday has decided to remain in the NBA Draft, is hiring an agent, and will forgo his sophomore season, UCLA head basketball coach Ben Howland announced today.

"I'm sure Jrue will be a great NBA player and have a long career," Howland said. "We are very happy for him and wish him well. He will always be a part of the Bruin family."

As a freshman, Holiday started all 35 games at guard while helping the Bruins compile a record of 26-9 and a runner-up finish in the Pac-10 Conference (13-5) in 2008-09. The Pac-10 All-Freshman Team honoree was fifth on the team in scoring (8.5 ppg), third in rebounding (3.8 rpg) and second in assists (3.7 apg) last year.

He ranked ninth in the Pac-10 in assists, 4th in steals (1.6 spg) and 6th in assist/turnover ratio (1.7). His 100 percent shooting from the field (8-for-8) in the win over Florida International (Nov. 29) tied for the third-best performance in the Pac-10. His six steals in the win over Cal State Northridge (Dec. 7) was a season-high and tied for the single-best mark in the Pac-10 last year. He scored a career-high 20 points in the win over FIU and scored a Pac-10 high of 15 points to go with six rebounds, five assists and two steals in the home win over Stanford (Jan. 31). He had his only double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the home win over Louisiana Tech (Dec. 28).

Holiday was named honorable mention CollegHoops.net All-Freshman and won UCLA's Seymour Armond Memorial Award (Most Valuable Freshman) and shared the Bruin Hoopsters J.D. Morgan Memorial Award (Outstanding Team Play) with guard/forward Michael Roll.