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UCLA Basketball: 2018 recruit Jules Bernard commits to the Bruins

By Lukas Harkins

SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 19: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins watches on against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 19, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
SACRAMENTO, CA - MARCH 19: Head coach Steve Alford of the UCLA Bruins watches on against the Cincinnati Bearcats during the second round of the 2017 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Golden 1 Center on March 19, 2017 in Sacramento, California. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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UCLA basketball is an extremely prestigious program that has added many high-level recruits over the years. Jules Bernard is another commit for the Bruins.

In each of the last six seasons, UCLA basketball has signed a top-25 recruiting class in the country. Although not all of these classes are the work of current head coach Steve Alford, it is important to note that he has been tremendous on the recruiting trail as an individual, signing several top recruits since joining the program. Now entering his fifth season as the top guy with the Bruins, Coach Alford is taking the right steps towards making UCLA a national championship contender.

The presence of Lonzo Ball on last season’s roster certainly made headlines, but let’s not forget that that team also supplied another NBA first-round pick in T.J. Leaf. Heading into this 2017-18 season, there is once again no shortage of freshman talent. With four recruits ranked in the top-100 by 247Sports, UCLA’s freshman class is ranked at No. 5 in the country.

As these freshmen get underway over the next few months, UCLA’s 2018 recruiting class will be playing their final high school seasons. After already receiving a commitment from No. 58 David Singleton in the spring, Oct. 10 marked the second signing for Coach Alford’s next recruiting class: Jules Bernard.

Bernard, a 6’6″ wing from Los Angeles, is currently rated as a four-star recruit ranked at No. 46 in the country. One of the best shooting guards in the class of 2018, Bernard is an extremely athletic wing with the ability to run the floor as well as anybody in the country.

Bernard’s playstyle focuses on being able to run in the open floor and finish in transition. Although he is better suited to play off-ball in halfcourt sets, Bernard does a very nice job seeing the floor after snagging a rebound and he runs the fast break better than most.

His offensive game is not everything that makes Bernard a special talent. With his length and athleticism, Bernard has the potential to be an awesome defensive stopper for the Bruins.

He might not be on the team until the 2018-19 season, but he has developed a strong relationship with Coach Alford. As reported by Scout.com, Bernard had great things to say about the UCLA coach:

"“I’m a competitive person and the first thing I saw from him is how competitive he was and the fire he has inside of him to win, I can relate to it,” Bernard said. “He’s not a coach that is cursing at everyone or badmouthing people, but he shows sternness and competitiveness. He wants his players to get better and succeed.”“When people aren’t working as hard as they can he’s going to let them know and he knows that constructive criticism will get his players better,” he added. “I feel like having that fire and competitiveness from a coach will help me a lot in improving my game. Also lets me know when times get tough, we have someone to give me a spark. He’s also a very genuine guy. He’s not going to beat around the bush. He tells you what he wants from you and what you need to work on.”"

These are great words to hear from a young player approaching a college career at a school that often sends players to the NBA after just one season. This smooth-shooting lefty will be ready to make an immediate impact on the Bruins when he arrives on campus for next season.

UCLA basketball might have plenty of guards on this year’s roster, but players like Jaylen Hands and Aaron Holiday are not going to be around forever. Bernard will be expected to come in and likely be a starter as a freshman for the Bruins.

https://twitter.com/overtime/status/917851437283139590

Next: Projecting UCLA's 2017-18 starters

UCLA is clearly a top program in the country and hopefully the next couple years of recruiting classes can take the Bruins closer to a national championship. Although there have been several talented players to compete for UCLA, the Bruins have not reached the Final Four since 2008. For most programs, this waiting period is not long, but for UCLA fans, this is one of their longest droughts.

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