After a miserable, freshman-heavy season in which his team, the UCLA Bruins, didn't even make it to the NCAA Tournament (a season in which they were eliminated from the Sweet Sixteen with a veteran-heavy roster), Mick Cronin offered transfer assistance to a true freshman. We are working hard to add more. this year.
So, UCLA has officially announced the fifth player to sign out of the transfer portal this offseason. Former South Dakota State University power forward William Kyle III will join the Blue and Gold, according to a press statement from UCLA. The 6-foot-9 big man, an All-Summit League honoree and conference Defensive Player of the Year, will be a junior in his first season with the Bruins in 2024-25. Last year, he averaged 13.1 points, 6.6 rebounds and 1.6 blocks for the Jackrabbits.
He joins former Oregon State Beavers forward Tyler Bilodeau, former Louisville Cardinals guard Skye Clark, former Oklahoma State Cowboys forward Eric Daley Jr., and former USC Trojans swingman Kobe. Johnson joins four other players with confirmed transfers and more players set to move in the near future. -Freshman guard Eric Freeney.
The team is also reportedly acquiring former Loyola Marymount guard Dominick Harris, but his addition is not yet official.
“Will has established himself as a strong, athletic and talented post player, and we look forward to having him join our program,” Cronin said. “He has high athleticism, quick explosiveness, can finish at the rim, and really adds another dimension to our team's front court. He's a difference-maker defensively and as a sophomore He was named Summit League Defensive Player of the Year.''Will is a great young man with a great personality. His backstory is great as he is a track and field athlete turned basketball player and we are thrilled that Will chose to become a Bruin. Wait until you bring him to the Westwood campus. ”
UCLA: Adem Bona lands scary rebuilding team in new mock draft