NCAA Basketball: 10 best players from state of California of last decade

6. Johnny Juzang – Kentucky / UCLA

One of the best small forwards in the 2019 recruiting class, the 6’6 phenom from Los Angeles traveled after, landing at Kentucky with John Calipari. After limited opportunities, Juzang decided to transfer, making the brilliant decision to head back home to play for UCLA and Mick Cronin. The rest, as they say, is history, as Juzang’s profile really took off.

After few chances at Kentucky and an early injury at UCLA, Juzang finally got things going during that sophomore year, averaging 16.0 points per game on the season. Most importantly, he helped the Bruins shine on the national stage, marching to the Final Four, putting up 28 points in their Elite Eight win over Michigan and 29 in the close loss to Gonzaga. His junior year was less successful in the postseason, but he still put up a ton of points for a talented Bruins squad.

After departing Kentucky, Juzang proceeded to help lead UCLA to an incredible run and was also twice named to the All-Pac-12 Team, including a First Team honor his junior season. His junior season had its fair share of struggles, but he still made a major impact in those two years with the Bruins. Skipping the rest of his collegiate career, he was recently signed by the Utah Jazz after going undrafted, and his role in that 2021 run to the Final Four will not be forgotten.