Jon Octeus is set to give UCLA a big lift this season in an area of need and is ready to shake-up the PAC 12 and Bruins opponents.
Octeus has arrived in Los Angeles to wreak havoc. On the basketball court, that is, and wearing the blue and gold of the legendary UCLA Bruins. Octeus. Jon Octeus. With a name straight out of the iconography of Ian Fleming, one can imagine the apprehensive feeling that will overcome opposing teams this year when they meet the Bruins. Jon Octeus is a very good basketball player whose star may still have further to rise.
Reputedly, UCLA was able to overcome the charms of both Missouri and Cincinnati in getting the commitment from Octeus. He will have graduated and is taking advantage of the NCAA’s rules concerning transferring for graduate school. So not only is he a good player, he is a good student as well.
Octeus has stated that he wanted to see if he could play at a higher level. I am always impressed by guys who transfer up. It is usually a good sign that the new team is getting some real help. And that is not to say anything against the Mountain West which is definitely a tough basketball loop or Colorado State which has definitely had their moments under Larry Eustachy. Octeus has said he wants to play pro basketball and this is a business move. Well, he is pretty up front about it. I like this upwardly mobile attitude.
Check out this article for more on the CSU perspective http://www.coloradoan.com/story/sports/csu/mens-basketball/2014/07/08/jon-octeus-sets-record-straight-leaving-csu-ucla/12378775/
Octeus served notice in the 2013 NCAA tournament first round game against Missouri that he was a player to be reckoned with by coming off the bench to score 12 points and grab 6 rebounds in 24 minutes. In that game he sparked the Rams and looked like he had the most juice of any player in the game. It was curious, though, because he had not done that much during the season. It was his best game of the year. Nothing against saving the best for last.
In 2013-2014 he picked up right where he left off and had a standout season for the Rams. He averaged 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game. He shot 35.5 percent from three point land and 75.7 percent from the charity stripe. He averaged 33.6 minutes per game, tied for second highest on the team.
It would appear that the Bruins and Steve Alford made a very good pick-up in an area of need here. That area of need was guards. Octeus plays with a ton of energy and juice. A look at his stats reveals he excels in the statistical categories. And he has the right mindset for success. The 6’4″, 170 pound, Miramar, Florida, native wants to make all the right moves. So far he has. Stay tuned to UCLA for the next installment. Octeus is at large in Westwood. As James Bond might say, “Shaken not stirred.”