Jaime Jaquez Jr. was a part of one of the biggest Cinderella run teams in recent history. The UCLA forward was a main piece of the 2021 team that went from First Four to Final Four. Before a Jalen Suggs shot ended their dreams of making the national title game. After that season he came back for another run which unfortunately ended against Gonzaga again, this time by a Julian Strawther shot.
Jalen Suggs' all-time game-winner against UCLA called by Gonzaga's IMG radio team of Tom Hudson and Adam Morrison (yes, that Adam Morrison): pic.twitter.com/DBtqdFjenL
— Brian Fonseca (@briannnnf) April 4, 2021
On this day in 2023, Julian Strawther STUNNED UCLA with this cold-blooded game-winner to send @ZagMBB to the Elite 8 🤯#MarchMadness pic.twitter.com/7dxiiatTnL
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) March 23, 2025
The Gonzaga curse affected that Bruins team that was so good. But also, the 2022 team lost Jaylen Clark and Adem Bona before March Madness. That played a huge part as UCLA struggled on defense without their top two defenders. It will always be a big what if in the Mick Cronin era in his tenure at UCLA.
Star guard Jaime Jaquez Jr. erupted for 16 second-half points, leading the UCLA Bruins to victory on the road after trailing to Washington State at half-time.
— ShotQuality (@Shot_Quality) January 1, 2023
Those include these two long midrange jumpers, where Jaquez ranks in the 96th %ILE with 0.81 PPP. pic.twitter.com/eV907ed7Ua
Fast forward to 2025, Jaquez Jr. is in his third season with the Miami Heat and playing at an elite level. It is time to start talking about the former Bruin having a real shot at 6th Man of the Year award. He is coming off the bench for Miami and providing a spark to a retooled team. He has had good chemistry with another former Bruin in Norman Powell.
Jaime Jaquez Jr. 28-4-5 (9/14, 8/8 FT), +43 pic.twitter.com/k86L5gn3MC
— Brett Usher (@UsherNBA) October 29, 2025
Jaquez Jr. was a tweener forward coming out of college. It led some teams to back off of drafting him as he was too short for power forward but not fast enough for small forward. But with the NBA the way it is going smaller he has worked perfect for what Miami is trying to accomplish. The team can flat out score the basketball and is playing a new brand of team ball with no more Jimmy Butler and the injury to Tyler Herro.
Yeah, Year 3 is looking pretty good so far for Jaime Jaquez Jr.
— Point Made Basketball (@pointmadebball) October 25, 2025
He’s getting downhill, confidently attacking off the dribble, and using that to create for himself & others (like this alley-oop to Ware)
Shaking off an injury-riddled sophomore slumppic.twitter.com/ZSIpH9jMZX https://t.co/zNp0ys0JaD
Jaquez Jr. is now on the radar of people coming off the bench. As long he continues to play more off the bench than starting, he will be in the thick of the race. Miami found themselves a gem while other shied away. Now Jaquez Jr. has the opportunity to add more accolades to UCLA players in the NBA.