Busting Brackets
Fansided

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) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 5: Thomas Welsh (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 5: Thomas Welsh (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /

Center – Thomas Welsh, Senior

The senior leader in the starting lineup, Thomas Welsh is one of the most consistent players in all of college basketball. Averaging double-digits in each of the past two seasons, Welse has been ridiculously efficient. In the last two years combined, Welsh is 308-for-524 shooting from the field, which is 58.8%. In order to have such excellent efficiency, it is important to note Welsh’s shot selection. It is very rare that Welsh will ever step out beyond the mid-range to attempt a shot.

Still, if you leave him open from mid-range, you can expect two points to be added for UCLA.

In a game trending towards deeper and deeper shots, Welsh has centered his game around one of the best mid-range jump shots in the entire country. It is very rare to see Welsh miss an open jumper inside the arc. With several high-profile athletes attacking the rim this season, Welsh should see plenty of kick-out opportunities to shoot along the baseline this season.

He might not be the kind of athlete that Wilkes, Riley, or Hands are, but Welsh’s contrasting game will fit extremely well with the young guns. Sometimes opposites attract, even in basketball.

Next: Ranking the top transfers in the Pac-12

Heading into this season, UCLA basketball will have high expectations. Despite losing a ton of talent from last season, the program returns two high-profile upperclassmen and brings in one of the top recruiting classes in the entire country. The Bruins will be a preseason top-25 team and a force to be reckoned with in the Pac-12 this season.

Home/UCLA Bruins