Reeves Nelson

Ben Howland likes to tout UCLA's history of producing 106 NBA draft picks, more than any other school. The Bruins coach probably would not mind if that figure didn't grow this summer. If junior guard Malcolm Lee and sophomore forwards Tyler Honeycutt and Reeves Nelson decide to return for one more year of college basketball, UCLA would likely be considered a top-10 team nationally going into next season. The trio of first-team All-Pacific 10 Conference selections would comprise the kind of deep and dynamic core the Bruins have lacked since their run of three consecutive Final Fours ended in 2008.

Raymond Nelson, freshman tight end at UCLA, has been kicked off the team for an incident that occurred before the Bruins played Illinois in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on Dec. 31. Nelson was sent home the day before the game for violating team rules, according to a person with knowledge of the situation who was not authorized to speak on the subject. Coach Jim Mora, hired last month, reviewed the situation before making his decision. Neither Mora nor Nelson could be reached for comment.

The UCLA basketball team is on a roll, showing hints of becoming special, so these days you get happy Ben Howland, the one who smiles and talks easily, even clapping his hands occasionally. "It's good to be winning," he says. The Bruins coach is a man of many faces. When his weekly meeting with reporters ends, time to get back to business, he could instantly become the grinder, the one who feels every second slipping past, every moment an opportunity to practice or watch film or jump on a plane to recruit.

UCLA next vs. Washington, Friday at Pauley Pavilion, 1 p.m., Prime Ticket ? UCLA has won four consecutive games at home against the Huskies, the media's preseason pick to win the Pacific 10 Conference. One key statistic to track will be rebounding; Washington was outrebounded in each of its first three losses and will be confronted by one of the Pac-10's best frontcourts in Reeves Nelson and Joshua Smith.

UCLA next vs. Oregon, Thursday at Pauley Pavilion, 7:30 p.m., Prime Ticket ? The Ducks (12-11 overall, 5-6 Pacific 10 Conference) have won five of their last seven games, including an 81-76 victory over No. 20 Washington on Saturday that moved them above .500 for the first time since late December. UCLA sophomore Reeves Nelson will likely be seeking a bounce-back effort after fouling out with zero points during the Bruins' 67-59 victory at Oregon last month. ?Ben Bolch

When: 8. Where: Sports Arena. On the air: TV: Prime Ticket. Radio: 570. Records: UCLA 1-4, Pepperdine 3-2. Update: Coach Ben Howland said forward Reeves Nelson would not move back into the starting lineup "any time soon" in the wake of early-season suspensions that sidelined him for 11/2 games before he returned during the Maui Invitational. "He's got to have a good attitude, be accountable for a while here before that's going to happen," Howland said, noting a few slip-ups in which Nelson reverted to his practice habits.

A week ago, David Wear left the downtown Los Angeles hotel where UCLA was staying to find himself a snack. But he returned to jarring news: His identical twin brother and fellow Bruins forward, Travis, had been rushed to a nearby hospital with a rapidly inflamed skin infection on his left foot. The following night, Travis was still in a hospital bed, pumped full of antibiotics, while David took the court against Eastern Washington at the Sports Arena. But something was off, David said, and the 6-foot-10 sophomore played like it, scoring just seven points while missing six of eight shots.

The men's basketball programs at UCLA and USC each received two letters of intent Wednesday as the NCAA's fall early signing period opened. UCLA secured the services of Kyle Anderson , a highly coveted 6-foot-8 swingman from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony High, and 6-5 shooting guard Jordan Adams from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill Academy. Coach Ben Howland said the Bruins could add another player in the early signing period and expected to bring in a total of four new players.

Ben Howland will remain UCLA's basketball coach, UCLA Athletic Director Dan Guerrero announced Tuesday. In a prepared statement, Guerrero said that he and Howland had “several discussions” after the volatile season. Guard Jerime Anderson was arrested for misdemeanor theft in August, Reeves Nelson, the Bruins' top player, was dismissed from the team in December and a Sports Illustrated story portrayed Howland as having lost control of his team. “Ben understands full well that the management and oversight of the program needs improvement,” Guerrero said.