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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MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 24: A UCLA Bruins cheerleader performs in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
MEMPHIS, TN – MARCH 24: A UCLA Bruins cheerleader performs in the second half against the Kentucky Wildcats during the 2017 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament South Regional at FedExForum on March 24, 2017 in Memphis, Tennessee. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Small Forward – Kris Wilkes, Freshman

Another freshman, Kris Wilkes is just as highly-touted as Hands, if not more so. Ranked at #23 by the 247Sports Composite, Wilkes is a five-star recruit from Indiana. As mentioned in the introduction, UCLA will need to find new scorers to replace the massive amounts of talent that left the program this offseason. Wilkes fits that build as a scorer. He is a versatile wing who can attack the basket as ferociously as anyone in the country.

Filling in with the up-tempo UCLA system will also be no problem for Wilkes. Wilkes is at his best when running in transition, as he is allowed to showcase his ridiculous athleticism. Pairing him up with the previously mentioned Hands will make for some ridiculous highlights in the fast break this season, so watch out.

As a freshman, it would not be a major surprise for Wilkes to lead this UCLA basketball team in scoring. In the backcourt, Holiday and Hands are both at their best when creating for others, so Wilkes should be able to slide into the lineup nicely as the primary scoring option. Just like last season, UCLA should have a balanced offensive attack, but everybody needs a go-to scorer. Wilkes can be that for the Bruins this year.

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