NCAA Basketball: Top 10 pending 2023 NBA Draft decisions to watch next month

5. Amari Bailey – UCLA Bruins

The arc for Bailey has been a complicated one, going through stretches of both great play and very underwhelming. He scored six points combined against Virginia and Baylor and looked nowhere near ready for the pros. But after wing Jaylen Clark suffered a season-ending injury, the freshman’s numbers rose in a big way.

Bailey averaged 17.3 ppg in the final six games, which included 26 points against Colorado and 19 points versus Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. The former five-star prospect proved that he can be a big-time scorer as a secondary option once Clark was out of the picture, instead of being the 4th on the court next to Jaime Jaquez and Tyger Campbell.

What’s interesting is that the last three weeks for Bailey has done better for his draft stock than in the first three months. It’s now become a real question as to whether or not he’d get a 1st-round projection. He’s a good two-way athlete and can shoot the ball, making 39% from three-point range on limited attempts.

The fate of UCLA’s Final Four chances could hinge on what Bailey does. Clark has already declared for the draft, while Campbell is moving on to. Jaquez has another year left but likely is leaving too. Bailey could return and be the focal point of the offense and improve his stock, likely as a favorite for Pac-12 Player of the Year.