NCAA Basketball: Top 25 team frontcourts for 2022-23 season

14. UCLA Bruins

There was a debate last season as to whether Johnny Juzang or Jaime Jaquez was the best player for UCLA. Juzang is gone but Jaquez is back after averaging 13.9 ppg and 5.7 rpg, while also being a multi-time All-Pac 12 defender. The 6’7 forward also showed that he can be an elite offensive threat, with seven games of at least 20 points last season.

That includes a career-high 30 points and nine rebounds at Washington, along with 27 points against USC and Arizona State. Jaquez also had six double-doubles and had 10+ points in each of the final 11 games of the season. He’ll have an even bigger role as a focal point of the offense this season now that Juzang isn’t around.

Also in the frontcourt is Jaylen Clark, a 6’5 forward forward that averaged 6.7 ppg in 18 mpg. He’s known for his versatility and defense but is an underrated scorer. In the three-game stretch where he started and played 25+ minutes, Clark scored 16, 18, and 25 points and went for 18 points, 11 rebounds, five assists, and four steals against Washington. Clark has the chance to be a breakout player for the Bruins and he and Jaquez would be an elite defensive pairing.

Starting at the center position is Adem Bona, a five-star prospect. He’s a defensive anchor and rim protector and should have an early impact. He should be an upgrade over Myles Johnson but likely isn’t as good an offensive player as Cody Riley. But if Bona’s defensive prevails, UCLA as a team will be in strong shape.