Mick Cronin, the head coach of UCLA basketball, is showing a clear preference for the transfer portal over traditional high school recruiting to build his team. Since the 2024 offseason, the numbers speak for themselves: 15 players have joined the Bruins via the transfer portal, while only five have been recruited from high schools. In 2024, UCLA brought in two high school recruits, followed by three in the latest offseason, but none in 2025.
This strategy of tapping into the transfer portal has had its ups and downs. In the 2024-2025 season, it seemed to pay off as the Bruins posted a solid 23-11 record. However, last season, despite starting with a strong transfer class and a preseason ranking of 12th, the team slipped out of the top 25 and exited March Madness in the second round.
Looking ahead to the upcoming season, Cronin is aiming for a more balanced approach. The incoming class consists of three freshmen and four transfer players, a mix that could provide the right blend of fresh talent and experienced depth.
As the offseason progresses and the 2026-2027 season looms on the horizon, it's never too early to cast an eye on future prospects. One name that stands out for the 2027 high school class is NaVorro Bowman Jr.
This 6-foot-3 point guard from Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, California, is making waves. Ranked as a five-star prospect and 17th nationally by 247Sports, Bowman Jr. is a player who commands attention.
On the court, Bowman Jr. plays with a fearless intensity. He's versatile, comfortable both on and off the ball, and capable of defending multiple positions.
His ability to bring the ball up the court adds another layer to his game. However, there's room for growth.
Bowman Jr. needs to hone his skills as a true point guard and improve his efficiency from the perimeter, where he shot 34% from beyond the arc last year.
Landing talent from California has been a challenge for Cronin, with the last successful recruits being Trent Perry and Eric Freeny in 2024. Securing homegrown talent is crucial for any college program, and missing out can be detrimental.
Bowman Jr. has the potential to be an immediate impact player for the Bruins. With Trent Perry potentially leaving for the NBA after a stellar junior season, UCLA will need a guard who can excel on both ends of the floor and has the potential to lead. Bowman Jr. fits that bill perfectly.
In Other News...
Which Bruins Could Become UCLA's Next NFL Names Under New Staff
With a new staff in place, UCLA is doing the usual summer exercise of sorting through the roster and trying to figure out which players could eventually fit the NFL mold. The article points to one Bruin from each class as the best current bet to hear his name called someday, leaning on past production, physical traits and projected roles rather than anything set in stone. Some of the names in that mix arrived with proven college rsums, while others are still more about upside and how they could grow in Westwood.
Among the more interesting cases are the transfers who brought real production from elsewhere and now have to translate it into something bigger at UCLA. The group includes a back who followed the same coaching staff after a huge year at James Madison, a receiver with national recruiting pedigree who might need time before he gets on the field, and a pass rusher who turned last season into award-level consideration. Nico Iamaleava also sits in the discussion after a rough transition, but with a better supporting cast around him and more responsibility as a leader, the Bruins are hoping the next chapter looks very different. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA May Already Have The Pieces For A Real Turnaround
After a 3-9 season and a coaching change that made clear how much work needed to be done, UCLA is trying to reset quickly rather than slog through a long rebuild. The Bruins are already remaking the roster and staff in a way that suggests the program wants the next step to come sooner than later, with help arriving from a familiar source in James Madison.
Among the pieces following over are running back Wayne Knight and wide receiver Landon Ellis, additions that give the Bruins some immediate continuity for a new offensive approach. CBS Sports analyst David Cobb also took a favorable view of UCLAs offseason, pointing to the coaching change and the return of Nico Iamaleava as reasons for optimism, so the early read is that this could be more than a routine transition year. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Has An Overlooked Returner Who Could Earn Cronins Trust
Eric Freeny spent much of last season doing the kind of work that tends to get noticed most inside a program. The redshirt sophomore guard averaged 11.1 minutes a game for UCLA, and his value came primarily on the defensive end, where he steadily grew into a trusted piece during the Bruins late-season push. Mick Cronin has already pointed to Freenys defense as part of what helped stabilize the team down the stretch, a good sign for a player whose game has become more visible the longer the season has gone.
The next step is less about what Freeny already does well and more about how much more he can give. UCLA's lineup decisions will shape his path, but there is a clear opening for him to carve out a bigger role if his offensive game becomes more reliable and complete. If that happens, he could push toward sixth-man duties or even starting minutes, which would mark a major jump for a guard who has earned attention the hard way. [Read more 🡒]