UCLA Basketball: Returning Big Man Named To All-Conference Preseason First Team

With Pac-12 Media Day right around the corner, those covering the conference were able to cast their respective votes for the Preseason All-Conference First and Second teams.

UCLA -- the reigning conference champions -- had massive roster turnover in the offseason. It lost arguably five of its top six players (David Singleton, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Amari Bailey, Jaylen Clark, Tyger Campbell).

However, the key guy returning to school is big man Adem Bona. Local media pundits agreed as they voted Bona a member of the All-Conference First Team (list below):

The 2023-24 Pac-12 Men's Basketball Preseason All-Conference team has been announced as selected by the media. 🏀

11 of the 15 selections will be in attendance at Wednesday's #Pac12MBB Media Day.

📰 https://t.co/uRAqz3nQOG pic.twitter.com/BiJ2K40SMR
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) October 10, 2023

Bona was the lone Bruin on the list. Freshman Aday Mara did garner honorable mention but didn't receive enough votes to make the Second Team.

The Nigerian big man was the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year last season. Bona averaged 7.7 PPG, 5.3 RPG, and 1.7 BPG. Even more impressive, he was second in the conference in field-goal percentage (.675).

A shoulder injury slightly delayed his eventual entry into the NBA. Without a doubt, you're looking at one of the most athletic players in the country. Not only that, but Bona plays with tremendous energy, effort, and enthusiasm.

𝐔𝐏 𝐍𝐄𝐗𝐓: 𝐏𝐚𝐜-𝟏𝟐 𝐌𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐃𝐚𝐲

Coach Cronin, Adem Bona & Lazar Stefanovic will represent the Bruins in Las Vegas, this Wednesday, at Pac-12 Men’s Basketball Media Day (@pac12).

💻📝: https://t.co/AejzrHngfU pic.twitter.com/xHdCGvLOmP
— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) October 10, 2023

Word out of Westwood is that he's been working on a midrange jumper. If Bona can become consistent with that shot, it'll open up his offensive game much more. To this point, he's mostly been relying on layups and dunks. With UCLA breaking in a brand-new team for intents and purposes, Bona will be looked at as a primary scoring option.

In terms of the First Team breakdown, both USC (Boogie Ellis, Isaiah Collier) and Colorado (KJ Simpson, Tristan da Silva) had two selections.

Collectively between both teams, USC (3) and Arizona (3) led the league in all-conference selections.

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