UCLA logo inside Pauley Pavilion
Photo Credit: Mike Regalado
3. Kiki Vandeweghe 1976-80
German born Vandeweghe was a simple player, but highly effective. Ernest Maurice “Kiki” Vandeweghe III was a big guy that had moves and could do it all. He can get out in transition, pull down rebounds and had a sweet outside jump shot.
Vandeweghe was the unequivocal leader of this Bruin squad that made it back to National Championship Game for the first time since 1975 when UCLA Basketball won their 10th Bational Championship in John Wooden’s final year as coach.
Unfortunately, in 1980, the Bruins with Head Coach Larry Brown, had fallen to Louisville. Also unfortunate for Vandeweghe and his teammates, that season was vacated as Brown was hit for violations due to the ineligibility of a few players.
In that final year, Vandeweghe lead all Bruins in points and rebounds with 19.5 and 6.8, respectively.
Vandeweghe went on to have 15 seasons in the NBA and is currently the Vice-President of Basketball Operations for the Natinal Basketball Association.
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