UCLA Basketball: Expert Doesn’t Think Adem Bona’s Offensive Limitations Will Hurt 2024 Draft Stock
When looking across the board at all of the sophomores that will be returning to their respective college squads for a second season, everybody should be excited to see Adem Bona performs in his next campaign with the UCLA Bruins. Taking head coach Mick Cronin's system into account, Bona's impact goes far beyond just his 2022 stat line of about eight points and five boards across the 33 games he suited up in.
Just watching his game film, it's easy to see that any time an opposing guard broke the defense and made it into the paint with the ball, they thought twice about any attempts at the rim whenever they saw Bona waiting for them. He stands at 6'10 and weighs in at about 240 pounds and is only growing. The Bruins are still waiting to see if they could successfully bring in Aday Mara to put together an elite front court but even if that falls through, Bona will have even more responsibilities on his hands.
He very well could have entered the 2023 NBA Draft but Bona took into account that he needed to get his shoulder healthy and polish up his game a bit more to truly become the best prospect possible. In an updated 2024 mock draft put together by Bleacher Report, their experts slate him to be the 16th pick in the first round despite any weaknesses on his profile.
"Bona should build a first-round case around his defensive upside and motor for picking up easy baskets. Any signs of offensive development will be considered a bonus. Teams will covet his pick-and-roll defense, court/airspace coverage, finishing activity and off-ball impact."
(Via Bleacher Report)
We already saw how locked in Bona was last season when he was healthy and with some new faces coming in, he'll be expected to help mentor them while also being a top option on the floor!
