Reeves Nelson, who was dismissed last week from UCLA, is headed to play professionally in Lithuania, coach Ben Howland announced Thursday.
“As far as what team that will be, we can’t say because we don’t have a signed contract,” Brian Nelson, Reeves’ father, told the Modesto Bee. “Reeves is not returning to college. He’s not transferring anywhere. He has every intention of turning pro.”
The 6-foot-8, 235-pound Nelson plans to enter the 2012 NBA Draft and thus cannot sign with an NBA team, even as a free agent, until after the draft, the Bee reported.
Howland suspended Nelson for one game earlier this season, a loss to Middle Tennessee State, but reinstated him for UCLA’s trip to the Maui Invitational, only to watch as Reeves missed the flight to Hawaii. He was then suspended the first half of the Chaminade game. He was later benched in the second half against Texas.
He was averaging 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds in six games this season.
His departure opens up another scholarship for UCLA, which has a total of four to use.
Two have been given to St. Anthony point guard Kyle Anderson and Oak Hill shooting guard Jordan Adams.
The Bruins hope to give the other two to small forward Shabazz Muhammad, the consensus No. 1 player in the Class, and 6-9 forward Tony Parker. (Read more at FiveStarBasketball.com.)
Parker put up 29 and 10 Thursday night but his Livonia (Ga.) High team lost to Adams and Oak Hill, 72-68, at Morehouse College’s Forbes Arena.
Photo: AP
