UCLA’s roster under Mick Cronin could look different next season
LOS ANGELES — UCLA men’s basketball guard Dylan Andrews averaged 27.5 points per game in the Pac-12 Tournament, but was far from satisfied with how his sophomore season ended.
“Job still not finished,” Andrews wrote on X the day after UCLA’s 68-66 loss to Oregon in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. “See you next year.”
The Bruins entered the season third in the Pac-12 men’s basketball preseason poll with a roster constructed to replace the production and experience of current NBA players Jaime Jaquez Jr., Amari Bailey and Jaylen Clark and French professional player Tyger Campbell. However, UCLA finished the season fifth in the conference, with a disappointing 16-17 overall record, the program’s first losing season since 2016 under former coach Steve Alford.
It was also the first time head coach Mick Cronin missed the NCAA Tournament since taking over in Westwood in 2019, ending Cronin’s consecutive tournament streak at 12, which began in 2011 at Cincinnati. Cronin is 115-53 overall after five seasons at UCLA.
“In coaching, it’s hard when you’re asking guys to do stuff they’re not ready to do yet, they’re not trained to do yet,” Cronin said.
Kenneth Nwuba, a reserve center, was the team’s only senior on scholarship. Nwuba’s outgoing roster spot will go to incoming freshman guard Eric Freeny, a four-star recruit from nearby Corona Centennial High.
Another newcomer will be freshman guard Christian Horry, a walk-on from Harvard-Westlake, who is the son of seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry.
“It means everything to me,” Horry said. “Ever since I was younger, I’ve always wanted to go to UCLA. My mom went to USC and she always fought me about that because I’ve always wanted to go to UCLA. It was a long process, I had to stay patient.”
Horry’s goal is to earn a scholarship eventually as a 3-and-D player.
“I see myself earning a scholarship in a couple of years,” Horry continued. “I aim to play for the Bruins… my teammates called me Mr. 3-and D, so that’s my handle.”
Meanwhile, Cronin has made it known that he is interested in going after experienced, high-level players in the transfer portal. However, a major part of that recruitment will likely come down to the monetary NIL opportunities that the school’s Men of Westwood collective can provide incoming players as they look to capitalize off their name, image and likeness.
In addition to Andrews (12.9 ppg), the Bruins could realistically return the team’s entire starting lineup with Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year sophomore forward Adem Bona (12.4 ppg), freshman guard Sebastian Mack (12.1 ppg), junior guard Lazar Stefanovic (11.5 ppg) and freshman guard Brandon Williams (3.1 ppg).
The Bruins bench was led by freshman forward Berke Buyuktuncel (4.5 ppg) and sophomore guard Will McClendon (4.1 ppg). The rest of the team’s first-year reserves received limited playing time, including freshman center Aday Mara (3.5 ppg), freshman guard Jan Vide (1.9 ppg), freshman forward Devin Williams (1.4 ppg) and freshman guard Ilane Fibleuil (1.0 ppg).
“(Jan Vide) has been a great kid all year listening, trying every day,” Cronin said. “He’s a great example of what you want as a coach. You ask kids whether you play or not, come in, work your butt off, have a great attitude. And very few do that and he does.”
However, at least one of the 11 aforementioned scholarship players would need to leave if Cronin is going to have room to bring in transfers.
Meanwhile, Andrews, who grew up in Gardena, said he will use the offseason to become a more vocal leader as UCLA’s point guard.
“Just being an extension of Coach Cronin as well,” Andrews continued. “Working on my game 24/7, just being ready whenever my number is called, just be ready.”