The Atlanta hates us monster strikes again

Tony Parker chose UCLA yesterday, and to that I say, in the words of the greatest superhero created in the last 20 years....

Now, UCLA is a good program. Lots of tradition, with the bright lights and star power of LA. They've produced countless pros, from Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton, on up to Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook. Their big man tradition is as good as any in the country. But here's why I invoke the great genius that is Karl Pilkington. Of all the schools on his list, UCLA fit the least (aside from Korey McCray). Ohio St lost JJ Sullinger, so they had an immediate need for someone like Parker. They return two freshmen who were touted recruits but didn't establish themselves last year. So Parker could have gone there, played right away, in a system that fits his strengths, and has produced a strong line of NBA first round picks (Greg Oden, Kosta Koufos, BJ Mullens, JJ Sullinger). Duke, while going more perimeter oriented and have an underskilled hustler of a PG (Wojo) coaching bigs, had a need as well. The Plumlee's return, but Parker seems a much more physical presence than either. And while Krzyzewski has gone smaller, he has history with similar players to Parker in Elton Brand and Shelden Williams, and was very successful with them. Kansas? They return Withey, but otherwise also had an easy path for playing time, with a strong hoops environment, and plenty of tradition and NBA products. We've made the case for UGA, and all the reasons in our corner, so no need to rehash that. So where does UCLA fit? They've got McCray, who helped bring in a quality perimeter player in Jordan Adams as well (and we could use someone like him too on our roster next year). But they have a more crowded depth chart than any of the other finalists. The Wear twins play the 4 and 5, and will be juniors. Josh Smith was a highly touted recruit two years ago, in the same mold as Parker, and he'll be back for his junior year as their 3rd big in the rotation with the twins. Fellow 5 star signee Kyle Anderson can play the 4 in a more perimeter oriented lineup. There's two other rising seniors who were highly touted recruits but worked the end of the bench last year. Parker could be looking at very limited minutes as the 4th or 5th big in a rotation for at least a year, if not two. They are clearly the farthest from home. And their coaching situation is the least stable of the bunch, with Ben Howland failing to make the NCAAs last year in spite of a talented roster, and failing 2 of the last 3 years despite bringing in highly rated recruits in bunches every year, and not exactly having a reputation for developing those star recruits. If that trend of ineptitude continues, and this new class of stars fail to mesh with the glutton of good, as has been the trend under Howland lately, he'll be in trouble. It's a make or break year for Howland, and failing to make the NCAAs, again, will not be tolerated in Westwood. Considering their past success, and the amount of talent on hand, simply making the NCAAs without a deep run might not be tolerated either. So the young man chose the least stable coaching situation, farthest from home, and the most crowded depth chart. Korey McCray must be one helluva salesman. So with a spot on the staff coming open now that Todd Okeson has taken a job at Southern Utah, it'll be interesting to see if Fox finally hires a locally connected salesman of his own. Georgia basketball fans, proud masochists since 1905.