UCLA’s point guard picture has shifted, and Trent Perry is the name now sitting at the center of it.
With Donovan Dent’s eligibility situation making a return to UCLA look very unlikely, the Bruins’ lead-guard spot is suddenly open. That leaves Perry, the returning guard, as the likeliest player to step into the starting role.
There was some early thought that Jaylen Petty might help run the offense after transferring in from Texas Tech. He handled plenty of ball-handling duties there, so the fit seemed natural enough.
But that does not appear to be the direction Mick Cronin is heading. Perry is expected to take the primary point guard job.
That is a big ask for a player who has not been a full-time point guard since high school. Even so, the setup around him should help. Cronin has built a roster that can ease some of the pressure on Perry as he grows into the role.
Perry has also spent the offseason adding serious muscle, and that added size changes the way he can be used. His length gives him real versatility, to the point where he could even slide to small forward if needed. More importantly, it should help him get to the rim more often and finish better when he does.
Last season, Perry already showed he could attack the basket. With the added strength, that part of his game should become even more dangerous.
Defensively, it should help too. He has a chance to use that frame to play bully ball on the ball and become a tougher matchup.
There is also the leadership side of the job. Point guards are expected to steer the group, and Perry seems ready to embrace that. In a college game where returning veterans are becoming harder to find, his familiarity with the program gives him a built-in voice.
The expectation now is clear: Perry enters the 2026-27 season as UCLA’s starting point guard, and a breakout year is very much on the table.
In Other News...
UCLA Freshmen Face A Tough Climb But One Bruin Is Pushing Back
Bob Chesneys first UCLA roster has a very different feel after a massive wave of turnover, with more than 40 transfers and 20 freshmen reshaping the depth chart. For the newcomers, that has meant a steep early climb, especially with veterans and transfers filling most of the visible competition for starting jobs this season. The Bruins have brought in talent and competition across the board, but the freshmen are largely starting from behind as camp unfolds.
One young player who has stood out in the early stages is CJ Lavender, a promising rookie who has earned attention during fall camp. Even so, the path to immediate snaps is difficult in a secondary that remains one of UCLAs stronger groups, where experience is still carrying real weight. For Lavender and the rest of the freshman class, the challenge now is less about arrival and more about finding any opening in a room that is not giving much away. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Week 1 Lineup Battle Is Far From Settled
UCLAs first week of camp has already done what most August practices are supposed to do for a roster with a lot of new faces and unfinished questions. The Bruins are still sorting through their most important position battles, with quarterback Nico Iamaleava, running back Wayne Knight and a mix of returning players and transfers all pushing to establish where they fit once the real games begin. On paper, there is enough experience and talent to sketch out a workable lineup, but the day-to-day reality of camp has made clear that several spots remain open.
The intrigue goes beyond the obvious headline jobs, too, because injuries, transfers and differing levels of experience are shaping how UCLA pieces together both sides of the ball. Some roles look more settled than others, but the overall picture is still in flux, and that is what makes these early projections feel more like educated guesses than hard answers. Until the Bruins actually publish something official, the most interesting part of the lineup race may be how many jobs are still there for the taking. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Season May Come Down To One High-Stakes Offensive Bet
A new season is arriving with UCLA still trying to sort out what it is after a major reset under Bob Chesney. The Bruins have a reshaped roster, a new staff in place and a handful of offensive pieces that could determine whether this group settles in quickly or spends the fall looking for traction. Quarterback Nico Iamaleava is at the center of that conversation, and the backfield also carries plenty of weight as the Bruins try to find a formula that works.
The sense around this team is that the ceiling depends on whether those offensive bets pay off early enough to steady everything else. With so many new faces trying to fit together, UCLA does not have much margin for a slow start, and the Week 1 landscape already reflects that uncertainty. The talent may be there to move faster than expected, but the Bruins are still in the proving-it stage, and the real answer may not come until the offense shows whether it can carry the load. [Read more 🡒]