Signing because of which reason(s)

Not that I'm trying to be a present-day Republican prototype by eschewing facts but I stand behind this statement even though it is unprovable:

Washington state prep guard Zach Levine is a UCLA commit but he didn't verbal because of Ben Howland. The same applies to recent Bruin verbal Al Freeman of Findlay Prep, another backcourter who is originally out of North Carolina.

Have I talked to either player or anyone in their respective families.

No.

So what is the basis for my thesis?

My gut. My sense. A feeling.

My contention is that both guys decided to go with UCLA because of the history and lore of the program, the chances to win a national championship, it being in southern California, the multiple television appearances, heck even the weather. The benefits of practicing under Howland, however beneficial, would not be ranked all that high if said recruits were administered sodium pentothol.

Yes, Howland has a résumé of guards moving on -- Aaron Afflalo, Darren Collison, Russell Westbrook (after two seasons), Jrue Holiday (after one season), even Jordan Farmar for a while -- but such doesn't seem all that much a factor in choosing a college. Yes, some prospects cite it but it rarely rings as authentic.

The discipline and fundamentals, the learning to prepare (elements available for digestion might be a better way of putting it as not all his talents ended up subscribing) under Howland is often mentioned as a major plus by a number of his ex-players.

But is such something 17-year-olds are even aware of, let alone can appreciate?

I don't think so.

Looking at another situation, is UK landing all those bluechippers because it's all that is Kentucky or because of John Calipari coaching there?

It's a combination, one impossible to determine the actual percentage breakdown but it feels like Calipari is an attraction, which is not necessarily the case in Howland.

To toss a completely separate angle into the mix is that Calipari's predecessor, Billy Gillispie, signed highly rated recruits in his couple of seasons in Lexington (Dominique Ferguson, Kevin Galloway, Jon Hood, Alex Legion, DeAndre Liggins, Darius Miller, Daniel Orton, Patrick Patterson). It didn't work out well for him and, for a multitude of reasons, most of the players either.

In this latter situation, it seems that it was the lure of Kentucky roundball that did the trick and not necessarily who was coaching.