Why Bruins Cannot Afford To Lose Trent Perry

The UCLA Bruins have already brought back several key pieces from last season, but one player in particular they cannot let slip away is Trent Perry.

So far, Brandon Williams, Eric Freeny, Eric Dailey Jr., and Xavier Booker have already announced that they will be back with the team next season. So far, Perry is one of the underclassmen from last season who has yet to do so.

Perry’s Improvement From Last Season

Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Trent Perry (0) reacts with guard Eric Freeny (8) in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Perry's leaving would be disastrous for head coach Mick Cronin and the Bruins. After averaging a little over three points per game as a freshman in 2024-25, Perry was arguably the team’s most improved player the following season, averaging 12.6 points per game while shooting 44 percent from the field, and 39 percent from three-point range.

Perry played a major role in keeping UCLA afloat while they battled injuries and inconsistency throughout the regular season. He started in place of Skyy Clark when he initially went down with a leg injury, and remained in the starting lineup even after Clark returned.

Mar 22, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Skyy Clark (55) in the first half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images | Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Perry’s scoring ability and shooting from beyond the arc have made him a key piece of UCLA’s offense, and is a big reason why Mick Cronin must do whatever he can to ensure that Perry will remain in Westwood for next season rather than hitting the transfer portal.

UCLA Seeing Several Departures

Feb 7, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Trent Perry (0) contratulates UCLA Bruins guard Donovan Dent (2) as they leave the court after the game against the Washington Huskies at Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom Financial. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images | Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Additionally, the Bruins are dealing with several losses, making retaining Perry that much more important. Donovan Dent, Tyler Bilodeau, and some of the team’s role players from last season have exercised their eligibility and won’t be returning. Dent was the team’s floor general, averaging 13.3 points and 7.6 assists per game, and Bilodeau was the team’s leading scorer at 17.6 points per game, shooting 51 percent from the floor and 46 percent from three-point range.

With Dent and Bilodeau out of the mix, it could open up a lane for even more offensive involvement from Perry if he returns, which would not only be good for him but also for UCLA’s offense as a whole.

Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin reacts in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The Bruins will now do their due diligence in order to get Perry back on the squad for next season. Cronin has already stated that getting all of his underclassmen to return next season was a priority for the offseason. So far, most of them have accepted that offer; now they’ll wait — and hope — for Perry to do the same.