Big Ten Basketball: 2024 offseason grades for each team

UCLA Bruins - Grade: A+

It was a rare off-year for both Mick Cronin and UCLA Basketball last season, finishing under .500 overall. They lost several players, including most of the previously touted international freshmen core, along with Adem Bona, the starting center who went pro.

However, UCLA was able to bring back its two leading guards (Dylan Andrews and Sebastian Mack), as well as veteran sharpshooter, Lazar Stefanovic. Both Williams (Devin and Brandon) are key sophomore forwards, while Aday Mara, a 7’2 center from Spain, showed the most promise among the previous foreign class.

It’s hard to argue that the Bruins didn’t do great with the portal, landing six capable power conference transfers. Kobe Johnson is a standout defender from USC, while Skyy Clark is a double-digit scorer from Louisville. And in the frontcourt are a pair of notable bigs in Eric Dailey Jr. and Tyler Bilodeau. Even William Kyle, a standout defender from South Dakota State, adds to the depth inside.

The depth of the Bruins has the chance to be one of the best in Big Ten Basketball next season. Who emerges as the “star” is the main question in the coming months but it’s hard to do better to rebuild the roster than what they did.