BOOM! 4-Star Shooting Guard Prince Ali Commits To UCLA

Mar 23, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins mascot performs.

UCLA’s 2015 basketball recruiting received a huge kickstart Saturday afternoon when 4-star shooting guard Prince Ali (Miami, FL/The Sagemont School) committed to Steve Alford and the Bruins.

Ali’s commitment is a very significant one for a guard-starved UCLA team that only has two backcourt players set to return in 2015, Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton. With Ali and Aaron Holiday (North Hollywood, CA/Campbell Hall) set to supplement the Bruins’ backcourt ranks and infuse them with some much needed athleticism and talent, things are definitely looking up for a UCLA team whose prospects in the 2015 season are looking brighter by the day.

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Ali is UCLA’s second commitment of the 2015 recruiting class, following that of Holiday back in March 2014. As far as Ali’s game is concerned, there’s really only way to describe it: full-throttle. The Florida guard is known as a player with an explosive first step, elite athleticism, a relentless will to get to the basket for close-range buckets and free-throw opportunities, a steadily improving perimeter game, and the potential to become a shut-down defender as his game becomes more refined on the college level.

Prince Ali is Scout's No. 37 ranked prospect. High-level athlete w/ potential as defender. Improved shooter. Shot 39-percent from 3 in EYBL.
— Evan Daniels (@EvanDaniels) August 16, 2014

The commitment of Ali likely signals the beginning of a wild period for UCLA basketball recruiting in the run up to the Fall signing period. With key elite targets like SF Jaylen Brown, PF Carlton Bragg, C Stephen Zimmerman, SG Brandon Sampson, SF Brandon Ingram, C Chance Comanche, PF D.J. Hogg, and SG Eric Davis all still in play for the Bruins, there figures to be a heavy dose of fireworks on the basketball recruiting trail over the next couple of months.

Welcome to Westwood, Prince!