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UCLA Basketball: Projecting the 2017-18 Depth Chart

By Mike Regalado

Mar 19, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford reacts late in game against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Tournament at Golden 1 Center. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2017; Sacramento, CA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Steve Alford reacts late in game against the Cincinnati Bearcats 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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Go Joe Bruin looks at the potential depth chart for the UCLA Basketball team heading into 2017 with the return of Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday.

The UCLA Basketball team has stabilized after their Sweet 16 exit from the 2017 NCAA Tournament which — immediately after their final game — began the exit of five players due to graduation and entree into the NBA Draft.

Thomas Welsh and Aaron Holiday were also testing the draft waters, which meant seven total players could have left. Luckily, both players return and the settling of the roster has begun.

So with the future of the 2017-18 Bruins configured, Go Joe Bruin looks at what the possible depth chart could look like.

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 /

Projected 2017-18 UCLA Basketball Depth Chart

1/PG: Aaron Holiday

2/SG: Jaylen Hands – Prince Ali

3/SF: Kris Wilkes – LiAngelo Ball – Chris Smith

4/PF: Cody Riley – Gyorgy Goloman – Alex Olesinski

5/C: Thomas Welsh – Jalen Hill – Ikenna Okwarabizie

Related Story: Welsh to return for his senior season

With Welsh and Holiday back, the Bruins have two starters for next season set. Both bring upperclassmen leadership as well as bridge the gap from last season’s uptempo team to next year’s uptempo team.

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The big question some Bruin fans may be asking is, “how will that work with an excellent point guard like Jaylen Hands coming in the fall?” It is a concern, but not an issue.  With two ball handlers starting, UCLA has the potential to not only continue to play up-tempo but really create a lot of offense with the distributing that both Holiday and Hands will bring to the team.

The two other starting spots will be filled by freshmen. The Bruins have six players coming in the fall which consists of two 5-stars, two 4-stars and two 3-stars, so there will be a lot of talent next season.

Wilkes is an incredible athlete and should start at small forward with fellow freshman Cody RIley who looks to repalce TJ Leaf without skipping a beat. Both can score and make their presence known around the rim. This starting lineup could actually be more athletic than last season’s and the good thing about that is that their bench will be even deeper.

Realistically, it seems that Ali, Ball, Goloman and Hill will be the players that get the most minutes off the bench. Ali is returning from an injury he suffered a year ago. The Bruins will need his speed and agility to stay uptempo.

Ball should get decent minutes at the small forward position, but could also see him slide down to the 2 spot on occasion. Goloman should play the same role as he did last season and back up the big men. Hill will be a defensive replacement for Welsh off the bench, similar to Ike Anigbogu.

Next: Aaron Holiday is returning next season

We still have several months before the next season, so the new Bruins will have plenty of time to mesh with the current roster. Helping that transition, as stated before, will be Holiday and Welsh. Those two Bruins will mean a lot to this team in 2017-18 so it is was fantastic news that they would stay in school.