The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

OFFICIALLY granted an NCAA transfer waiver last week, an ailing knee injury is the only obstacle left in Wannah Bail’s path to a 2013 debut for the UCLA Bruins.

The 6’ 10” 210 pound forward was granted full eligibility on October 15 following a lengthy process which spanned nearly five months.

“We are grateful that this matter has come to a conclusion and are very happy for Wannah,” head coach Steve Alford said in a press release courtesy of UCLA Athletics. “I know that Wannah is excited to get on the floor with his teammates, and we’re all looking forward to him beginning his collegiate career at UCLA this season.”

Bail signed a financial aid agreement in June, officially declaring his intent to join the Bruins, nearly a year after he abruptly left Texas Tech.

Shortly thereafter, Bail underwent surgery to repair torn cartilage on his knee on June 28 and was originally given a four-month schedule timeline for a return to the court. He has yet to be cleared to return to practice.

UCLA opens its regular season on Friday, November 8, at home against Drexel University.

Following a pre-season practice session earlier this month, Alford expressed his optimism in Bail’s return to the court. “He hasn’t done a lot since he joined our family because of the injury,” Alford said. “We obviously know about him because we saw him play in high school and those types of things, and he adds to our inside. That’s where we have some concerns. We just aren’t that deep on the front court because you’ve got the Wear twins and then Tony, and Wannah would really help with the depth of our front court. Very athletic. Very good presence. He can play mostly inside, but he can go to the perimeter and play. He gives you a big man like the Wear twins who is a little more versatile.”

The versatile Bail was one of the top frontcourt prospects out of the state of Texas for the class of 2012 and eventually decided on Texas Tech, but has yet to suit up for an NCAA contest.

In his senior year at Lamar Consolidated High School in Rosenberg, Texas, he posted 18.5 points and 12 rebounds per game and was named All-District 23-4A’s Most Valuable Player.