Matt L. Stephens

matthewstephens@coloradoan.com

Former CSU point guard Jon Octeus has been denied admission to UCLA, as grades prevented him from getting into graduate school, sources close to the situation told the Coloradoan.

Octeus had planned to transfer to UCLA for his final season of NCAA eligibility this season and was expected to be the Bruins' starting point guard. As a junior at Colorado State University in 2013-14, he averaged 13.4 points, 4.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game, helping the Rams to a 16-16 season.

UCLA doesn't begin fall classes until Sept. 29.

What his next course of action is remains unclear, but CSU doesn't have a scholarship available for him. The Rams recruited transfers Antwan Scott (Idaho/Grambling State) and Fred Richardson (Oregon/Lee College) to help replace Octeus. The team is at the NCAA men's basketball scholarship limit of 13.

Octeus, 6-foot-4, 170 pounds, had taken official visits to Missouri and Cincinnati and had been recruited by Tennessee before he committed to UCLA. Oregon also could be in the mix. He graduated over the summer and would be immediately eligible to play next season, wherever he lands.

He had told the Coloradoan in July that he was leaving CSU for UCLA because he felt the Bruins and the exposure of the Pacific-12 Conference would give him a better opportunity to reach the NBA, calling it "a business decision." Octeus had been working on former CSU athletic director Jack Graham's ranch helping tend horses so he could afford the move from Fort Collins to Los Angeles.

The Coloradoan was not able to immediately reach Octeus for comment. He did post on his Twitter account Sunday night, @Imjusahooper, "And life goes on …"

CSU's sports information department said it "respectfully declined the request for comment" from Rams' players. CSU coaches were not permitted to comment on the situation.

Follow sports columnist Matt L. Stephens at twitter.com/mattstephens and facebook.com/stephensreporting.