UCLA basketball player Jonah Bolden ruled academically ineligible

Jonah Bolden, a highly regarded freshman on the UCLA men’s basketball team, has been ruled academically ineligible by the NCAA, the school announced Friday.

Bolden, a 6-foot-9 forward, is Australian but played last season at Findlay Prep in Nevada.

The NCAA determined Bolden was a partial academic qualifier, so he can keep his scholarship and practice with the team, but will not be allowed to play in games this season. A UCLA spokesman said the school had exhausted all efforts on behalf of Bolden so there would not be an additional appeal.

UCLA went big in its freshman class, signing 7-foot center Thomas Welsh, 6-10 forward Gyorgy Goloman and 6-9 forward Kevon Looney along with Bolden.

The Bruins lost three of their top four scorers from last season and new players were expected to fill the void in production. Bolden, for example, was to fill a role similar to that of Kyle Anderson, who was 6-9 but was something of a point forward. Anderson was among three UCLA players who declared early for the NBA and were selected in the first round.

In addition to their freshman recruits, UCLA will also have the services of Isaac Hamilton, a 6-4 guard from Bellflower St. John Bosco High who transferred from Texas El Paso.

For more Bruin observations, follow Everett Cook on Twitter @everettcook