"This new basketball practice facility will help ensure that our future is every bit as spectacular as our past.”
- Dan Guerrero
Mo Ostin Basketball Center Officially Opens
OCT 26, 2017
Donors, special guests and members of the UCLA men's and women's basketball programs gathered Thursday evening to celebrate the grand opening of the Mo Ostin Basketball Center, a new, state-of-the-art practice facility for the two basketball teams.
Participating in the official ribbon-cutting ceremony were Chancellor Gene Block, Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero, Head Men's Basketball Coach Steve Alford, Head Women's Basketball Coach Cori Close, Mo Ostin, Ann Meyers Drysdale, Nan Wooden and representing Russell and Nina Westbrook, his parents, Russell and Shannon Westbrook.
ABOUT
The new Mo Ostin Basketball Center is a comprehensive basketball practice facility located near Pauley Pavilion. Highlights of the new building design include:
- State-Of-The-Art basketball practice facility dedicated to honoring current and former UCLA Basketball student-athletes
- Practice gyms for both men's and women's programs
- Locker rooms for both men's and women's basketball programs
- Men's and women's basketball training area
- Exclusive use for both men's and women's basketball programs and their student-athletes
THE BENEFITS
- While Pauley Pavilion is one of the premier venues in the entire country, it is a shared-use facility. Five athletic teams, campus recreation as well as private and public events all vie for access. A dedicated basketball practice facility gives more flexibility to everyone utilizing Pauley Pavilion, ultimately allowing our student-athletes to enjoy more consistent schedules both academically and athletically.
- With NCAA college basketball deregulation allowing student-athletes significantly more time to dedicate towards athletic improvement, it is important to have space available to them. Student-athletes will have exclusive access to state-of-the-art, basketball specific equipment and training. They will be able to practice, train and get treatment all in one location dedicated specifically to men's and women's basketball.
- Such improvements will drive recruiting and retention of both student-athletes and coaches. Building on UCLA Basketball's unparalleled success in the past, the planned construction will raise the caliber of the basketball program's operational structure to match that of the student-athletes and individuals who support, train and lead them.
- The list of UCLA basketball alumni is a who’s who of the greatest names to ever play the game. Being able to keep these former student-athletes connected with their university and offering a state-of-the-art facility for them to train alongside current Bruins in the offseason is another way to continue and further grow the legacy of basketball greatness at UCLA.
This project ultimately benefits several athletic programs, the UCLA student body, campus recreation and the university as a whole. With the support of UCLA Basketball Alumni, Fans and Friends alike, the future of UCLA Basketball will be as prominent as its past.
Cori Close
“The UCLA brand is second to none, and this practice facility will further help us sustain excellence and national prominence. We have so much to offer here at UCLA. Pauley Pavilion is one of the best basketball facilities in the country, and we’re continually getting some of the best talent from around the nation to call Westwood home. This practice facility is going to give us the infrastructure to even better develop our talented student-athletes and will ultimately serve as a tremendous recruiting advantage that helps us secure a top-five recruiting class year in and year out.”