Pac 12 Preview: UCLA

Pac 12 Preview: UCLA

Last Season: UCLA was 27-8 last season and 14-4 in conference play. The Bruins won their first three NCAA games before losing in the Elite 8 to Mississippi State.


The Coaches: Cori Close is in her 8th season as the Head Coach. Close is averaging 21 wins per year. She went to HS in the San Jose area.
Shannon Perry is in her 8th year and she coached at Duke for 5 seasons.
Tony Newnan like the others is in his 8th season.
Tasha Brown is in her first season at UCLA. Brown coached at Rice last season and the previous five seasons at Cincinnati.


Losses:
Jenny Huth was an assistant through the entire Close era and is now the Head Coach at Northern Colorado.

Jordin Canada is an all time great at UCLA this past season averaging 17 points and 17 assists. Canada made 51 threes at 38%.

Monique Billings also had a fantastic career and last season averaged 15 points and 9 rebounds.
Kelli Hayes started most games averaging 6 points.
Ashley Hearn didn’t play last season and is not on the current roster.
UCLA lost half their points per game.



Additions:
Lindsey Corsaro is a 6-1 Redshirt Frosh Wing ranked # 15 out of HS. Lindsey originally committed to Kentucky, then de committed when players transferred from Kentucky. Corsaro didn’t play this past season with injuries and played just 4 games two seasons ago before redshirting.

Kayla Owens is a 6-1 Redshirt Frosh Guard, ranked # 45. Owens is from Texas.

Ahlana Smith is a 5-9 Guard from North Carolina ranked # 34.

Shayley Harris is a 6-6 Post from NorCal ranked just outside the top 100.

Kiara Jefferson is a 5-9 Guard from NorCal ranked # 65.

Natalie Chou is a JR who will redshirt this season after transferring from Baylor. Chou is a 6-1 Guard. At Baylor she averaged 7 points while starting the first 21 games before an injury. Chou was the 8th ranked recruit in her class.



The Schedule:
The Bruins play Georgia and Oklahoma State at home, and in a tournament Kentucky and North Carolina.
UCLA plays the Washington schools only at home and the Arizona schools only on the road.



The Team:
Lajahna Drummer is a 6-1 5th year Sr Forward who 6 points and 5 rebounds last season

Kennedy Burke is a 6-1 Sr Wing. Last season Burke averaged 9 points and 5 rebounds. Burke was ranked as high as # 16 out of HS.

Chantel Horvat is a 6-1 Soph Guard from Australia. Chantel was ranked # 15 in the class. Her father was a famous Australian soccer player. She averaged 4 points last season.

Michaela Onyenwere is a 5-11 Soph Forward who averaged 7 points and 5 rebounds. She is from Colorado ranked # 10. Her father ran in the Olympics for Nigeria. Michela could also run track if desired with excellent marks for the 100, 11.99 and 200, 24.55.

Japreece Dean is a 5-6 Sr Guard who averaged 8 points and made 46 threes at 35%.

Lauren Miller is a 6-1 Soph Forward who averaged 2 points. She was ranked # 16. Although ranked about 70 on other services.

Ally Rosenblum is a 6-4 Jr Post who averaged one point and one rebound. She was ranked # 47 out of HS. Ally is from the great Mater Dei program in Southern California

Chrissy Baird is a 6-1 Sr Guard.



Predictions:
The losses of Canada and Billings are huge. Both went on to play in the WNBA. The Bruins need to be injury free and their role players from last season to step into starting roles to challenge the top three.


2019 Recruiting:
Charisma Osborne, 5-10 Guard from SoCal ranked # 10
Jaden Owens, 5-9 Guard ranked # 23.
Camryn Brown, 5-10 Guard ranked # 90.
Brynn Masikewich, 6-3 Forward from Canada