Top Recruit Kyle Anderson Commits to UCLA, Spurning Seton Hall and Georgetown

In a move that should have surprised no one who follows him on Twitter, New Jersey high school standout Kyle Anderson—who identifies himself on Twitter as Vinny Chase, the lead character on the Hollywood-set HBO show Entourage—decided Tuesday to follow his own Hollywood dream and sign with the UCLA Bruins. 

Kyle Anderson, out of St. Anthony’s High School in Jersey City, New Jersey, is ESPN’s No. 5 recruit in the country. With a rare combination of size (6’7”, 210 pounds) and speed, Anderson was a tantalizing prospect for coaches, who could envision him in a wide variety of roles. 

He was recruited by several schools, including Georgetown and Florida, but none more strongly than Seton Hall, the school he grew up rooting for.

According to The New York Post, Seton Hall hoped Anderson would be the big-name recruit that has often eluded them and that he would help lead the Pirates to its first NCAA tournament berth since the 2005-2006 season. Seton Hall even had a final in-house visit with Anderson just a few hours before he announced his decision to attend UCLA. 

Anderson will be able to compete for playing time right away at UCLA.

Despite his size, UCLA has indicated that they would be willing to play Anderson at point guard. The point position will be filled this season by senior point guards Lazeric Jones and Jerime Anderson, leaving the position open when Anderson arrives on campus next year.

Anderson’s flexibility should allow him the opportunity to earn immediate playing time for the Bruins. 

Anderson joins two other ESPN Top 100 recruits in the 2012 recruiting class who have already committed to UCLA—small forward Jordan Adams of Lawrenceville, Georgia, and point guard Dominic Artis of Richmond, California. 

Anderson’s spurning of Seton Hall and Georgetown leaves both schools thus far without a commitment from any of ESPN’s Top 100, though Florida can take comfort in their two signings.