Trent Perry’s Emergence Could Be a Game-Changer for UCLA as Big Ten Play Looms
Trent Perry didn’t come into this season with the spotlight on him-but he’s quickly earning it. After a freshman campaign where he logged limited minutes and mostly made his mark on the defensive end, Perry has turned a corner in his sophomore year. And it’s not just about more playing time-it’s about what he’s doing with it.
Last season, Perry played around 11 minutes per game, often serving as an energy guy off the bench. He was the kind of player who’d come in, pick up full court, dive on the floor, and bring a spark defensively.
That kind of grit is exactly what head coach Mick Cronin values. But offensively, the production wasn’t there yet-Perry shot just 36.9% from the field and 34.3% from beyond the arc.
Respectable for a freshman, but nothing to hang your hat on.
Fast forward to this season, and the growth is undeniable. Perry’s shooting splits have taken a major leap-he’s now hitting 50.7% from the floor and 39.3% from deep.
That’s not just improvement-that’s a transformation. He’s become Cronin’s top scoring option off the bench, and he’s doing it while continuing to bring the same defensive edge that got him on the court in the first place.
At 6-foot-4, Perry has the size and versatility to guard multiple positions. He can switch onto guards or wings without giving up much, which gives Cronin flexibility with his lineups. That kind of two-way impact is exactly what you want in a sixth man-and exactly what UCLA needs as they head into the grind of Big Ten play.
The Bruins’ bench has been hit or miss this season, and that makes Perry’s role even more critical. Alongside contributions from Jamar Brown and Steven Jamerson II, Perry is expected to be the steadying force in that second unit. When the bench is clicking, it takes pressure off the starters and allows Cronin to extend rotations deeper into games-something that becomes crucial as the season wears on.
In UCLA’s recent 97-65 win over UC Riverside, Perry dropped 14 points, continuing a strong stretch that’s seen him score 12 and 14 in back-to-back outings. Those aren’t eye-popping numbers, but they’re the kind of consistent contributions that can quietly swing games. Especially when they come from a player off the bench.
Consistency is the next step in Perry’s evolution. We’ve seen flashes-games where he scores 15 points with ease-followed by quieter outings where he struggles to find a rhythm. That’s the challenge for any young player stepping into a bigger role: doing it night after night, regardless of opponent or circumstance.
And make no mistake-UCLA’s schedule isn’t getting any easier. The Big Ten is full of physical, disciplined teams that will test Perry on both ends.
But if he can keep up this level of production, he could be looking at 25 to 30 minutes a night. His ability to slide into three-guard sets gives Cronin even more lineup versatility, allowing the Bruins to go small with Eric Dailey Jr. shifting to the four and Tyler Bilodeau anchoring the five.
Speaking of Bilodeau-he exploded for 34 points in that UC Riverside win, while Skyy Clark chipped in 14 of his own. But it’s Perry’s emergence that might be the biggest long-term storyline. If he can become a reliable scoring threat off the bench while maintaining his defensive intensity, he gives UCLA a major weapon heading into conference play.
Perry’s recent career-high of 16 points earlier this season showed what he’s capable of when everything clicks. Now it’s about building on that, game by game. Because if he finds his rhythm and locks into a consistent role, the Bruins won’t just have a solid bench piece-they’ll have a difference-maker.