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Senior UCLA forward Jaime Jaquez declared for the 2023 NBA draft on Thursday. The UCLA star is projected to be a second-round prospect, ranking 34th in the class, according to ESPN.
Jaime Jaquez's NCAA career
Jaime Jaquez could have returned to UCLA for his fifth year of eligibility since college athletes were rewarded an extra year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He will instead stay in the draft and not return to school no matter the feedback he receives at the combine.
The flashy scorer averaged 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game in his senior season at UCLA. Jaquez was a consensus All-America this season, making the second team. He was also the Pac-12 Player of the Year and a first-team All-Pac 12 player the past two seasons.
He is 6-foot-7 with a 6-11 wingspan. He has the crafty ability to finish through contact in the paint and is a midrange extraordinaire. He plays tough on defense as well, getting active in passing lanes. If he can consistently increase his shooting range, he could find time in the NBA as a 3-and-D wing. He guarded all five positions in college and sometimes ran point, starting the offense for UCLA. His versatility brings a lot of potential upside.
He has compared himself to Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler and New York Knicks forward Josh Hart. He cites both as players he studies when trying to improve his own game.
He was a memorable part of UCLA’s NCAA Tournament runs.
Jaquez was a key contributor for the Bruins as they made the 2021 Final Four. The squad lost 93-90 in overtime to Gonzaga on a last-second shot in the national semifinals.
He was the leader of the 2023 squad that made the Sweet 16 before losing to Gonzaga again on a dramatic last-second 3-pointer 79-76. Jaquez scored 29 points in the loss.
In 2022, Jaquez and the Bruins made the Sweet 16 before losing 73-66 to North Carolina, which went to the title game.
Jaime Jaquez is a Mexican American who has represented Mexico in international basketball events.
