It certainly won't improve the Bruins losing their third-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder, but it's not the crushing blow some are calling it either.
Although Honeycutt is a likely first-round pick because scouts are tantalized by his long 6-foot-8 frame and sound mechanics on his jump shot, he never came close to achieving his potential at UCLA. He defended intermittently, he committed more turnovers than any player on the team and he shot only 40.6 percent from the field and rarely got to the rim.
There's no doubt Honeycutt might have made another huge leap had he stayed in college for one more season, but his departure doesn't really change UCLA's strengths and weaknesses going into next season.
UCLA will still have the Pac-10's best frontcourt and best perimeter defense assuming everyone else on the roster returns. And the Bruins' biggest question marks will still be point guards Jerime Anderson and Lazeric Jones and the backcourt's lack of consistent outside shooting.
While losing Honeycutt will deprive UCLA of its second-best 3-point shooter on a team that didn't have a single player shoot 38 percent from behind the arc, the players behind him in the rotation are better defenders than he is. More playing time for Tyler Lamb will give UCLA another perimeter stopper alongside Malcolm Lee, while incoming freshman Norman Powell is another athletic wing who likely will make an immediate impact defensively.
In the past, the early exits of future pros Russell Westbrook, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Jrue Holiday crippled the UCLA program because it was ill-prepared to move on without them.
UCLA probably can't hope to win the Pac-10 if either Reeves Nelson or Lee follow Honeycutt out the door, but for now, the Bruins still look like contenders.
Amanda Bynes Ana Ivanovi Jessica Cauffiel Emmanuelle Vaugier Sarah Silverman
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