While this iteration of coach Mick Cronin’s squad features a formidable group of returners, – including three starters, two of whom are on the Karl Malone Award and Julius Erving Award watch lists – six of the Bruins’ 15 players are in their first years under the seventh-year head coach. Daily Bruin Sports editor Connor Dullinger breaks down UCLA men’s basketball’s roster prior to the start of the 2025-2026 campaign.
Guards
Senior guard Skyy Clark (left) holds the ball above the arc. Senior guard Donovan Dent (right) holds the ball and prepares to shoot. (Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)
Cronin has always emphasized that proficient guard play is integral to his squad’s success.
“For us to have a good year, we’re going to need performance from our guards,” Cronin said after UCLA defeated Washington Dec. 3, 2024.
And the head honcho formed one of the most formidable backcourts in the country to back up his priorities, boasting a three-headed attack that could easily rank at the top of the Big Ten and nation.
Senior guard Skyy Clark is the most impactful returner and could be one of the best two-way guards in the country.
Although Clark was the fourth-leading scorer on last year’s squad, the offensive flashes he displayed at the end of the season – finishing with double-digit points in five of his last seven performances last year – have reappeared during the new campaign.
Clark notched 13 points in each exhibition game this season, producing 5-for-8 and 6-for-10 shooting splits from the field, respectively.
The Los Angeles local will likely not even be a top-three scorer on this year’s squad but nevertheless has the ability to be the team’s leading scorer on any given night.
Clark also applies substantial man-to-man defensive pressure and can stifle any opposing team’s best guard. Whether it’s from a suffocating half-court set or from the full 92 feet, Clark will likely give opposing backcourts nightmares from November to March.
Although Clark alone could lead the Bruins to the heights of the Big Ten, the addition of senior guard Donovan Dent – the 2024-2025 Mountain West Player of the Year and an AP All-American honorable mention last season – gives UCLA a backcourt tandem that rivals any other guard duo in the nation.
Dent’s impact on the squad is easily evident when watching the team play. The offense is faster and much more streamlined than last year, with Dent using his top-level speed to push the ball down the court, exploiting slower teams that struggle to run the court and establish defensive position after missing a shot.
Every rebound is an opportunity for Dent to push the ball and create a mismatch or lead an outnumbered attack – given that he gets a good outlet pass.
Expect UCLA to thrive in transition, not only from Dent’s ability to push the ball and attack downhill but also from his multi-level ability to facilitate the rock – as evidenced by his fast-break lob to senior forward Tyler Bilodeau against UC Irvine in UCLA’s second scrimmage.
And Dent’s playmaking ability is not limited to the fast break, since he is equally impactful from halfcourt, using pick-and-rolls from the top of the key – or beyond – to get the first step, attack downhill and either find the rolling big man or an open shooter on the perimeter.
The senior guard sees the court like no other, illustrating not only his IQ and game sense but also his coach-like offensive vision – something Cronin has particularly noticed.
“He had eight assists and one turnover tonight,” Cronin said. “He had three deflections. I told him to get a foul just to show me that you care about defense. He’s like a coach, so he knows we’re kidding, but at least he got a foul. He’s improved immensely, but real Donny hasn’t started yet.”
Individually, Dent is a three-level scorer and will compete with Bilodeau on a nightly basis for who is the team’s scoring leader. While he has yet to show his 3-point ability in Westwood, he is a proficient catch-and-shoot player who has the ability to hit contested shots or shot attempts off the dribble.
Dent’s bread and butter is attacking the rim, but he shows the patience and touch to draw fouls on mid-range jumpers and floaters while attacking much taller, opposing frontcourts.
And if Dent and Clark were not enough, the Bruins also have a former four-star recruit and McDonald’s All-American on the bench in sophomore guard Trent Perry.
Perry only played 11.4 minutes per game last season, but with Dylan Andrews and Sebastian Mack transferring to Boise State and Missouri, respectively, Perry should see increased playing time as the third backcourt option.
He has struggled through two exhibition games so far – recording just four points on a 1-for-8 clip against Irvine, but Perry is an efficient shooter, trustworthy ball-handler and should contribute efficiently as one of the first players off the Bruin bench.
Wings
Junior guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr., dribbles the ball inside the arc at Pauley Pavilion. (Daily Bruin file photo)
It is hard to replicate the strength that the Bruins’ guard unit embodies.
But UCLA’s wings may give Dent, Clark and Perry a run for their money.
Although he is currently sidelined with a knee strain, junior guard/forward Eric Dailey Jr. will occupy the team’s starting small forward spot. Dailey was second on the team in scoring last year at 11.4 points per game on 50.7% shooting from the field and 37.8% shooting from beyond the arc.
In the offseason, Dailey said that a lower-body injury he sustained last year hampered his ability and scoring production. The Palmetto, Florida, local said he hopes to elevate his performance this season with a fresh start.
The guard/forward sat out both exhibition games, but Cronin said Dailey’s injury is day-to-day with no structural damage. However, Dailey will miss the season opener Monday against Eastern Washington.
Standing at 6-foot-8, Dailey gives the Bruins a rebounding threat from the three spot and allows them to go big when facing opponents with formidable frontcourts such as the paint arsenal that conference foe Michigan boasts. However, Dailey also possesses the speed and quickness to slide into a smaller lineup if Cronin wants to exploit a slower team.
Dailey averaged four rebounds per game last year and is a solid one-on-one defender. He can create mismatches at the small forward position because of his adaptability, allowing him to guard a smaller, quicker forward that excels off the dribble or a bigger wing that achieves considerable production from the post.
And fifth-year guard Jamar Brown will take Dailey’s place while Dailey sits out with his knee injury.
Although he is listed as a guard, Brown will most likely occupy the team’s three spot and the team’s sixth-man role.
The Missouri-Kansas City transfer will likely be the team’s most efficient 3-point scorer, since he shot 40.2% from long range last season. He has already shown his shot-making efficiency during the two scrimmages, knocking down a collective six 3-pointers on just nine attempts.
But Brown is not limited to the arc or the corner.
Although he stands at just 6-foot-5, he is a tenacious rebounder on the glass, and he displayed that Tuesday when he recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds against Irvine.
The addition of Brown not only gives the Bruins solid depth behind Dailey, but Brown also gives the Bruins a sixth man who can efficiently shoot the 3-ball, defend and grab rebounds.
Bigs
Junior forward/center Xavier Booker (left) shoots a 3-pointer above the arc. Redshirt senior forward/center Steven Jamerson II (right) shoots a free throw at Pauley Pavilion. (Aidan Sun/Assistant Photo editor)
It is hard to mirror the depth and premier talent that exists in the backcourt and on the wing, but the Bruins’ frontcourt is easily their weakest link – particularly the center position.
Bilodeau will likely occupy the Bruins’ starting power forward slot for the entire year and could very well compete for a First Team All-Big Ten selection this season.
The senior led the team in points last season, scoring 13.5 points per contest on 49.6% shooting from the field and a team-best 40% clip from beyond the arc.
And the forward showed no signs of slowing down against Irvine, dropping 19 points on 80% shooting while also going 3-for-3 from deep.
The presence of Dent on the court should give Bilodeau a plethora of open looks – vastly different from last season when Bilodeau attracted the majority of defensive attention.
Bilodeau’s move to the power forward spot should also allow the Kennewick, Washington, local room to thrive. The forward played a lot of minutes at the five spot last season, a position not perfectly suited for a big man who prioritizes 3-point production and scores with touch, athleticism and pure shooting.
The position switch should allow Bilodeau to not only thrive offensively but also give him better matchups on the defensive side of the court.
Bigger centers seemed to exploit the senior, evidenced by former Michigan center Vladislav Goldin’s 36-point performance against Bilodeau last season.
However, Bilodeau will only reap the benefits of the power forward position if UCLA’s center spot is solidified.
Enter: junior forward/center Xavier Booker.
Booker – a former five-star prospect and Michigan State transfer – looks to be the Bruins’ starting center. And from what we saw in the two exhibition games, Booker seems like a good addition to the frontcourt following the departure of big man duo Aday Mara and William Kyle III.
The forward/center is not a traditional center. He is more than capable of shooting the 3-pointer and has the ball-handling skills and athleticism to attack at all three levels despite standing at 6-foot-11.
He also appeared comfortable in a UCLA uniform, taking a team-leading 11 shots against Irvine and should excel in the Bruin starting five if he continues to rely on his versatile offensive skill set.
The question marks around Booker surround his rebounding and defensive capability. Although his speed and lateral quickness help him guard from the arc to the basket, he may lack the strength to stifle formidable centers in the paint.
Despite rebounding concerns about Booker, he grabbed four offensive boards against Irvine. The Bruins have Bilodeau, Brown and Dailey to crash the glass as well.
Behind Booker are redshirt senior forward/center Steven Jamerson II and redshirt sophomore guard/forward Brandon Williams. Jamerson is a seasoned veteran and a more prototypical center who displays the strength and size to dominate the glass while clearing paint space.
He lacks the offensive prowess and tools Booker possesses, but Jamerson boasts the rebounding and defensive toolkit to guard larger centers.
Williams – who started 14 games as a true freshman – should also be serviceable as a spark plug off the bench, where he can grab rebounds and nail the occasional 3-pointer.
But the Bruins’ center spot may still take time to flash its full potential.