UCLA Basketball: Professional men and women made here

Both UCLA basketball programs have produced professionals this year as Jordin Canada, Monique Billings, Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh have all made the jump from college to the WNBA and NBA.

This past season has been a wild ride for both the women’s and men’s UCLA basketball teams. Despite not winning any hardware, both programs had some big moments, the most recent… collectively producing four professional basketball players.

RELATED: The UCLA Women’s Basketball Team Moves Into The Future

For head coach Cori Close, her Bruins were led by Jordan Canada and Monique Billings who helped UCLA finish with a 27-8 record and their first Elite 8 since 1999. For Steve Alford, he had Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh carry the Bruins through most of the season and ended with a 21-12 record.

All four of these former Bruins put in the work, they were grinding every day and gave all they had to their respective UCLA basketball squads. The result for each… making that next step to the professional ranks.

Canada and Billings fronted what was quite possibly the best UCLA women’s basketball team in recent history. Canada was the spark that made the Bruins go at the point, while Billings dominated the paint.

These women proved to be one of the better guard-forward combos in not just the Pac-12, but the entire NCAA.

Their hard work resulted in them being selected in April’s WNBA Draft. Canada went 5th overall (1st Round) to the Seattle Storm, while Billings was taken 15th overall (2nd Round) by the Atlanta Dream. Since the WNBA’s season is a summer affair, Canada and Billings have already begun the next phase of their careers.

Billings is slowly adapting to a backup role and has so far been playing sparingly in her first season as she is averaging just under eight minutes a game with 1.8 ppg and 1.9 rpg.

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Canada has a larger role with Seattle as she has essentially become the 6th Woman on the team. With almost 20 minutes per game, she is 6th on the team in points (6.1 ppg) and 3rd in assists (3.5 apg). It is also slow going, but this is just the beginning. Expect both former Bruins to have very productive careers, especially once they adapt to the rigors of pro ball.

It is a similar situation with the men as they also had a solid guard-low post combo that wrecked havoc in the conference.

Thomas Welsh was consistent, reliable and after four years in Westwood, his hard work paid off with a second round selection by the Denver Nuggets. This was a surprise simply because nobody seem to  project Welsh getting drafted, even in the late second round. Surprise, surprise… he is now part of the Nugget’s franchise and will add some more outside shooting to Denver’s offense.

Holiday went in the first round, right about where many projected him to go. Whether you think he should have been taken sooner or later, it all worked out as he landed in a very promising position with the Indiana Pacers. Not only do they have former Ben Howland product Darren Collison running the point, but last season the Pacers drafted TJ Leaf and Ike Anigbogu, two former Bruins that played and are familiar with Holiday. That just seems like a match made in chemistry heaven.

Next: The Men's UCLA Basketball All-Time Team

Having two players from each program drafted in their respective professional leagues is a huge deal. Very few schools have been able to do that. This just shows you that the Bruins breed ballers. It has been an honor to watch all four players during their time in Westwood and will be exciting to watch all of them in the next chapter of their lives.

UCLA basketball… professional men and women made here.