UCLA adds five players to fix 228th-ranked rebounding
Coach Mick Cronin replaced veteran scorers with younger transfers and freshmen to target defensive weaknesses from the 2025-26 season.
By Giulia Donovan ·
UCLA basketball coach Mick Cronin has rebuilt his roster to address specific statistical deficiencies from the previous season. The Bruins finished the 2025-26 campaign ranked 49th in KenPom defensive rating and 228th in overall rebound-percentage. Cronin aimed to fix those gaps by swapping experienced players for younger athletes who emphasize defense and rebounding. He described the new group as one that responds to his coaching style.
The 2025-26 season ended with a 24-12 record and a loss to UConn in the NCAA Tournament Round of 32. Three eligible players left the program during the offseason. Tyler Bilodeau graduated and was drafted 43rd overall by the Brooklyn Nets. Donovan Dent and Skyy Clark both transferred to LSU after receiving extra eligibility under the NCAA's age-based model.
Cronin retained three key returning players. Trent Perry returns as a junior guard after averaging 12.6 points per game. Eric Dailey Jr. returns as a senior wing after serving as the team's second-leading scorer as a sophomore. Xavier Booker returns as a senior center who shot 43.3% from three-point range and blocked 1.2 shots per game last year.
Five new players joined the roster. Nikola Kusturica, a 6-foot-9 Serbian wing, was the primary target of the offseason recruiting effort. He averaged 25 points, seven rebounds, and three assists at the FIBA U17 World Cup. He also won the tournament's Defensive MVP award. Azavier Robinson transferred from Butler as a sophomore guard. He missed part of his freshman year due to a wrist injury.
Filip Jovic transferred from Auburn as a sophomore forward. Cronin called him a "ferocious player" who uses positioning and strength to rebound. Joe Philon, a four-star recruit from Tampa Bay, joined as a 6-foot-8 wing. Cronin referred to Philon as "the steal of the recruiting class" due to his length and athleticism.
Jaylen Petty transferred from Texas Tech as a sophomore guard. He provided scoring depth by averaging 11 points and shooting 39% from deep over his final 15 games last season. The combination of these transfers and freshmen is designed to improve the team's defensive intensity.
The team will begin its 2026-27 season in the coming weeks. Cronin expressed enthusiasm for the squad's composition, stating he looks forward to coaching the group daily. The Bruins will test this new defensive identity against conference opponents as the season progresses.
