Busting Brackets
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UCLA Basketball: Projecting starters for the Bruins in 2017-18

By Lukas Harkins

LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins reacts during the game against the Western Michigan Broncos at Pauley Pavilion on December 21, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 21: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins reacts during the game against the Western Michigan Broncos at Pauley Pavilion on December 21, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images) /
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TREVISO, ITALY – JUNE 12: Jaylen Hands of Team USA in action during Adidas Eurocamp Day Three at La Ghirada sports center on June 12, 2016 in Treviso, Italy. (Photo by Roberto Serra/Iguana Press/Getty Images for Adidas)
TREVISO, ITALY – JUNE 12: Jaylen Hands of Team USA in action during Adidas Eurocamp Day Three at La Ghirada sports center on June 12, 2016 in Treviso, Italy. (Photo by Roberto Serra/Iguana Press/Getty Images for Adidas) /

Shooting Guard – Jaylen Hands, Freshman

The first freshman listed in the starting lineup, Jaylen Hands is an electric guard. An in-state recruit for UCLA basketball, Hands was ranked as the #24 recruit in the country by 247Sports Composite ranking. A 6’2″ guard, Hands is expected to come in and bring more stability to the backcourt that is going to be missing Lonzo Ball and Bryce Alford this season.

Hands is a tremendous athlete at the guard position and seems to float in the air as he attacks the basket. He has the remarkable quickness and bounce that entices NBA scouts and he could easily be a “one-and-done” recruit at UCLA. Looking at just this season, though, Hands will join Holiday as a primary facilitator in the offense.

Hands has very good court vision and will be called on to find many of the athletic scoring forwards on the roster. While playing for the Compton Magic on the AAU circuit this summer, Hands averaged 12.6 points and 4.5 assists per game. Hands will be one of the most talented freshmen both in the Pac-12 and the country, but you can say that about a couple of his teammates as well.

He’s already dunked on his parents, who will he dunk on next?

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