UCLA Basketball: Top 2025 Guard Reportedly Sets Official Visit to Westwood

When the UCLA Basketball program seriously pursues a recruit, you know Mick Cronin thinks the Bruins have a real shot at landing the player.

Cronin's philosophy as a recruiter has evolved since coming to Westwood. Based upon his preference for players exuding toughness and character -- along with the current NIL landscape -- UCLA has shrunk its proverbial pool of options.

You rarely will see UCLA get caught up in the 'circusy' recruitments that drag out for months and months. It prefers to target guys that the program has some sort of connection to, and ultimately instead focuses on guys it thinks it can feasibly get.

Consider elite 2025 guard Jerry Easter II as one of those players.

2025 Top-25 Jerry Easter II (@JerryEast8) tells me he will take an official visit to UCLA beginning November 24th.

Easter is a quick, athletic guard with a well-rounded offensive game. Can score the ball from all over the floor and is a creative playmaker with the ball in his… pic.twitter.com/aQnCvRva98
— 24/7 High School Hoops (@247HSHoops) October 26, 2023

According to reports, Easter II is set to visit UCLA officially later in the month of November. It's a rather significant development for the Bruins, as Easter II has long been one of UCLA's top targets for the 2025 class (along with the likes of Elzie Harrington, Brayden Burries, Hudson Greer, Jovani Ruff, Tounde Yessoufou, and Xavion Slaton).

UCLA has been pursuing Easter II since his freshman year of high school. Cronin extended an official offer two years ago after watching him perform at an AAU tournament.

Stylistically, Easter II is a tough, physical Midwest guard with nice versatility. He can toggle between both the point guard and shooting guard spots. Easter II is also an aggressive, willing defender. When you blend together all of these traits, Easter II seems like an ideal Cronin recruit.

⁦⁦⁦@SportsCenter⁩ ⁦@PaulBiancardi⁩ ⁦@LeagueRDY⁩ ⁦@LaLuBasketball⁩ pic.twitter.com/uimbMJfI4G
— Jerry Easter II (@JerryEast8) October 21, 2023

Additionally, Easter II does have some inherent links to the UCLA Basketball program as a whole. Easter II is originally from Ohio -- the home state of Cronin. Surely, there's some crossover in terms of basketball and potentially family connections. Cronin is not only a native of Ohio, but he also coached at Cincinnati collectively for two decades.

Additionally, Easter II is currently playing at La Lumiere School in Indiana. This is the same high school program former UCLA star guard Tyger Campbell played for before eventually making his way to Westwood.

Don't forget to join our community at LA Sports Report, where we celebrate all things Bruins!