UCLA lands big recruit: a 9-year-old living with a brain tumor

The UCLA football team says it landed a top recruit this weekend. He’s been given a five-star rating, according to one UCLA assistant, which isn’t bad for a 9-year-old.

His name is Cade Spinello. In December 2009, Spinello was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Two brain surgeries led to a stroke, which left him paralyzed on the right side, according to the website of his father, Mike Spinello.

As Spinello recovered, his thoughts turned to football. Spinello was an avid fan.

Since the surgeries, Spinello has met with NFL players like Cam Newton, visited the New York Yankees’ dugout and been to a Super Bowl. He has also developed a relationship with the UCLA football team, which has brought Spinello to practices starting in 2012.

On Saturday, UCLA Director of Player Personnel Patrick Girardi tweeted out that the Bruins were ready to make a bigger commitment.

He said the Bruins were going to sign him to the team. He tweeted a photo of Coach Jim Mora getting ready to shake Spinello’s hand.

UCLA has high expectations.

“You are expected to play just as you did, if not better, than when you ran through the UCLA defense in practice on September 24, 2015,” they wrote in their offer. “Since then we have have realized that you are the missing piece on the UCLA football team.”

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Twitter: @zhelfand