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Top recruit Kyle Anderson addresses commitment, state of UCLA

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UCLA scored the most coveted East Coast recruiting prize this fall, when 6-8 point guard Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony (Nj.) signed his name on the dotted line and pledged to play for the Bruins in 2012-13.

Then the storm hit Westwood.

The Bruins started 2-5 and didn’t beat a Division I team until November 28th. The biggest returning piece from last season, Reeves Nelson, was suspended twice, then dismissed from the team.

Questions were raised about what appeared to be another rift between head coach Ben Howland and a star player.

The pendulum has swung back to favorability for the Bruins, of late, having won five in a row, and more good news: Anderson says he is fully behind his future team and coach.

“No, no,” he told NBCSports.com, regarding speculation that UCLA’s season has swayed his decision away from Howland and the Bruins. “I’m still ready to get there in the fall, next year, and we’re looking to roll as a team.”

Anderson leads a top 10 national program at St. Anthony and is one of the most unique players in the country.

He could play more of a point-forward position in college, but his mature passing skills and superb court vision will make him an offensive threat, wherever Howland puts him.

“[Coach Howland] likes his point guards and UCLA is very point guard-oriented,” said Anderson. “I like that.”

Anderson joins Oak Hill’s Jordan Adams as the two players signed to the Bruins from the Class of 2012, while they continue to pursue coveted prospects Tony Parker, the big man from Miller Grove (Ga.), and Shabazz Muhammad, the nation’s number one player.