UCLA Basketball: 5 Bold Predictions for the 2017-18 Season

Mar 19, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins center Thomas Welsh (40) grabs a rebound and dunks the ball against Cincinnati Bearcats forward Kyle Washington (24) during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports /

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Mar 19, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Lonzo Ball (2) and forward TJ Leaf (22) celebrate the win over the Cincinnati Bearcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

2. The 2017 Recruits Will Be Collectively Better Than The 2016 Class

Lonzo Ball is an amazing player that did it all and made everyone around him better. TJ Leaf was a scoring machine down low and adapted very well to the college game. Ike Anigbogu was a defensive presence that continues to develop. A good group, but UCLA will have a better one next year.

Next season, the Bruins add six freshman (though none of them will be as generational as Lonzo Ball) and should collectively have a bigger impact than the 2016 class.

Ball, Leaf and Anigbogu were difference makers for the Bruins this season as they went from a 15-17 team, to a 31-5 team, but it gets even better next year.

With quality becoming a quantity next season, the Bruins will not only have one of their deepest squads in the Steve Alford era, but their rotation should keep players fresh, as well as give UCLA plenty of arsenal to go against any and all opponents next season.

Three players made a big difference this past season and next year, the six new Bruins will continue that trend, which will lead to…