UCLA Basketball: Bruins win battle of LA for four-star Devin Williams
It’s a nice day for UCLA Basketball, not only landing top-100 prospect Devin Williams but also beating out rival USC in the process.
Some recruiting battles tend to be complicated in NCAA Basketball. And then there was Devin Williams, a four-star and consensus top-100 prospect in the 2023 class. He hails from Corona, California, which is one hour away from Los Angeles. And it became apparent that he wanted to stay close to home, with UCLA Basketball and the USC Trojans his two options before coming to a decision.
Both programs had a lot to offer for the 6’10 power forward but from a roster standpoint, there was a clear difference. UCLA’s projected starting forward was Jaime Jaquez, a senior and likely going to be around for one more year. For USC it’s likely four-star freshman Kijani Wright, someone who has pro potential but also could need a couple of years before leaving.
So on paper, the Bruins had the edge. And after the decision became official on Sunday evening, they ended up being the big winner.
2023 4⭐️ Devin Williams has committed to UCLA and Mick Cronin.
— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) August 28, 2022
Williams is a long, athletic forward and the ultimate high-flyer. At 6-10, he’s an excellent shot blocker and a guy that excels at finishing around the rim.
Was also heavily considering USC. #57 in the ESPN100. pic.twitter.com/v1kBRfP3bc
Williams becomes the first commitment in the 2023 class, the first of what could be a big group. This is a UCLA roster that could lose Amari Bailey, Tyger Campbell, and David Singleton in the backcourt, along with Jaquez and Adem Bona in the frontcourt. They’re in the mix for five-star point guard Isaiah Collier, top-30 shooting guard Andrej Stojaković, and five-star big man Aaron Bradshaw.
The good news is that Williams crosses off one need for the Bruins at power forward. He’s an athletic scorer that also is solid defensively and he’s somewhat that should have an impact early on. The team has been using some smaller lineups in recent years and now, Coach Cronin can have a big frontcourt to work with going forward.
Most important player on each top-25 team. dark. Next
Most importantly, UCLA defeated USC on the recruiting trail and is hoping to do the same for Collier in the coming months. The Bruins won the battle on the court last season, 2-1 over their local rivals, and in the 2023 class, are up 1-0 thanks to Devin Williams.