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UCLA Basketball: Welsh, Holiday have 2 days to decide to return

By Mike Regalado

January 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Aaron Holiday (3) moves the ball as center Thomas Welsh (40) and Stanford Cardinal forward Michael Humphrey (10) and center Josh Sharma (20) trail during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 8, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Aaron Holiday (3) moves the ball as center Thomas Welsh (40) and Stanford Cardinal forward Michael Humphrey (10) and center Josh Sharma (20) trail during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday have put their names in the NBA Draft and have until May 24 to decide to return to the UCLA Basketball team, which might be the best option.

The UCLA Baketball team will be without all three of their freshman from last season who have all hired agents and put their names in the NBA Draft.

On top of that, the Bruins lose seniors Isaac Hamilton and Bryce Alford.  UCLA could also lose two more as Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday have also put their names in the NBA Draft.

Both Welsh and Holiday have the next two days to make one of the biggest decisions in their lives: remain in the NBA draft or return to Westwood.

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Clearly, UCLA Basketball fans would like to see both of these players return for one more season, mostly because it will help with continuity going into the 2017-18 season as they already lose five players.

Though both have skills that would help out moat NBA teams, currently, there are not a lot of scouts projecting them to get selected in the two-round NBA draft.

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If Welsh returns, he will be the senior leader and retain his starting spot.  In the last two seasons he has exceedingly improved his mid-range shot and has a killer baseline jumper. But as a 7-foot center, he needs to bulk up and try to be a powerful interior presence, both on the offensive and defensive end.

Holiday also possesses a lot of skill, especially as a defensive player, which the Bruins were short on the last two seasons. Although he would be able to handle UCLA’s up-tempo style of play, and he needs to clean up his turnovers.

Both Welsh and Holiday should have no problem improving their game, especially when both get to the association, but right now, it does not seem that there are not a lot of teams putting them on their draft boards.

Several well respected mock NBA Drafts have Lonzo Ball, TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu in the first round. Unfortunately Welsh and Holiday don’t even appear in the second round mocks.

With this, it is in this writer’s opinion that both Welsh and Holiday should return to the UCLA Basketball team next year. Not only can they improve their draft stock for the 2018 NBA Draft, but can help UCLA remain one of the top teams in the nation.

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Still, whatever choice they make will most likely be supported by the entire UCLA fan base. Good luck, gentlemen.