After finishing with their worst Pac-12 record in more than a decade, the UCLA basketball program needs a big bounce back season. Check great college basketball odds at BetPhoenix.
UCLA BRUINS
Last Season: 10th, 6-12 in Pac-10, 15-17 overall
Predicted Pac-12 Finish: 4th
Projected Depth Chart
C: Thomas Welsh (Jr)/Ike Anigbogu (Fr)/Ikenna Okwarabizie (Jr)
PF: T.J. Leaf (Fr)/Gyorgy Goloman (Jr)/Alex Olesinski (So)
SG: Isaac Hamilton (Jr)/Prince Ali (So)
G: Lonzo Ball (Fr)/Aaron Holiday (So)
PG: Bryce Alford (Jr)
Gone: C-Tony Parker, C-Jonah Bolden, G/F-Noah Allen (transfer-Hawaii)
UCLA Basketball Strengths:
UCLA returns their three starting guards from a year ago in Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton, and Aaron Holiday who combined to average more than 43 points and 12 assists per game. Add in one of the top recruits in the country, 6-5 point guard Lonzo Ball, along with reserve shooting guard and former top 100 recruit Prince Ali, and the Bruins have incredible skill and depth in their backcourt.
Steve Alford faces the challenge of keeping all of those guys happy and finding enough minutes for all five players.
Question Marks:
Loaded with talent at guard, UCLA needs to find some stability in their frontcourt to reach their full potential. Seven-footer Thomas Walsh looks to build off a solid sophomore season while a couple newcomers should make a major impact as well. McDonald’s All-American T.J. Leaf is a skilled face-up four who should add a different dimension to the Bruin lineup. Ike Anigbogu and JUCO transfer Ikenna Okwarabizie bring some needed physicality and muscle down low, something Welsh and Leaf don’t possess.
UCLA basketball Player to Watch:
With great size and length for the point guard position, Ball was considered by many as the best distributor in the 2016 class. His ability to see the floor and create for his teammates should be a welcomed addition on this UCLA team. Alford, Hamilton, and Holiday are all solid three-point shooters and they should benefit from Ball driving and kicking out to the open teammate. Enjoy his one year with the Bruins since Ball should be lottery pick in the 2017 NBA Draft.
X-Factor:
Leaf has a tremendous skillset for a 6-10 freshman. He is mobile, athletic, handles the ball well for his size, and can stretch defenses with his outside shooting. Once he adds muscle to his thin frame, he should become a real force out west.
Looking Ahead to 2017-18:
Alford has already secured three top 100 recruits for the 2017 class in point guard Jaylen Hands and post players Cody Riley and Jalen Hill. UCLA will also add Lonzo Ball’s little brother, Li Angelo who plays on the wing. With no seniors on the roster, the Bruins are built for success moving forward.
Key Non-Conference Games:
11/20 vs. Long Beach State
11/24 vs. Portland (Wooden Legacy)
11/25 vs. Dayton/Nebraska (Wooden Legacy)
11/24 vs. Texas A&M/CS-Northridge/New Mexico/Virginia Tech (Wooden Legacy)
12/3 at Kentucky
12/10 vs. Michigan
12/17 vs. Ohio State (in Las Vegas)
David Kay is a senior feature NBA Draft, NBA, and college basketball writer for the Sports Bank. He also heads up the NBA and college basketball material at Walter Football.com and is a former contributor at The Washington Times Communities. David has appeared on numerous national radio programs spanning from Cleveland to New Orleans to Milwaukee to Honolulu. He also had the most accurate 2011 NBA Mock Draft and the most accurate 2012 NBA Mock Draft on the internet (Yup, repeat champ… #humblebrag), and finished with the second most accurate 2013 NBA Mock Draft (nearly a three-peat.) You can follow him on Twitter at David_Kmiecik.