Here are two reasons why UCLA may not be the best fit for Kentucky transfer Derrick Jasper, even though his defense-first style clearly meshes with the philosophy of the coaching staff:
1. Jasper wants to return to point guard at his new school, a circumstance that could be difficult for UCLA to accommodate with incoming freshmen Jrue Holiday and Jerime Anderson both expected to vie for playing time at the position in the future. As a sophomore at Kentucky, Jasper played mostly off the ball after returning from microfracture surgery, averaging 4.2 points and 5.5 rebounds per game.
"He feels like he can best help a team when the ball is in his hands, running the break and being the focal point of the attack," Paso Robles coach Scott Larson said. "That's where he's at his best."
2. Besides homesickness, one of the primary reasons Jasper left Kentucky was because he didn't like having his every move dissected by the media and basketball-crazed fans in the region, something that he'd probably have to deal with again at a school like UCLA.
"He's a little gun shy about being under the microscope the whole time," Larson said.
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