Local Coach Defends UCLA’s Steven Jamerson in Viral Post

UCLA men’s basketball head coach Mick Cronin recently made headlines after ejecting player Steven Jamerson from a game against Michigan State. The incident occurred during UCLA’s loss, with the team trailing 77-50 and just over four minutes left on the clock.

Key Events of the Game

During the match, Jamerson attempted to block a dunk by Michigan State’s Carson Cooper. Although he seemed to have good intentions, the officials deemed the action a flagrant foul. In response, Cronin decided to send Jamerson to the locker room immediately—an unusual move that quickly went viral on social media.

Coaches’ Reactions

• Mick Cronin expressed disappointment over Jamerson’s actions, stating, “You don’t do that in a 25-point game.”
• Michigan State’s coach Tom Izzo commented sarcastically, noting it was unusual to see a coach eject his own player.

Social Media Response

Ryan Moore, a local high school coach and Crespi High alum, posted a heartfelt message about Jamerson on Twitter/X. His post highlighted Jamerson’s difficult journey in basketball, mentioning that he was previously rejected from Michigan State.

Moore wrote, “The kid worked his tail off to play at USD eventually transferring to UCLA. Mick owed the kid more respect than that back at a place that holds those hard memories for Steven.” His post quickly gained traction, amassing nearly 300,000 views.

Prominent college basketball analyst Seth Davis also weighed in, stating that Cronin’s actions were harsh given Jamerson’s background. Davis highlighted that Jamerson’s foul had already been correctly classified as a flagrant 1.

About Steven Jamerson

Jamerson, a 6-foot-10 forward, previously played for the University of San Diego, where he averaged 8.0 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 0.8 assists over 71 games. He has appeared in 26 games for UCLA this season, averaging 11.3 minutes, with 2.2 points and 2.4 rebounds per game.