Ben Howland is expected to go outside the box with his latest hire.

Sources told FOXSports.com that the UCLA head coach is on the verge of replacing assistant Scott Duncan, who left to go with long-time friend Larry Shyatt to Wyoming, with Korey McCray.

McCray has helped run the Atlanta Celtics program for the last few years along with Hulio Smith – and he also worked out a pair of former top draft picks: Dwight Howard and John Wall.

McCray played at Mercer and later coached at the school. He was also an assistant at Chipola Junior College.

Look for this move to give Howland the inside track into players from a loaded Atlanta Celtics program that consistently produces NBA players (ie. Dwight Howard, Josh Smith, Javaris Crittenton, Derrick Favors, Trey Thompkins, Chris Singleton).

Don’t be shocked to see UCLA get involved with Atlanta-area players in the future.