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Ben Howland’s 2003-2004 UCLA men’s basketball team is beginning to take shape.

Sean Phaler isn’t – and in a meeting Tuesday with Phaler and members of his family, Howland told the Villa Park High phenom that he might have to look to other schools if he wants playing time in Division I.

“He’s a great kid with a great attitude, but I just don’t see him fitting the direction that our program is going,” Howland said. “He’s 6-8, 175 pounds, so defensively he’s going to have a hard time matching up.”

Phaler signed his National Letter of Intent in November and has been tendered a scholarship by UCLA. That was when Internet recruiting sites listed the forward as 6-feet-9-inches and 165 pounds.

Since then it’s become clear to Howland that Phaler will not develop into the kind of physically dominant player that have led Howland’s teams in the past.

“We will certainly honor the scholarship, but I wanted to be honest with him and make it clear he would not get a lot of playing time here,” Howland said.

“There were a lot of great schools recruiting him. We’re going to give him all the time he needs to make a decision.”

Speaking from Villa Park on Thursday morning, Phaler sounded like he was going to take his time.

“I hope to stay with UCLA,” he said; as far as where else he might want to play, he said, “I have no clue.”

Washington and Indiana were two of the schools interested in Phaler last fall, but then-head coach Steve Lavin convinced Phaler to stay close to home.

If those or any other programs are still interested in adding a “tweener,” as Phaler has described himself, UCLA will allow Phaler to opt out of his scholarship.

Should Phaler choose to leave UCLA, there would be two vacant scholarships; the other was created when Andre Patterson was dismissed by the university.

Should he choose to stay, Phaler might have a hard time fitting in.

“(Howland’s) system is, four is 250 pounds and three is an athletic guy,” Phaler said. “I’m not a 250-pound four or an athletic three.”

With contributions from Jeff Eisenberg, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.