Adem Bona Withdraws From NBA Draft, Returns to UCLA Men's Basketball
One of the brightest young stars in the West is sticking around in college for another year.
UCLA men's basketball big man Adem Bona is withdrawing from the 2023 NBA Draft on Wednesday, the prospect told ESPN. Bona initially declared back on April 19, but he backed out after several weeks of testing the waters.
"I have I great relationship with the coaching staff, I love my teammates and I love this school," Bona said to ESPN. "I know UCLA is the right program for me and I love it here. I believe I have the tools to go pro now, but I know there are some aspects of my game I need to improve on. This process is just as much about timing as it is about skill, so I need to prepare and put myself in the perfect situation when turning pro and I don't think the time is now. "
Guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr., point guard Tyger Campbell, guard Amari Bailey and guard David Singleton were all committed to turning pro from the start, while guard Jaylen Clark took until Wednesday night to lock in his decision to try his luck in the NBA Draft.
Bona averaged 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 22.9 minutes per game last season, on top of ranking second in the Pac-12 with a 67.5% field goal percentage. The freshman blocked multiple shots in each of his final nine appearances, and he had six games with three blocks on the season.
At the end of the regular season, Bona was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year – UCLA's first since Lonzo Ball six years earlier. Bona was banged up down the stretch, though, and his absence played a part in the Bruins' season ending prematurely.
In the second half of the Pac-12 tournament semifinals against Oregon, Bona dove for a loose ball, hurt his shoulder and left the game. UCLA won that showdown, but fell to Arizona by two points in the championship with Bona out.
Bona returned for the second round of the NCAA tournament after also missing the Round of 64, helping the Bruins to advance to the Sweet 16. The freshman was unable to take the court against Gonzaga, though, and UCLA lost by three points as Bona once again watched from the bench.
That injury led to shoulder surgery for Bona, preventing the young big man from taking part in workouts with NBA teams during the draft process. Bona did appear at the NBA Draft Combine in Chicago, though, where he measured in at 6-foot-8.25, as opposed to the 6-foot-10 UCLA had listed him at. With a 7-foot-0.25 wingspan, a 9-foot-2.50 standing reach and 10-inch hands, Bona still boasts certain athletic traits that make him an intriguing professional prospect moving forward.
“We are all very excited about Adem continuing his career in Westwood," coach Mick Cronin said in a statement. "Adem is a vibrant, high-character young man who we all love being around every day. He improved immensely during his freshman season, showing his toughness and love for his team by competing through multiple injuries for as long as he could. Adem wants to develop further, which will help him have a long NBA career, and he wisely used this pre-draft process. We are going to see great things from Adem next season, and we also appreciate his loyalty to UCLA.”
Bona isn't expected to be fully recovered until September or October.
The frontcourt rotation Bona is rejoining is not identical to the one he left in April, with Mac Etienne entering the transfer portal on May 11. UCLA is also reportedly on the verge of bringing in multiple international prospects, including 7-foot-3 Spanish center Aday Mara.
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