As expected, UCLA senior Jaime Jaquez Jr. has declared for the NBA draft.
The second-team All-America selection led the Bruins with 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game, earning Pac-12 Player of the Year honors. Under his leadership, UCLA won the Pac-12 regular-season title for the first time since 2013 and advanced to the NCAA tournament’s Sweet 16 for the second consecutive season after making the Final Four his sophomore season.
Jaquez, who became a Bruin in 2019 after a highly decorated career at Camarillo High, made his announcement on Twitter and Instagram on Thursday.
“This is a public service announcement coming from yours truly, Jaime Jaquez Jr. I have fulfilled my dream of playing basketball for and graduating from UCLA,” Jaquez said. “I would like to thank Coach Mick Cronin and UCLA’s coaching staff for developing me, as both a player and a person. A special thanks goes out to the medical and athletic training staff from throughout my four years. I could not have lived out these dreams without the unwavering support of my teammates and my friends, and more importantly, to my family. To all of UCLA’s fans, thank you so much for allowing me to be a part of your life for four years. Please know, I gave you everything that I had.
“My four years at UCLA have been incredible, and I’ll always be proud to be a Bruin. But I’m also excited about my future, my NBA dreams and my continued basketball growth. I’d like to announce that I am declaring for the 2023 NBA Draft.”
Bruin 4 life 💛💙 pic.twitter.com/1nvJZCKvsE
— Jaime Jaquez Jr (@jaquez_jr) April 6, 2023
The 6-foot-7 guard-forward did have a final extra year of college eligibility remaining due to the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting the 2020-21 season.
Jaquez finished his career at UCLA ranked eighth in scoring (1,802 points), 11th in rebounds (842) and eighth in steals (178).
In his four years, he made three All-Pac-12 teams as the Bruins went 99-36.
“Jaime Jaquez Jr. has…
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