UCLA’s roster is getting a major makeover, and the Bruins have added enough new faces that three newcomers stand out right away as the ones most likely to shape this season.
The biggest name in that group is Nikola Kusturica, who is expected to start at small forward for UCLA. The Serbian superstar brings a two-way package that makes him look like an ideal fit for Mick Cronin’s team.
He can score at just about every level, and he also gives the Bruins a strong defender who could end up being their best player on both ends of the floor. That kind of profile has already created plenty of NBA Draft buzz, even though he is still two years away from eligibility.
Jaylen Petty is another addition who could quickly matter in a big way. For a coach like Cronin, who leans defense-first, landing a natural scorer who can help carry the offense is a real win.
Petty has the kind of game that can stretch a defense: he is a strong spot-up shooter, but he can also create his own looks and get downhill. There is a real chance he finishes the year as UCLA’s leading scorer.
What makes Petty especially interesting is that he has already proven himself against high-level competition. Coming from Texas Tech, he played in what the source describes as arguably the toughest conference in basketball and produced at an elite level. He scored 24 points in Texas Tech’s round one NCAA tournament game and added 20 and 18 against Houston in the two conference meetings last season.
Joe Philon rounds out the list as a player whose role is still a little murky, but whose talent is obvious. The four-star prospect in the class of 2026 has the size and versatility to operate as a power forward or on the wing as a guard.
The challenge is figuring out where he fits in the rotation, especially with Eric Dailey Jr. and Nikola Kusturica likely ahead of him in floor placement. Even with that uncertainty, Philon should get on the court this season, and the real question is how much.
He has the tools to turn limited chances into meaningful minutes, and he could end up giving UCLA valuable depth while helping defensively as well.
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