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Los Angeles Lakers: Top Pac-12 players available in 2018 NBA Draft

By Shereen Rayan

CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Rob Pelinka, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joe Lacob of the Golden State Warriors attend the NBA Draft Combine Day 1 at the Quest Multisport Center on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - MAY 17: Rob Pelinka, Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers and Joe Lacob of the Golden State Warriors attend the NBA Draft Combine Day 1 at the Quest Multisport Center on May 17, 2018 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DAYTON, OH – MARCH 13: Aaron Holiday #3 and Thomas Welsh #40 of the UCLA Bruins speak during a timeout against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies during the second half of the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
DAYTON, OH – MARCH 13: Aaron Holiday #3 and Thomas Welsh #40 of the UCLA Bruins speak during a timeout against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies during the second half of the First Four game in the 2018 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament at UD Arena on March 13, 2018 in Dayton, Ohio. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

UCLA Gets it’s own slide, six players!

UCLA (6)

  • Jaylen Hands, PG, freshman (No agent, can go back to school)
  • Aaron Holiday, G, junior (Agent)
  • LiAngelo Ball, G, freshman (Agent – Practiced with the team in the Summer and Fall)
  • Kris Wilkes, SF, freshman (No Agent, can go back to school, would be a one-and-done if he left)
  • Cody Riley, F, freshman (No Agent, can go back to school)
  • Thomas Welsh, C, senior (Assuming his has an Agent)

Analysis: UCLA head coach Steve Alford will have a mass exit on his hands if all of these players leave for the NBA Draft. You can bet that Cody Riley (wrapped up in China Incident but practiced with the team) will not be back at UCLA next season. LiAngelo (Gelo) Ball played in Lithuania and will enter the draft, we all know his dad’s vision is to have all three Ball Boys playing for the Lakers, but we don’t see that happening.

Hands showed that he is capable of commanding the court and dropping dimes at the Combine, his draft stock went up, thinking he remains in the draft. He was underplayed, in my opinion, by Alford, when it counted, and he needed a floor general, Hands was left on the bench. This Compton Magic product draws the spotlight and some NBA team will want to draft him. I got a chance to see Hands potential while covering the Compton Magic in Los Angeles and at the Ballislife All-American game where Hands won the dunk championship and took on fellow draftee Colin Sexton.

Kris Wilkes has potential, but we think he should get another year under his belt in Westwood even though CBS projects him as a first round. We asked our sister Site Expert for Go Joe Bruin, Mike Regalado for his input, we agree that Holiday is ready for the NBA and could fit with the current team and former teammate Lonzo Ball:

"UCLA loses four upperclassman and have three freshmen declaring for the NBA draft. They could potentially lose seven players for next season, but only one seems to be NBA ready. That would be junior Aaron Holiday who put the Bruins on his back all of last season. He not only has the grit and skill to make it as a professional basketball player, but he can also score at will. On top of that, he is the one of the most energetic UCLA basketball players I have witnessed in the last decade. as for the flex freshmen that are declaring, it seems inevitable that if you might leave. It is been said that Hands and head coach Steve Alford’s relationship has deteriorated, causing the freshman to look for other opportunities next season. As for Riley, there seems to be academic issues."

Thomas Welsh just finished his college career at UCLA. He is a former teammate of Lonzo Ball, and an accomplished center for the Bruins. Welsh was successful in Tucson playing against Deandre Ayton and beating the Wildcats in Tucson which is an extremely hard feat to accomplish. Welsh quietly puts up points and grabbing boards. Welsh earned 22 double-doubles in his senior year, averaging 20.3 points and 10.8 rebounds. Welsh is a sleeper candidate in this draft.

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