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UCLA Basketball: Freshman TJ Leaf Declares for the NBA Draft

By Mike Regalado

Feb 9, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) celebrates during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Pauley Pavilion. The UCLA Bruins won 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 9, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins forward TJ Leaf (22) celebrates during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Pauley Pavilion. The UCLA Bruins won 82-79. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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As expected, UCLA Basketball freshman phenom power forward TJ Leaf has declared for the NBA Draft.

The UCLA Basketball team had one player heading to the NBA Draft, but today that has increased to two as PF TJ Leaf will forego the rest of his eligibility and declare for the 2017 NBA Draft.

Leaf was an instrumental part of the Bruins’ success this season, helping them to be one of the best scoring and shot percentage teams in the nation.

It was known that Leaf would be a big addition to the team, but what he would accomplish was beyond what most Bruins fans expected.

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Leaf led the team in scoring (often sharing that role with Bryce Alford) with 16.3 points per game. He also added 8.2 rebounds and shot .617 from the field and .466 from behind the arc.

Along with another NBA Draft-bound Bruin , Lonzo Ball, Leaf helped bring UCLA back from obscurity as they posted a 31-5 record, went from 10th to 3rd in the Pac-12 Conference and not only returned to the NCAA Tournament, but made it to the Sweet 16.

After UCLA’s loss to Kentucky in the Big Dance, Leaf said that he would talk to his family before making a decision on entering the NBA Draft. The Leafs have apparently come to the decision that most knew would occur.

Leaf has been projected to be a first round selection, but there are many Draft experts that have him as a potential lottery pick.

Next: UCLA Basketball Among the Top 5 in the AP All-Time Poll

Though most Bruin fans would love to see Leaf in Westwood for another year, he should do well developing into a solid stretch 4 in the Association. Congratulations and thank you, TJ! Go Bruins!