Several UCLA Players Earn Invites to 2023 NBA Draft Combine

A handful of Bruins are headed to Chicago next week in the hopes of jumpstarting their professional careers.

The NBA revealed the official invite list for the 2023 NBA Draft Combine on Tuesday, according to CBS Sports' Jon Rothstein and others. UCLA men's basketball will have four representatives at the event from May 15-21 – guard Amari Bailey, center Adem Bona, guard Jaylen Clark and guard/forward Jaime Jaquez Jr.

UCLA point guard Tyger Campbell recently picked up an invite to the G League Elite Camp, and he could join his teammates at the main combine if he shows out at that event.

The NBA has announced the official invite list for the 2023 NBA Draft Combine. pic.twitter.com/po4c33ixrJ
— Jon Rothstein (@JonRothstein) May 9, 2023

All four of the Bruins going to the combine have the eligibility to return to Westwood, but Jaquez and Bailey have made it clear that they do not intend on going back to school. The door is still open for Bona or Clark to rejoin UCLA, but they likely won't make their official decisions until after the combine comes to a close.

Although Jaquez and Bailey are in line to take part in drills and scrimmages next week, the same cannot be said for Bona or Clark.

Bona had surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder, while Clark had surgery on his torn Achilles. Both players suffered their respective injuries in early March – Bona is expected to be out until the fall, while Clark could be out until January. As a result, they will likely just be there for measurements and interviews with scouts.

In The Athletic's latest Top 100 Big Board released May 2, Jaquez was the highest-rated Bruin at No. 31. Bona and Clark came in at No. 42 and No. 43, respectively, while Bailey was pegged at No. 48.

Jaquez led the Bruins with 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds per game this past season, securing Pac-12 Player of the Year and consensus All-American honors in the process. The senior finished his collegiate career ranked No. 8 all-time in program history in both points and steals, as well as No. 11 in rebounds.

Clark is the next most experienced Bruin headed to the combine, but he really only burst onto the scene as a junior this season. Clark won Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year after averaging 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 steals per game.

Bona and Bailey were both McDonald's All-Americans and five-star recruits last year, and they each impressed in their first years in Westwood. Bona won Pac-12 Freshman of the Year thanks to his 7.7 points, 5.3 rebounds and 1.7 blocks per game, while Bailey led the conference with four Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors after putting up 11.2 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.2 assists a night.

After those four Bruins – or potentially five, depending on Campbell's performance in the G League showcase – appear at the combine, they will have another few weeks to take private meetings and workouts with teams across the league. The deadline for players to back out of the draft and retain their NCAA eligibility is June 1.

The 2023 NBA Draft will take place on June 22.

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