Reeves Nelson To Go Pro (and other Bruin briefs)

According to the Los Angeles Times:

It looks like Reeves Nelson will get a chance to continue playing basketball as he is expected to sign with Zalgiris, a Lithuanian team.

His father, Brian Nelson, said that his son “…has indicated to me, this is for the money now,”  that his college hoops days are over and he plans to enter the 2012 NBA draft.

The 6′ 9″ forward was UCLA’s leading scorer and rebounder last season, but was suspended twice this year for attitude issues and was eventually kicked off the team by coach Ben Howland.

“He (is) grateful that he’s going to get a chance to do something, maybe make some changes in his life,” his high school coach, Gary Porter, commented.

Other basketball tidbits:

Travis Wear is questionable for the Bruins’ game against UC Davis at the Honda Center due to his foot infection, which he suffered in Hawaii and which forced him to miss the team’s win over Eastern Washington.

The forward, who’s averaging 10.6 points a game, was released from the hospital on Thursday.

Maenwhile, point guard Lazeric Jones has been improving his performances, averaging 18.8 points in the last four contests, including making 11 of 16 thre-point shots.

“Coach stressed to me about being patient, letting the offense come to me, and lately I’ve been falling into my shots,” said Jones.

All right, here’s what’s new on the football front:

The Bruins’ offensive coordinator and interim coach, Mike Johnson, has apparently seen the writing on the wall as with new head coach Jim L. Mora hiring Noel Mazzone to run the offense next season, Johnson has announced that he will not be returning to UCLA.

He has taked with officials at Akron, his alma mater, about their head coaching position, but is committed to coaching the Bruins in the Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl on December 31.

“We’re going to show up and play hard,” he said.

Kevin Prince sat out practice on Friday to rest a sore knee, but is expected to return to practice on Saturday.

Johnathan Franklin, who is 53 yards away from being the first UCLA running back since DeShaun Foster in 2000 and 2001 to have back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons is considering entering his name in the NFL draft this spring. “I have thought about it, it’s on the back of my mind every day,” the junior said. Right now…I’m just preparing to play this (Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl).”

He has until mid-January to decide whether or not to turn pro.