NCAA Basketball: Way-too-early top 25 power rankings for 2022-23 season
. . Bruins . 7. team. 518.
2021-22 season record: 27-8 (15-5 in Pac-12)
The Bruins are in a unique situation from a roster standpoint, as they have a number of players that have been in college for four years, but they all can still return for another year. But with a top-10 incoming recruiting class that features multiple five-star prospects, someone or 2 or 3 will have to go pro or enter the transfer portal.
The most important decisions will come via scoring wings, Johnny Juzang and Jaime Jaquez. Neither are projected first-round picks so they should return, along with starting point guard Tyger Campbell. Joining them will be top-5 overall prospect commit Amari Bailey, arguably the best guard in the entire 2022 recruiting class.
And in the frontcourt, five-star center Adem Bona should provide even better interior defense and physicality over Myles Johnson or Cody Riley. And assuming key pieces such as Jaylen Clark, Peyton Watson, and Jules Bernard all come back as well, the Bruins can use any kind of offensive or defensive lineup next season at a high level.
The big question will be how Bailey fits into the offense and whether or not it’ll come at the expense of either Juzang or Jaquez. But UCLA will have one of the highest floors of any team in NCAA Basketball and if the pieces fit, they’ll be a Final Four contender again.