Bruin Report Online, a trusted source on UCLA basketball, reports that the Bruins could be without four players heading into next season, which could spell trouble for head coach Steve Alford.
Our worst fears might come true in regard to the UCLA basketball team. Last week, Go Joe Bruin looked at the worst case scenario in regards to the 2018-19 roster.
RELATED: UCLA Basketball’s Worst Case Roster Scenario for 2018-19
Briefly, in that article we examined what the roster could look like if freshmen PG Jaylen Hands, F Kris Wilkes and PF Cody Riley — who have all declared for the 2018 NBA Draft, though none of them have hired an agent — leave during this offseason. Well of you have read Bruin Report Online’s article, Looking More Likely UCLA Could Be Without Four Players in 2018, to quote Han Solo, “Its worse.”
This one includes an in-comng freshman.
#UCLA basketball is looking at the possibility of some devastating developments for next season: https://t.co/6ad6AWZL9t
— Bruin Report Online (@BruinReport) May 22, 2018
In the article, BRO lays out what is going on with these four players. In regards to the two freshman that played last season, “Sources have indicated there is a chance that both Wilkes and Hands return, but it’s more likely Wilkes doesn’t and “50-50” for Hands.”
Related Story: The 10 best games of the Steve Alford era
This seems typical for players that are considering the leap to the pros, but with both having average-to-good (not great) NBA Combine performances, their decisions are still up in the air.
It has also been suggested that Hands will leave because his relationship with Alford has soured. If he does take off for the NBA, that means UCLA will only be with one point guard for next season, freshman Tyger Campbell.
In regards to Riley, BRO stated that the freshman (who was suspended for the year due to his in evolvement in the China shoplifting incident) is a “long shot” to return because of academic issues. Unfortunately, that also appears to be what is holding back in-coming freshman, Shareef O’Neal.
O’Neal is the only one of six players committed to the 2019 UCLA recruiting class that has not signed his national letter of intent. At the time, many wondered if it was because of academics.
Checked in with Shareef O'Neal's high school coach, Anthony Davis, and he said the plan remains for O'Neal to sign with UCLA. Grades are not an issue, Davis said.
— Ben Bolch (@latbbolch) May 3, 2018
Unfortunately, BRO claims, that academics are indeed the reason O’Neal does not make it to Westwood next season.
So with that being said, if UCLA is without these four players next season, they will be with only nine scholarship players.
If UCLA Basketball is without four players…
- Point Guard: Tyger Campbell (Fr)
- Shooting Guard: Prince Ali (Jr-R), David Singleton III (Fr), Jules Bernard (Fr)
- Small Forward: Chris Smith (So)
- Power Forward: Alex Olesinski (Jr-R)
- Center: Jalen Hill (Fr-R), Moses Brown (Fr), Kenny Nwuba (Fr)
Though that is manageable, especially since Alford usually utilizes an eight-man rotation, it is not good. Ali, Smith and Olesinski would be the only players with college basketball experience and looking at what they produced last season, it will not be enough to bring the Bruins success in 2018-19. Combined, these three players only contributed to 21.6% of UCLA’s scoring last year.
Next: Is there an ultimatum for Steve Alford to keep his job?
Though it seems inevitable that a few will not be with UCLA next year, it would be devastating if all choose to move on and that spells trouble for Alford, who already has a lot on his plate and seems to have an ultimatum placed on him. Get to the Final Four, or be terminated.