The UCLA Basketball team will potentially get a lot thinner as Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh have decided to enter the NBA Draft, though will do so without an agent.
The UCLA Basketball team is going to have a very different look next season, especially since the Bruins’ top seven scorers from last season will potentially leave the team.
This morning it was announced that both sophomore point guard Aaron Holiday and junior center Thomas Welsh are expected to try their luck in the NBA Draft, though will not hire agents. This gives both players the chance to return to the Bruins if they do not get favorable analysis of their draft stock.
Last week, freshman center Ike Anigbogu announced that he will also test the waters of the NBA Draft, but like Holiday and Welsh, will also refrain from hiring an agent, also leaving the door open for a return.
UCLA's Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh will enter the 2017 NBA Draft, but won't hire an agent, per multiple sources.
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) April 10, 2017
The Bruins also lose freshmen Lonzo Ball (who has hired an agent) and TJ Leaf, both of who are expected to be first round draft picks and possible lottery picks.
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On top of that, UCLA has also lost seniors Bryce Alford and Isaac Hamilton who will graduate. No word is either will put their name in the NBA Draft.
Though this is a positive step for Holiday and Welsh, it leaves a massive hole with the Bruins who will potentially lose 98.3% of their scoring from he 2016-17 season.
With Ball, Leaf, Alford and Hamilton leaving, Holiday and Welsh were expected to be the leaders for next season, automatically claiming starting roles. Next season, the lineups are going to be very different with Gyorgy Goloman, Prince Ali, Ikenna Okwarabizie and Alex Olesinki as they only returners that will vie for playing time with six in-coming freshmen, two of which are 5-star rated and expected to start.
Though it is a questionable move, both Holiday and Welsh have the talent to compete at the next level. Holiday was fourth in scoring coming off the bench with 12.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. Welsh significantly improved his shooting to average 10.8 points while also leading the team in rebounds with 8.7.
Though we will miss them, we saw good luck Holiday and Welsh!