All Bruins

UCLA Basketball: 3 Names the Bruins Should Target in the NCAA's Transfer Portal

Who will the Bruins add?

Jason Fray

Former OSU SF/PF Eric Dailey Jr.
Former OSU SF/PF Eric Dailey Jr. / William Purnell-USA TODAY Sports

The college basketball season might be over, though it doesn't mean UCLA Bruins head coach Mick Cronin is sitting on the golf course with a stiff drink and a Cohiba.

UCLA has landed two players thus far via the transfer portal in guard Skyy Clark (Louisville) and wing Kobe Johnson (USC). While these are significant additions, it doesn't appear as if the Bruins are done just yet.

Adem Bona reportedly is leaving school in order to enter the 2024 NBA Draft. Freshmen Ilane Fibleuil and Jan Vide both left in search of other opportunities. Backup big man Kenneth Nwuba graduated, and there's still a possibility we see more attrition from this group.

Either way, there are a host of players UCLA has its eyes on. This piece will speak about possible options -- as well as players the Bruins should target in order to maximize the ceiling of next year's team.

SF/PF Eric Dailey Jr.

UCLA has been associated with the former Oklahoma State forward since he entered the portal. A former top-40 recruit nationally, Dailey Jr. spent one year in Stillwater before opting to leave for greener pastures.

Dailey Jr. is a terrific fit for Cronin's system. He's a plus athlete, and as such possesses the ability to switch on screens and defend multiple positions on the floor. Dailey Jr. competes very hard on both ends -- something that the Baby Bruins struggled with last year.

Offensively, the lefty can do a little bit of everything. He's a very efficient scorer at the rim , though he does have a nice mid-range pull-up game. His three-point shot is a work in progress, though by no means is it broken.

Both of his parents are coaches, and as such he's a very mature kid. It's reported that Dailey Jr. is visiting UCLA officially this weekend. Barring something surprising, it would be a shock to see him end up elsewhere.

CG Dominick Harris

Harris was once a top 100 recruit nationally in his class. Signing with Gonzaga, the Southern California native struggled to see the floor. Transferring to Loyola Marymount this past year, he blossomed -- averaging over 14 PPG as one of the team's better players.

In the process, he was statistically one of the best three-point shooters in the country -- connecting on nearly 45 percent of his attempts.

Harris has two years of eligibility left and would give the Bruins a veteran presence in their backcourt. More than that, he'd add some much-needed shooting, as well as some athleticism from the off-guard spot. Harris is known to be an above-average on-ball defender. Whether as a starter or a reserve, he'd be an impact player for this program.

C Cliff Omoruyi

The former Rutgers big man is arguably the best center on the market currently.

A true rim protector, he'd be a perfect fit to take over for Bona as the team's starting center. UCLA struggled with a lack of both physicality and experience last year. If you bring Omoruyi on, you won't have to worry about either category.

The Bruins figure to have plenty of competition for his services. However, based on opportunity and everything UCLA has to offer, there's a world in which this opportunity looks highly attractive.

Published
Jason Fray

JASON FRAY

Jason Fray is a proud native of Los Angeles. After graduating from UCLA in 2011, he's written for a number of publications -- including Bleacher Report, FOX Sports, Saturday Down South, and New Arena. In his downtime, he enjoys writing scripts, going to shows, weekly pub trivia with the boys, trying the best hole-in-the-wall food spots around town, and traveling (22 countries & counting). 

Home/Men's Basketball