UCLA Basketball has been getting some big commitments for the 2016 and 2017 classes so we decided to take a look at the Bruins in the form of a scholarship chart.
This year’s recruiting class was very important to the future of UCLA basketball. Bringing in four players was key for depth purposes but with that, head coach Steve Alford was also able to snag a few 4-star players, combo guard Aaron Holiday and shooting guard Prince Ali.
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The Bruins were also able to grab two big men that will help with depth more than anything. How they perform is yet to be seen as Alex Olesinski and JC transfer Ikenna Okwarabizie were a bit unknown at the time of their commitments. Combine that with talent of Jonah Bolden (who sat out due to eligibility reasons), might be a redshirt one and done, and that is a solid freshmen class for the 2015-16 season.
But let us not forget that leading next season’s charge will be six players that have experience playing for the Bruins, Noah Allen, Gyorgy Goloman, Thomas Welsh, Bryce Alford, Isaac Hamilton and Tony Parker, (the last three are returning starters). So that is 11 players right there, the most Steve Alford has had to work with, but how does it look going forward?
Let us see by taking a look at the current roster and future commits in our scholarship chart:
Looking at the next four years on the chart, with the graduation of Tony Parker, the addition of Lonzo Ball, Kobe Parras and Ike Anigbogu (Ball and Anigbogu recently made the Scout Top 100) and barring no other early jumps to the NBA, the Bruins will be at the limit of 13 scholarships. So that is great news.
Mar 19, 2015; Louisville, KY, USA; Southern Methodist Mustangs center Yanick Moreira (2) drives against UCLA Bruins forward Tony Parker (23) and UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at KFC Yum! Center. Mandatory Credit: Jamie Rhodes-USA TODAY Sports
*Sidenote* Speaking of jumping early to the NBA after the 2015-16 season, the likely candidates to leave early would be Jonah Bolden as a maybe, Bryce Alford as a long shot and Aaron Holiday and Prince Ali as one-and-dones, but also long shots. Still, this ultimately depends on how they play this winter.
Moving down to the next four years, UCLA basketball is set in 2017 with 2 commits keeping them at the 13 scholarship limit (barring no other players leaving early or transferring). With Hamilton, Alford and Allen out of eligibility, UCLA would then have room for three more scholarships the season after.
At that point, the Bruins may want to start recruiting far and wide once more because soon Steve Alford is going to have to plan for the loss of Hamilton, Goloman and Welsh and then this year’s five freshmen to departing the year after.
Though it is years away, the recruiting game does not stop for no team. Right now things are good and Alford has done a fine job getting in big recruits so if he keeps this up, things should continue to look good for UCLA Basketball recruiting.
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