UCLA basketball: Matt Carlino will transfer

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In a decision that further depletes UCLA’s depth, freshman shooting guard Matt Carlino has announced that he will transfer at the end of the quarter, Coach Ben Howland said Friday. His departure will leave the Bruins with nine available scholarship players.

‘I’m obviously disappointed because it leaves us short-handed,’ Howland said.

Carlino had not played this season after sustaining a concussion in practice Nov. 8. He was only cleared to play prior to UCLA’s game against Kansas on Dec. 1, but Howland did not feel comfortable letting Carlino make his college debut on the road against the fourth-ranked Jayhawks.

Howland said he regretted not letting Carlino play during the Bruins’ 66-57 loss to Montana on Sunday.

‘I probably should have played him in the Montana game and we might not be having this discussion,’ Howland said.

But Carlino didn’t play, and his father, Mark, came to campus this week to meet with Howland. Carlino graduated a year early from Bloomington (Ind.) High to enroll at UCLA. He averaged 13.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 4.3 assists in his final high school season.

In better news for the Bruins, Howland also said that sophomore shooting guard Malcolm Lee should be able to play against Cal Poly on Saturday at Pauley Pavilion even though Lee tweaked his previously sprained ankle in practice Thursday and is suffering from patellar tendinitis after hurting his knee against Montana.

-- Ben Bolch