Jrue Holiday, PG

Much like Russell Westbrook during his freshman year, Holiday's first season in a Bruins uniform is not going to wow anyone in the statistical categories, but he more than proved he is an emerging talent whose potential and work ethic prompted NBA scouts to call him the best freshman in the 2009 draft class.

He is more than willing to work within the team concept, but he also showed flashes of brilliance when allowed to freelance on the court. His ever-improving jump shot and ball-hawking skills on the defensive end, along with his chiseled physique which included 20 more pounds of muscle since arriving on campus made him the player drawing the most attention at the NBA's pre-draft camp in Chicago.

Holiday was a four-year letterwinner at Campbell Hall High School, where he was named the 2008 Gatorade National Player of the Year. He was rated the best point guard and the second-best overall prospect in the Class of 2008 by Rivals.com and was listed as the best shooting guard and the fourth-best overall prospect by Scout.com. He was selected to Parade Magazine's All-American first-team and to the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West first-team.

As a senior, Holiday averaged 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 4.8 steals per game to help lead Campbell Hall to a 31-5 record and the California Division IV state title. As a junior, he helped the team to a 33-1 mark and the 2007 state title, averaging 23.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 4.2 steals and 1.5 blocked shots per game, earning 2007 Parade Magazine All-American third-team honors, as he was also selected as the Gatorade California Player of the Year and named an EA Sports All-American second-team pick.

Holiday averaged 21.0 points, 9.1 boards, 5.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, as Campbell Hall finished 27-6 and among the top 10 teams in the state during his sophomore campaign. He led the squad to a perfect 32-0 record and a state title as a freshman (2004-05).

In summer league competition, Holiday played AAU basketball for the RC Bulls, West Coast All-Stars, Belmont Shore and Pump N' Run. He was selected as a 2008 McDonald's All-American, scoring 14 points and totaling five rebounds, five steals and three assists for the West Team, which lost to the East, 107-102 in Milwaukee. He was invited to play in the 2008 Jordan Brand Classic on April 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Holiday was a member of the 2007 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival Blue Team, which had a 2-3 record and captured a silver medal. He started in all five games played, averaging 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocked shots. Among all-time Festival records, he ranks second for most assists (40) and second in single-game assists (12 vs. Blue).

Among 2007 Festival participants, Holiday ranked first in assists average, second in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.0), third in free throw percentage (.722), tied for fifth in blocked shots average, tied for sixth in steals average, tied for eighth in scoring average and 11th in rebounding average.

Holiday was named to the Pac-10 Conference All-Freshman Team in 2008-09. He was part of one of the quickest backcourt tandems in college basketball, playing alongside Darren Collison. He had a "quiet" season, averaging 8.5 points, 3.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.6 steals per game, seeing action in 35 contests.

On April 9, Holiday announced that he would make himself eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft but will not hire an agent in order to maintain his NCAA eligibility.

Positives: Has a developing frame with good overall muscle tone, decent wingspan (6-foot-7) and a very good standing reach (8-foot-4 1/2 inches) … While his offensive game was a bit sporadic as a freshman, Holiday showed that he is a disruptive force on the defensive end against Arizona State's James Harden (held to 15 points while being charged with eight turnovers) and Virginia Conmonwealth's Eric Maynor (5 of 15 shooting from the floor) … Uses his reach and lateral quickness effectively to limit his opponent off the dribble … Possesses good timing in the passing lane (55 steals in 35 games) and stays in front of his man to prevent penetration … Combo player who might be more comfortable as the lead guard, but was forced to play the "two" mostly, with Darren Collison at the point, but in limited minutes at the "one" spot, he utilized his quick initial step to show that he can be aggressive on both ends of the floor … Plays with a high motor but also shows solid basketball IQ, as it is rare to see him take an ill-advised shot or make a foolish move to draw a foul … Excellent rebounder for a backcourt player as he knows how to use his size, strength, wingspan and elevation to be in position to crash the boards, getting close to 30 percent of his possessions on the offensive glass … With the ball in his hands, he shows the quick passing skills to execute well offensively, especially on pick-and-roll plays … Uses his strength well to fight through screens and draw contact on the way to the basket, but needs to improve his release shooting from the foul line … Scrappy defender who knows how to be a nuisance in the passing lanes and excels defending off the ball, using his frame well to box out and establish position in order to grab the rebound … Has good court vision, getting the ball out to the open target when double teamed … Also not afraid to absorb punishment finishing around the basket … Focused player who does not need the ball in his hand to be effective, as he plays within the team scheme and is the perfect role player … Darts to the rim and knows how to use his fakes and hesitation moves to get to the basket with relative ease … Has a developing jump shot and uses his elevation and fade-away skills to create space to deliver his jumper from mid-range … His long stride and stamina make him a nice compliment getting out front or pushing the ball up court on the fast break … Has the range in his shot to connect from NBA 3-point distance, but is also powerful enough to finish more than 30 percent of his possessions under the rim … Keeps his hands active, doing a nice job of smothering perimeter shooters with his reach and wingspan (made a great play in the NCAAs vs. Virginia Commonwealth, reaching in to steal the ball at half-court from guard Joe Rodriguez and taking it coast-to-coast before elevating for a resounding dunk) … Has good off-ball skills and that versatility will earn him considerable minutes at both guard spots … Despite his young age, he is very mature pushing the ball up court and keeps the ball low in his dribble and close to his body to prevent the turnover.

Negatives: Did not get an opportunity to work on his offensive game much at UCLA and the Bruins' slow-down offense did not fit his playing style (could leave early for the NBA for this reason alone, even though he needs the benefit of at least one more college season) … Has good lateral quickness and a decent first step, but does not generate the second gear needed to race past defenders when trying to deliver on the fast break … Has the range from the perimeter, but when he cocks his elbow too much, he shoots with a low release that results in inconsistent shots from the outside … Must deliver with a better lift and rotation when taking shots at the charity stripe, as he is a marginal free throw shooter … Generally plays within the system, but perhaps the product of his youth … Plays with good aggression, but does not draw enough contact when trying to finish around the basket, leading to infrequent visits to the foul line … Has defensive quickness, but it is more the result of his strength and lateral quickness rather than blazing court speed.

Compares To: RUSSELL WESTBROOK, Oklahoma City -- Some scouts cite Holiday's unimpressive statistics to underline a point that he has not discovered his offensive game. He played in a slowed-down offense and is more comfortable being the lead guard, but with Darren Collison entrenched at the point, Holiday had to seize most of his minutes at the two-guard position. He is not a finished product, but compare his statistics to Westbrook's at UCLA, and they are quite similar. Westbrook turned stellar pre-draft visits into being the fourth pick in the 2008 draft and had a solid rookie season.

--Report by Dave-Te' Thomas

Pac-10 Conference All-Freshman Team selection … Appeared in 35 games, averaging 27.1 minutes per contest (950 total) … Ranked ninth in the Pac-10 in assists, fourth in steals and sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.7) … Scored 296 points (8.5 points per game), as he shot 45 percent from the floor (112 of 249), 30.7 percent from 3-point range (27 of 88) and 72.6 percent from the foul line (45 of 62) … Blocked 18 shots (0.5 blocks per game) and had 132 rebounds (3.8 rebounds per game) … Recorded 129 assists (3.7 assists per game) and 75 turnovers (2.1 turnovers per game) … Also registered 55 steals (1.6 steals per game) … Scored in double digits fourteen times, coming up with a double-double performance (points/rebounds) vs. Louisiana Tech.

Holiday scored a season-high 20 points in the win over Florida International (11/29/08) and recorded his only double-double of the season with 12 points and 10 rebounds in the win over Louisiana Tech (12/28/08) … In 2008-09, he ranked ninth in the Pac-10 Conference in assists, fourth in steals and sixth in assist/turnover ratio (1.7).

No injuries reported.

USA BASKETBALL

Holiday was a member of the 2007 USA Basketball Men's Youth Development Festival Blue Team, which had a 2-3 record and captured a silver medal … Started in all five games played, averaging 18.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, 8.0 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.2 blocked shots … Among all-time Festival records, he ranks second for most assists (40) and second in single-game assists (12 vs. Blue) … Among 2007 Festival participants, Holiday ranked first in assists average, second in assist-to-turnover ratio (4.0), third in free throw percentage (.722), tied for fifth in blocked shots average, tied for sixth in steals average, tied for eighth in scoring average and 11th in rebounding average.

SUMMER: In summer league competition, Holiday played AAU basketball for the RC Bulls, West Coast All-Stars, Belmont Shore and Pump N' Run … Selected as a 2008 McDonald's All-American, scoring 14 points and totaling five rebounds, five steals and three assists for the West Team, which lost to the East, 107-102 in Milwaukee … Invited to play in the 2008 Jordan Brand Classic on April 19 at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Attended Campbell Hall (Chatsworth, Calif.) High School, where he was named the 2008 Gatorade National Player of the Year … Rated the best point guard and the second-best overall prospect in the Class of 2008 by Rivals.com and was listed as the best shooting guard and the fourth-best overall prospect by Scout.com … Selected to Parade Magazine's All-American first-team and to the Long Beach Press-Telegram's Best in the West first-team … As a senior, Holiday averaged 25.9 points, 11.2 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 4.8 steals per game to help lead Campbell Hall to a 31-5 record and the California Division IV state title … As a junior, he helped the team to a 33-1 mark and the 2007 state title, averaging 23.1 points, 9.4 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 4.2 steals and 1.5 blocked shots per game, earning 2007 Parade Magazine All-American third-team honors, as he was also selected as the Gatorade California Player of the Year and named an EA Sports All-American second-team pick … Averaged 21.0 points, 9.1 boards, 5.8 assists, 2.5 steals and 1.4 blocks per game, as Campbell Hall finished 27-6 and among the top 10 teams in the state during his sophomore campaign … Led the squad to a perfect 32-0 record and a state title as a freshman (2004-05).

General Studies major … Brother, Justin, is a sophomore forward on the University of Washington basketball team … Son of Toya and Shawn Holiday … Born Jrue Randall Holiday on 6/12/90 in Mission Hills, California … Resides in North Hollywood, California.