Aboya Cleared to Play

For a change, UCLA basketball Coach Ben Howland had good news about injuries Thursday.

Alfred Aboya, the 6-foot-8, 233-pound freshman from Cameroon, has been cleared to practice and sophomore point guard Jordan Farmar’s ankle injury still appears to be a sprain.

Aboya, who had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in July and on the left in October, was expected to practice 50 minutes to an hour the next couple of days, Howland said. Aboya may even play in No. 16-ranked UCLA’s game Sunday against Coppin State at Pauley Pavilion.

“He has no clue where he’s supposed to be on out of bounds plays, on the press offense, on anything,” Howland said of Aboya. “He’s really starting way behind. It’s so much harder to learn by watching than by doing it in practice.”

Farmar was injured during a win over Temple nearly two weeks ago. He played last week in two games of the NIT Season Tip-Off tournament in New York. But when the Bruins returned home, the ankle ached.

Farmar had an MRI exam Monday and was preliminarily diagnosed as having a stress fracture. A second MRI exam Tuesday was negative. He sat out Tuesday’s win over Albany, and said he and his family are pursuing a second opinion.

“I just want to find out exactly what it is and to see what I need to do to get better,” Farmar said.

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-- Diane Pucin