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UCLA Basketball: Four Bruins could be selected in the 2019 NBA Draft

By Mike Regalado

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Jaylen Hands #4 of the UCLA Bruins passes the ball down the court against the California Golden Bears during the second half at Pauley Pavilion on January 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 05: Jaylen Hands #4 of the UCLA Bruins passes the ball down the court against the California Golden Bears during the second half at Pauley Pavilion on January 05, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Katharine Lotze/Getty Images) /
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Depsite the down year, the UCLA basketball team has at least four players that could potentially be selected in the 2019 NBA Draft.

The UCLA basketball team seems to always have a player taken in the NBA Draft. Would that be the case again this year?

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The Bruins have had an underwhelming and drama-filled season full of up and down performances on the court. In addition to that, their head coach was fired before conference play, which affected their stability.

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That has led to a disappointing season which currently has them at 12-12, but there has been some good that has come out of it, especially on an individual level as a few of these Bruins could be selected in the NBA Draft.

Yesterday, Ben Bolch of the L.A. Times reported that four Bruins could likely make the jump to the pros after this season. Bolch had talked with a “veteran NBA scout” who stated that Jaylen Hands, Kris Wilkes, Moses Brown, and Chris Smith could all be second-round selections.

According to the scout, Brown is the only one that has a chance to be taken in the first round, but he would have to “wow a team in a workout.” Brown is raw and needs to tack on some mass, but he is athletic, quick and has the length NBA scouts love.

Since the beginning of the season, Hands and Wilkes have been expected to declare, seeing as they did the same thing after last year. After the 2018 NBA combine, they returned to UCLA to improve their game. This season, Wilkes has bectaken the reins as the Bruins’ leading scorer with 17.4 points per game. Hands has also been able to step up as a leader and as a distributor. This season, he is dishing out 6.5 assists per game, 11th most in the nation.

Chris Smith is a bit of a surprise, but when you really think about it, maybe he is not. He has arguably had the most development from last year to this year, he is a sound utility player, can make midrange shots, and it is never a bad thing to have a 6’9 wing player.

Though they aren’t projected to be drafted, Bolch also reported that two other Bruins could make the jump from UCLA as Prince Ali and Cody Riley are projected to land in the G League or head out internationally.

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Currently, UCLA is at the 13 scholarship limit with no seniors. The Bruins have newcomers Jaime Jaquez and Jake Kyman joining the program in the summer, so at least two current players need to be moved to make room. If the Bruins lose at least four of the players named above, that would give them room to bring in two more recruits for next season.