Prep basketball star Shabazz Muhammad chooses UCLA Top prep prospect Shabazz Muhammad announced Wednesday that he would become a Bruin, immeasurably boosting the $136-million makeover of the team's arena that will be unveiled next season. The 6-foot-5 swingman from Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, widely considered one of the top two prep seniors in the country, made his announcement in a nationally televised recruiting special on the first day of the spring signing period. Muhammad, the son of former USC player Ron Holmes, ended months of suspense by picking UCLA over Kentucky and Duke, saying on the ESPNU broadcast that the Bruins' recent struggles were among the deciding factors in his decision. Recruiting analysts said Muhammad's decision gives the Bruins one of the top recruiting classes in the country and could immediately reverse the fortunes of a team that has missed the NCAA tournament two of the last three years. UCLA could add another player to its spring class if highly touted big man Tony Parker opts to become a Bruin; the 6-8 center from Miller Grove High in Lithonia, Ga., is deciding among UCLA, Kansas, Duke, Ohio State, Memphis and Georgia. The Bruins already have received signed letters of intent from Kyle Anderson, a 6-8 point guard from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony, and Jordan Adams, a 6-5 shooting guard from Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Nerlens Noel, a 6-11 center who supplanted Muhammad as the top-ranked recruit in the Class of 2012 after recently reclassifying as a senior, said he would attend Kentucky by swiveling in a chair to show "UK" shaved in the hair on the back of his neck. Kentucky won the national championship last week largely with a core of three freshman starters. "Everybody in Westwood, L.A., California, get ready for a really good season, a really exciting season," Muhammad said after his announcement, "and hopefully we can sell out Pauley."