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NCAA Basketball: Current 2019-20 NBA teammates who played in college together

By Bill McCarthy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Tyus Jones #5 of the Duke Blue Devils gives instructions to his teammate Grayson Allen #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the game against the Michigan State Spartans during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - APRIL 04: Tyus Jones #5 of the Duke Blue Devils gives instructions to his teammate Grayson Allen #3 of the Duke Blue Devils during the game against the Michigan State Spartans during the NCAA Men's Final Four Semifinal at Lucas Oil Stadium on April 4, 2015 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: T.J. Wallace #2 of the Pacific Tigers attempts a layup around TJ Leaf #22 and Aaron Holiday #3 of the UCLA Bruins (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – NOVEMBER 11: T.J. Wallace #2 of the Pacific Tigers attempts a layup around TJ Leaf #22 and Aaron Holiday #3 of the UCLA Bruins (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The Indiana Bruins

Duo: Aaron Holiday and T.J. Leaf

NBA team: Indiana Pacers

College team: UCLA Bruins, 2016-17

NCAA Tournament finish: Sweet 16

The Indiana Pacers used first-round picks in two consecutive drafts to take former UCLA Bruin teammates T.J. Leaf and Aaron Holiday.

Leaf left UCLA after one season to become the No. 18 pick in the 2017 NBA draft. Holiday, the younger brother of NBA guards Jrue and Justin Holiday, spent three seasons at UCLA and was taken No. 23 in the 2018 NBA draft.

The two have played two seasons together as Pacers. Although Holiday has registered a number of starts this season, both he and Leaf have carved out more regular roles contributing off the bench.

Through 56 games this season, Holiday is averaging roughly 7.8 points and 2.6 assists per game for his career. In 2019-20, he’s shooting more than 40% from 3-point range.

Leaf has played more limited minutes, but he’s averaged about 3 points and two rebounds per game for his career.

Their one shared season at UCLA was a revelation for Bruins fans. Along with New Orleans Pelicans star Lonzo Ball, Leaf and Holiday helped carry the 2016-17 Bruins to a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament, where they advanced to the Sweet 16.

Leaf led UCLA in scoring that season, posting 16.3 points and 8.2 rebounds per game while leading the Pac-12 in field goal percentage, according to Sports Reference. Those numbers earned him a spot on the All-Pac-12 first team.

Holiday chipped in another 12.3 points and 4.4 assists per game. But with Ball and Leaf gone the following season, Holiday’s production jumped to 20.3 points and 5.8 assists per contest, and he made both the All-Pac-12 first team and the Pac-12 All-Defense team.

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