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Sam Glick

The 12 Most Influential UCLA Athletes of the Last Decade

by Sam Glick December 30, 2020

Over the years, Westwood has been home to some of the world’s most talented and popular athletes. Whether it includes winning NCAA Championships, competing in professional sports, or participating in the olympics, UCLA athletes have been able to make a name for themselves all over the world. Individuals on this list not only excelled in their respective sports, but also maintained a strong presence and high level of notoriety outside of competition. This list is not only based on popularity and social media following, but each individual’s impact on their respective sport as well. Here are the 12 most influential UCLA athletes from 2010-2019.

12. Jordin Canada – W. Basketball

Photo by Kristie Valerie-Hoang, Daily Bruin

Jordin Canada’s impact on UCLA Women’s Basketball started from the minute she got from campus. A four year starter, Canada was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year in 2014. She is UCLA’s all time assists leader, 2nd in points, and 3rd in steals. Canada was drafted 5th overall in the 2018 WNBA Draft and is a 2x WNBA Champion.

11. Rachel Garcia – Softball

The only current UCLA athlete on this list, Rachel Garcia will have the opportunity to build upon her impressive resume in the spring of 2021. She was selected as the USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year in 2018 and 2019, and was set to participate in the 2020 olympics for Team USA. After winning the NCAA National Championship in 2019, Garcia was nominated alongside Zion Williamson, Kyler Murray and Sabrina Ionescu for Best Collegiate Athlete at the ESPY Awards.

10. Josh Rosen – Football

Nicknamed the “Chosen One”, Josh Rosen was recognized by many as the #1 ranked recruit in the country when he showed up to UCLA in the winter of 2015. Rosen set multiple UCLA passing records on his way to being drafted 10th overall in the 2019 NFL Draft. The outspoken quarterback found himself making national headlines for his comments on politics, student-athlete compensation, and the academic discrepancy between UCLA and more successful college football programs.

9. Brett Hundley Jr. – Football

Brett Hundley is UCLA’s most important college football player of the last decade. Hundley put UCLA Football back on the map, leading the Bruins to a #7 national ranking prior to the 2014 season. Hundley beat USC in each of his three years as the UCLA quarterback, and became UCLA’s all-time offensive yards leader.

8. Madison Kocian – Gymnastics

At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Kocian won a silver-medal on the uneven bars and helped Team USA win its second consecutive gold-medal. In 2017, Kocian teamed up with former Olympian Kyla Ross and the two became the first Olympic gold medalists to compete as NCAA gymnasts, winning a national championship together in 2018.

7. Zach LaVine – Basketball

Currently the best player on the Chicago Bulls, Zach LaVine continues to grow as an NBA star. After one year at UCLA, LaVine was selected 13th overall in the 2014 NBA Draft. He is a 2x NBA Dunk Contest champion, and is known for beating out Aaron Gordon in one of the best dunk contests in NBA history.

6. Kyla Ross – Gymnastics

At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Kyla Ross helped Team USA win a gold-medal with her exceptional performances on the uneven bars and balance beam. Ross won a national championship during the 2017-2018 season, and later became the 2nd NCAA gymnast ever to record a perfect 10 score on all four apparatuses twice in their career.

5. Gerrit Cole – Baseball

After graduating high school in 2008, Gerrit Cole turned down a multi-million dollar offer from the New York Yankees and honored his commitment to play baseball at UCLA. After three years pitching for the Bruins, Gerrit was drafted #1 overall in the 2011 MLB Draft. Eight years later, Cole is a 3x All-Star and the highest paid pitcher in MLB history.

4. Trevor Bauer – Baseball

Trevor Bauer won the 2011 Golden Spikes Award, given to the best player in college baseball. He was drafted 3rd overall in the 2011 MLB Draft, selected as an All-Star in 2018, and won the NL CY Young Award in 2020. Another outspoken athlete, Bauer has made it his goal to make the game of baseball fun again. He has criticized MLB for its inability to market their athletes and has started his own media company around life in professional baseball.

3. Sydney Leroux – W. Soccer

Sydney Leroux competed for the UCLA Women’s Soccer Team from 2008-2011, ranking 4th all-time in points, goals and game winning goals for the Bruins. She won a gold-medal for Team USA in the 2012 Olympics and helped the USWNT win the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Leroux’s athletic achievements, outgoing personality, and beautiful family has helped her amass one million followers on Instagram.

2. Katelyn Ohashi – Gymnastics

Katelyn Ohashi’s journey to viral sensation did not come easy. As a junior competitor, Ohashi was one of the best in the world, beating out Simone Biles for a gold-medal in the 2013 American Cup. Due to injuries, she was unsure of whether she could compete internationally and decided to enroll at UCLA. On January 12th 2019, Ohashi completed a floor routine that broke the internet and now has over 133 million views. She has used this fame to spread positivity for other gymnasts and female athletes. She mad an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show, LeBron James’ “The Shop” and even participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend Celebrity Game.

1. Lonzo Ball – Basketball

Lonzo Ball earned every accolade possible for a high school athlete, including being named Mr. Basketball USA and the #1 point guard recruit in the country. During his one and only season at UCLA, Ball led the nation in assists and was a unanimous First Team All-American. Lonzo brought UCLA Basketball back into national title contention for the first time all decade and went on to be selected #2 overall by the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2017 NBA Draft. Despite his up and down NBA career thus far, Lonzo and his family have remained in the spotlight thanks to his talented brothers, the Big Baller Brand, and reality TV show. Lonzo has separated himself from BBB, but his basketball talent, budding rap career, and 8.9 million Instagram followers makes him the most polarizing and influential UCLA athlete of the last decade.

December 30, 2020 0 comment

Sports Uncategorized

Welcoming Nike and Jordan Brand to Westwood

by Sam Glick December 14, 2020

written by Sam Glick

How UCLA’s new partnership with Nike and Jordan Brand improves the outlook of UCLA Athletics

On December 8th, 2020 UCLA announced a six-year partnership with Nike and Jordan Brand, making them the new footwear, apparel, and equipment provider effective July of 2021. Announced via UCLA Athletics’ social media accounts, the partnership signifies a dramatic change for UCLA’s twenty-five sports programs.

This is the first major move made by newly appointed UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond, and a great response to the recent fallout with former apparel provider, Under Armour. Jordan Brand will outfit UCLA’s men’s and women’s basketball programs and the football program, while Nike will supply the other twenty-two programs. UCLA will become the only PAC-12 school to be sponsored by Jordan, and just the fifth in the country to have football and both basketball teams.

A video released by UCLA Athletics featuring the narration of bruin legends and Jordan Brand athletes, Russell Westbrook and Jordin Canada, added to the hyped reveal. Jarmond made it clear that the influence of prominent UCLA alumni and Jordan athletes Russell Westbrook and Kevin Love helped him better understand the magnitude of a partnership deal with Nike and Jordan Brand.

“They helped me understand in ways that I wasn’t fully aware… how young people feel about Nike and Jordan Brand as opposed to other companies”
Athletic Director, Martin Jarmond

Jarmond spent the day attending the practices of UCLA’s men’s and women’s basketball and football programs receiving praise and applause from athletes and coaches. It is very clear that the change from Under Armour to Nike and Jordan will be a significant upgrade in the eyes of coaches and athletes.

🗣If you didn't know, now you know!#JUMPMAN | @MartinJarmond pic.twitter.com/ieSJyBiYlZ
— UCLA Athletics (@UCLAAthletics) December 9, 2020

Joining Jordan Brand changes the outlook for UCLA’s basketball and football programs, and should provide a significant advantage in recruiting high school athletes.

December 14, 2020 0 comment

2020 UCLA Senior of the Year

Arsal Zaheer: 2020 UCLA Senior of the Year

by Sam Glick November 12, 2020

written by Sam Glick

As a graduating senior, Arsal Zaheer recommends three things to incoming Bruins: carve out your own academic path, be selfish with your time, and enjoy the little moments!

Arsal made full use of the broad range of classes UCLA has to offer, allowing him to follow his own academic path.

He was able to attain a degree in economics, while still being to take classes on his other interests in the side. With a passion for public healthcare, Arsal completed the pre-med curriculum and took public health coursework on the side.

Arsal encourages students to not shy away from taking classes that interest them, even if they are not a part of their given major.

“Embrace your curiosities while you have access to this world class institution, it’s well worth it.”

Arsal helped plan the Los Angeles Global Health Conference in 2019, monitoring the registration process for attendees, along with developing pricing schemes that allow for the conference to have a specific revenue outcome.

Being an extroverted individual, Arsal’s sense of adventure got him to experience the many things that UCLA has to offer. He joined numerous clubs before settling on a few that were most important to him.

“There is so much to get involved with, and you’re doing yourself a disservice if you spend your time in ways that do not stimulate or fulfill you in the best possible way.”

He was a part of the Fellowship for International Service and Health for all four years, while holding a chief administrative role for the final two. The nonprofit organization also known as FISH is focused on sustainable global health service in Mexico. Arsal helped coordinate trips, clinical practices, English learning opportunities, and established relationships with local leaders.

Arsal also had many roles within UCLA’s Model United Nations program, another opportunity to travel the country and discuss policies and conflicts affecting the world.

Outside of clubs and schoolwork, Arsal is very thankful for the opportunity that college has given him to grow and develop as a person.

Arsal credits some of his fondest memories at UCLA towards learning how to play the sitar. Through curiosity, he sat in on one of his friend’s sitar courses and found a new passion of his. Having no prior background in music, Arsal fell for the soothing melodies, along with the process of learning and mastering something new.

Through perseverance, he ended up performing at annual Music of India concerts at the Schoenberg School of Arts at the end of each year.

When reflecting on his time at UCLA, Arsal recommends to enjoy the little moments. He mentions great memories of living on the hill, visiting Cade 1919, and randomly seeing friends around campus.

“Seemingly mundane parts of your day will become significant once you graduate. Make sure to appreciate them while they last!”

November 12, 2020 0 comment

Academics

4 Things UCLA Students Should Look For When Using the BruinWalk Website

by Sam Glick March 3, 2020

written by Sam Glick

As a UCLA student, it can be very stressful looking for the best classes. The process of enrolling is very competitive if you aren’t prepared. Thankfully, the BruinWalk website provides a great amount of information that can help students find the professors and classes that suit them. Here are 4 things to look for when using Bruin Walk.

Find the teaching style that is best for you

Classes at UCLA can be taught in a variety of ways. Are you a student that benefits from having mandatory assignments that help you understand the course? Or would you prefer being measured through midterms and a final only? There is a broad spectrum on how professors structure their classes. As a student, it is important to recognize the teaching style that best suits you. When searching for a class on Bruin Walk, look through the comments for each professor to learn about their course structure.

Look at the different grade distributions between professors for a given class

Most classes at UCLA are taught by a number of different professors over the course of the year. Some professors teach the class in the fall, while others may teach in the winter or spring. Look over the rating for the different professors and choose the one that best suits you.

If there is a professor you enjoyed from the past, look for other classes they teach

As students move through their major’s requirements, there is an opportunity to take a class from a professor they previously had. If you enjoyed a professor previously, Bruin Walk gives you the opportunity to search for that professor’s name in their database.

Make sure the professor’s rating is up to date

The Bruin Walk website has been around for many years. It is important to check and make sure the professor’s data is up to date. There is a drop down menu that shows all the quarters in which the professor has taught the class.
BruinWalk is an essential part of UCLA student’s lives.

March 3, 2020 0 comment