Hollins to Weigh the Issues

When the Bruins are busy in the weight room this spring, will center Ryan Hollins be taking a flying leap instead?

That won’t be answered until Hollins decides whether to again join the UCLA track and field team and compete in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. The 7-foot sophomore has a personal best of 7 feet 1/4 inch in the high jump, his best event.

Coach Ben Howland will allow Hollins to compete in track and field, holding to a promise former coach Steve Lavin made when he recruited Hollins, a transfer from Saint Louis.

But Howland has made it clear that he believes the 214-pound post player must add muscle to achieve his potential on the court. Hollins averages 6.4 points and 4.4 rebounds.

“I would hope he would be dedicated to the weight room,” Howland said. “That’s as significant for him as anything in improving his game. I don’t think [track and field] is in his best interest as a basketball player.”

Track and field experts have said that Hollins could be a national-caliber high jumper if he dedicated himself to that sport. Basketball experts have said he could become an NBA prospect if he gained strength and dedicated himself to that sport.

However, the consensus is that it would be difficult for him to reach his potential in either sport as long as he plays both. Hollins said he won’t decide until after basketball season.

“Ultimately, it’s his decision,” Howland said.

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TODAY

at Oregon, 1 p.m., Channel 2

Site -- McArthur Court.

Radio -- XTRA 1150/690.

Records -- UCLA 11-15 overall, 7-10 in Pacific 10; Oregon 13-11, 8-9

Update -- Bruin forward Dijon Thompson is coming off a season-high 25-point performance against Oregon State, but most of his teammates are struggling. Freshman forward Trevor Ariza, the team’s most consistent player, has a chest cold after spending last weekend in Las Vegas. Ariza, who missed games early in the season because of a collapsed lung, will play. In an 81-74 victory over Oregon on Jan. 4, UCLA shot 52.9% and seven players scored between eight and 13 points. Such balance is a distant memory. Duck forward Luke Jackson scored 28 points in that game and averages 21.6.