Matt L. Stephens

matthewstephens@coloradoan.com

Former CSU point guard Jon Octeus will be transferring to UCLA for his final season of NCAA eligibility.

In a text message to The Coloradoan on Friday afternoon, Octeus said, "I will be a Bruin next season." He's currently visiting the campus in Los Angeles.

Octeus, 6-foot-4, 170 pounds, is expected to graduate from Colorado State University this fall and will be immediately eligible to play for Steve Alford at UCLA in 2014-15. As a junior last season, he started all 32 games for the Rams (16-16), averaging 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists. His best individual performance came at No. 15 Gonzaga on Nov. 11 when he scored 27 points with three rebounds.

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He would have been the Rams' starter again as a senior, but sophomore John Gillon, a transfer from Arkansas-Little Rock, is expected to take his place.

UCLA was in desperate need of veterans guards for the upcoming season. After being eliminated by Florida in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament, the Bruins (28-9) saw three guards — Kyle Anderson, Zach LaVine and Jordan Adams — get selected in the first round of Thursday's NBA draft. They were three of UCLA's top four scorers.

It's not clear whether Octeus will play a shooting or point guard at UCLA. He played the point for the Rams last year, but could fit nicely into either position.

Octeus was CSU coach Larry Eustachy's first recruit after taking the job over from Tim Miles in 2012, signing the athletic guard out of Wabash Valley College in Mt. Carmel, Illinois.

Follow reporter Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facbeook.com/stephensreporting.