Pundit Isn't Concerned with New UCLA Wing's Recent 3-Point Struggles

When it comes to the collegiate level of basketball and specifically with the UCLA men's basketball program, forwards have to be able to contribute to all facets of the game. Berke Buyuktuncel, 6'6 wing from Turkey, is set to kick off his freshman season at Westwood and he has quite the intriguing skillset.

Buyuktuncel has been poised as someone that can hopefully can take of some of the responsibilities left behind by Jaime Jaquez after he continued his basketball career with the Miami Heat and there are plenty of reasons to believe he can do so. He possesses the size, basketball IQ and scoring skillset to do so and seeing how he has been able to adjust his game at every level, nothing should change with the Bruins.

The Athletic's Sam Vecenie put together an early 2024 mock draft and placed Buyukuncel at number 26, overlooking his recent struggles from deep during the U19 World Cup.

"He’s super smart and plays the game the right way, keeping his eyes up constantly and throwing creative passes all over the court out of high- and mid-post opportunities. The jumper didn’t fall at a superb rate during that tournament, but over 31 international youth tournament games over the last three years, Buyuktuncel has made 37 percent of his 112 3-point attempts. His clean lefty stroke should play well."

(Via The Athletic)

Vecenie makes a great point that Buyukuncel has already put together a resume that shows he can make shots from three-point land at a consistent level and once he suits up alongside other elite scoring options with UCLA, he'll get plenty of open looks.

This new season cannot start soon enough!