UCLA Signs Three Standouts to NLIs
November 12, 2015 | Men's Basketball
LOS ANGELES – The UCLA basketball program has received signed National Letters of Intent from high school seniors Ike Anigbogu, Lonzo Ball and Kobe Paras on the first day of the early signing period, it was announced today by head coach Steve Alford.
Anigbogu (first name pronounced ee-KAY), Ball and Paras will enroll at UCLA in 2016 and begin their freshman seasons in Westwood in the 2016-17 academic year.
Ball, a 6-foot-5 guard who has starred at Chino Hills High School (Chino Hills, Calif.), has been rated as the No. 8 player, nationally, in his high school class. ESPN.com and Scout.com have pegged him as the top point guard in the state of California and the Western region.
"Lonzo is an extremely talented player who will make an immediate impact for us as a freshman,” Alford said. “He's established himself as one of the nation's premier players, and we're excited that he's going to take that next step at UCLA. Lonzo is a tremendous scorer, passer and defender who has displayed great athleticism, instincts and size. Our coaching staff is excited to see what he can do in our program, and we know that he's going to have a special career at UCLA.”
Ball averaged 24.3 points, 11.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists for Chino Hills last season. He helped lead his high school team to the Division I state title game last season, securing first-team All-CIF Southern Section honors as a junior (2014-15) and sophomore (2013-14). He was among six finalists selected for the 2015 Player of the Year award sponsored by CalHiSports.com.
Anigbogu, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound center from Centennial High School in Corona, Calif., has been rated the No. 35 player in his high school class by Scout.com (and No. 37 by Rivals.com). Scout.com has listed him as the top center in the state of California and in the West and as the No. 6 center, nationally (ranked No. 13 in the country by ESPN.com).
“Ike has established himself as one of the top centers on the West Coast and has made significant strides in the last year,” Alford said. “He's a player with an NBA body, a very athletic big who has a chance to be a superior defender. His confidence continues to improve, he has a tremendous ceiling, and we know that he's going to be a major part of our frontcourt when he arrives next season."
Paras, a 6-foot-6 guard who has spent the last two years in Los Angeles, grew up in the Philippines. As a junior last season at Cathedral High School, Paras averaged 15 points per game. He is currently attending Cathedral High School and is playing for the Middlebrooks Academy Team.
"We're always looking for players who've grown up immersed in basketball, and Kobe definitely fits that mold,” Alford said. “He just loves the game. To add a talented player like Kobe to our program is terrific. He's a very athletic guard who plays with tremendous energy. We like how he can attack off the dribble and get to the rim in the open court, and we're excited that he'll be joining us in Westwood.”
Paras helped lead the Philippines to a gold medal in the FIBA Asia Under-18 3x3 championship in May 2013. He won the FIBA 3x3 Championships' slam dunk contest in June 2015, representing the Philippines. Paras' father, Benjie, was a professional basketball player in the Philippines and was the only player named both the rookie of the year and MVP in the same season (Philippine Basketball Association).