Overview

UCLA's first consensus All-American since Ed O'Bannon in 1995, Afflalo had a tremendous year as a junior. He averaged 16.9 points (third in the Pacific-10), 2.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game while averaging 2.4 3-point field goals per contest (third in the Pac-10) during the 2006-07 season. He decided to skip his senior season and entered the 2007 NBA Draft.

Afflalo leaves UCLA ranking 17th on the career charts in scoring (1,540 points; 14.8 per game) and second all-time in 3-point field goals made (209) and attempted (560).

The right-handed shooter led the Centennial High School Apaches to the school's first-ever Division III California State title in 2004, scoring 24 points, with five rebounds, in a 60-36 win over Oakland Bishop O'Dowd. He averaged 23 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists as a senior, leading the squad to a 32-3 record. He was a starter in the 2004 McDonald's All-American game and was selected to the EA Sports Roundball Classic while adding third-team Parade All-American and USA Today Super 25 honors.

That year, Afflalo was named CalHi Sports All-State, CIF SS Division III-A co-Player of the Year and Los Angeles Times All-Star. He was rated the best shooting guard in the West and the seventh-best player in the nation by Basketball News. As a junior, he competed at the Sixth annual USA Basketball Youth Development Festival at the U. S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, starting two of five games to help lead the West to a bronze medal, as he averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Back at Centennial High, he averaged 26.2 points (he scored 30 or more points seven times, including 42 points vs. Carson at the one-day Pangos Dream Tournament in Pauley Pavilion in January), 5.4 rebounds and five assists, leading the team to a 19-11 record and a share of the Bay League title. He was named the Wooden Award Division III Player of the Year, All-State Cal-Hi Sports, the CIF-SS Division III-A co-Player of the Year and the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year that season.

As a true freshman at UCLA, Afflalo was one of two players to start every game (29). He was named the Bruins' Outstanding Defensive Player, as he averaged 10.8 points (third on the team and ninth on the all-time Bruin freshman list) and led UCLA in 3-point shooting (.386, 39 for 101). He scored a season-high 22 points with nine rebounds vs. Southern California.

The Pac-10 Conference All-Freshman Team selection, Afflalo shared the Seymour Armond Memorial Award as the team's Most Valuable Freshman. In 29 starts, he averaged 31.3 minutes (third on the team), 10.8 points (third on the team, ninth on the all-time Bruin freshman chart), 3.3 rebounds and 2.17 assists (third on the team). He shot .442 (106 for 240) from the field, .386 (tops on the team, 39 for 101) from 3-point range and .708 (63 for 89) from the foul line. He also scored in double figures in five of the last six games and 18 overall, as he led the Bruins in scoring four times.

In 2005-06, Afflalo played in all 39 games, starting 38. He averaged 15.8 points per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the floor and 80.6 percent (129 of 160) from the free-throw line. He averaged 4.2 rebounds per game, hauling in a total of 164, as he also came up with 69 assists, 24 steals and five blocked shots. He registered double-digit points in 34 of 39 contests, including 10 games with 20 or more points and 23 points in UCLA's season-opener against New Mexico State. Afflalo declared for the 2006 NBA Draft after the season, but later withdrew his name.

As a junior, Afflalo was named to the Associated Press All-American first-team, adding All-Pac-10 Conference first-team and EA Sports Maui Invitational All-Tournament Team honors. He averaged 19.3 points per game at the Maui Invitational and led the team while ranking third in the Pac-10 in scoring (16.9 ppg), hitting on 46.1 percent of his field goals (210 of 456), with 87 of 232 3-pointers (37.5 percent) and 101 of 126 free throws (80.6 percent) for a total of 608 points.

Afflalo ranked fourth in the league in 3-pointers made per game and scored in double figures in 30 consecutive games (longest active streak of his career, on the team and in the Pac-10) but scored a career-low three points vs. California in the Pac-10 Tournament. He made at least one 3-pointer in 33 of 36 games and scored 20 or more points 12 times that season, including 27 points in the loss at West Virginia. He added 70 assists with eight blocked shots and 22 steals. He was charged with 66 Personal fouls and had 64 turnovers.

In April, Afflalo entered his name in the 2007 NBA Draft player pool, forfeiting his eligibility, as this was the second time that he announced he was coming out.

"I am here again to announce that I will be entering this upcoming (NBA) draft," Afflalo said. "I called this press conference alongside coach (Ben Howland), not too give reason so much, but to give thanks. It has been a wonderful three years. I have great teammates and I'm going to miss them a lot. But at this point and time, I feel it is time for me to move on. Hopefully the community will support me and understand my decision and understand that this was well thought out. My coach is behind me 100 percent and my father, my mother and my teammates as well."

Afflalo started all 104 games during his UCLA career. He hit 519 of 1,135 field goals (45.7 percent), including 209 of 560 (37.3 percent) from 3-point range and made 293 of 375 free throws for a total of 1,540 points (17th on the Schoolall-time record list), and an average of 14.8 points per game. His 209 3-point shots made rank second in Schoolhistory, topped only by Jason Kapono (317, 2000-03). He collected 360 rebounds (3.5 rpg) and 202 assists (1.9 apg) while coming up with 64 steals and 20 blocked shots. He also had 205 turnovers and 216 Personal fouls.

Scouting Report

Positives: Big, athletic shooting guard with a long wingspan and good leaping ability...Runs the court with good urgency and gets most of his points shooting from mid-range and pull-up jumpers...Likes to have the ball in his hands in pressure situations and will not hesitate to fire the ball consistently from 3-point range (ranks second in Schoolhistory with 209 successful 3-point shots)...Good ball handler who can score from the perimeter and, while he is more of a finesse shooter, he has the leg drive to attack the basket but doesn't seem to like contact...Can finish in transition, especially when going directly at the rim, or can pull up and set his feet to fire a jumper...Has the upper-body strength to box out smaller opponents...Likes to get the ball and fire it playing off screens and can draw contact on the way to the basket, showing a quick release point and good arch on his free throw shooting...Compensates for a lack of blazing speed with good balance moving in the open court...Patient bringing the ball up and has enough crispness on his passes to needle the ball through double teams to an open man...Better shooting from the right side of the court, but can execute a nice fade-away from the left side when pulling up off the dribble...Shows enough lateral agility to free himself up on screens...If he gets a good bead on the ball, he can score on the transition layup, but is better playing the half-court game.

Negatives: Times his leaps well, but can't be considered a great leaper, as he fails to get much elevation going for the rebound...Can be beaten up and down the court by quicker and more-athletic opponents...Lacks aggression as a defender, preferring to take a side rather than face up...Gets into a funk where he will begin to rush his shots and is just adequate when asked to create off the dribble and would then revert to bouncing outside and taking ill-advised 3-point shots...Must get better lift on his perimeter shot...Despite his strength, he doesn't like to create scoring chances by driving to the net (struggles driving to the hoop on isolation plays at times)...Not the most creative talent you will find with the ball in his hands...Has a high crossover and will over-dribble rather than feeding it off...Athletic, but might not have the timed speed to play in an up-tempo, full-court attack.

Compares To: J.R. SMITH, Denver. Afflalo has the size and strength you look for in an NBA shooting guard and displays good mid-range ability, along with a nice touch from 3-point range. For all of his strengths, you would hope that he would drive to the basket more. He is not the best creating his own shot off the dribble and gets out of rhythm when the defense pressures him. He lacks the leaping ability to finish consistently and struggles to get his shot off vs. taller opponents.

High School

Attended Centennial (Compton, Calif.) High School, playing basketball for head coach Rod Palmer...Led the team to the school's first-ever Division III California State title in 2004, scoring 24 points, with five rebounds, in a 60-36 win over Oakland Bishop O'Dowd...Averaged 23 points, 5.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists as a senior, leading the squad to a 32-3 record...Starter in the 2004 McDonald's All-American game and was selected to the EA Sports Roundball Classic while adding third-team Parade All-American and USA Today Super 25 honors...Named CalHi Sports All-State, CIF SS Division III-A co-Player of the Year and Los Angeles Times All-Star...Rated the best shooting guard in the West and the seventh-best player in the nation by Basketball News...Averaged 26.2 points (he scored 30 or more points on seven occasions, including 42 points vs. Carson at the one-day Pangos Dream Tournament in Pauley Pavilion), 5.4 rebounds and five assists, leading the team to a 19-11 record and a share of the Bay League title as a junior...Named the Wooden Award Division III Player of the Year, All-State Cal-Hi Sports, the CIF-SS Division III-A co-Player of the Year and the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year that season...Competed at the Sixth annual USA Basketball Youth Development Festival at the U. S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, starting two of five games to help lead the West to a bronze medal, as he averaged 15.4 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

Personal

Sociology major...On the Athletic Director's Honor Roll for spring 2005...Son of Benjamin Afflalo and Gwendolyn Washington...Born Arron Agustin Afflalo on 10/15/85 at the UCLA Medical Center...Resides in Compton, California.

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