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The Bruins lost a heartbreaking game in the Sweet 16 to LSU in last year’s NCAA Tournament. They were a few possessions away from an Elite Eight appearance, and Cori Close didn’t sit on her hands. Lauren Betts is arguably the best center in the country and is entering her junior season. Kiki Rice, Gabby Jaquez and Londynn Jones also return for their junior seasons. They added three highly transfers in Janiah Barker, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Timea Gardiner. Their recruiting class consisted of three top 30 recruits in Kendall Dudley, Avary Cain and Zania Socka-Nguemen. The downfall of the PAC-12 could be a blessing in disguise, much like it has been for their counterpart in Southern Cal.
Lauren Betts National Player of the Year Campaign?
Betts proved to a nearly unstoppable force in the paint in her first full season as a starter. She averaged 15 points, 9.3 rebounds and 2 blocks per game on 64% shooting. The potential was crystal clear, and when she transferred from Stanford, we were excited to see what she could do in a bigger role. She exceeded expectations, in my opinion. There were no answers for her offensively and defensively she controlled everything in the paint. She showed the ability to move her feet and even contest shots on the perimeter which is unbelievably impressive for someone standing at 6’7.
Lauren’s offensive progression has been steadily improving. She has great balance, control, patience and footwork in the post. When she has her opponent sealed under the rim, it’s virtually a guaranteed bucket. Coach Cori Close is unyielding in her attempts to ensure that she adds different elements to her offensive repertoire.
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Kiki Rice Development
Kiki has the potential to be an elite shot creating, playmaking guard for years to come. She improved in nearly every facet offensively last season in terms of the numbers. I think this is an enormous season for Kiki. She has a ton to prove, there are heightened, yet attainable expectations around the team, and her.
Rice will be looked upon to be more consistent and steadier without Charisma Osborne in the backcourt with her. Having players like Betts, Gardiner and Barker will mean she won’t necessarily have to be more aggressive in terms of scoring. She will need to be more persistent and efficient in making plays for others and picking and choosing her spots. She has a smooth game and is deceptively quick for her size at the guard spot.
How do their new pieces fit in?
Similarly to Betts and Rice, Barker is a former top three high school recruit, while Gardiner was ranked number six in her class. Barker will add a skillset next to Betts that not many can match; the ability to create off the dribble, shoot the ball efficiently, and defend multiple positions and contest shots at the rim brings a new dimension to the power forward spot. If Coach Close is able to bring out the best version of Janiah, she will undoubtedly be one of the best players at the position.
Gardiner, the PAC-12 Sixth Woman of the Year, was pivotal in helping Oregon State make an Elite Eight appearance. Timea is a 6’3 sharpshooter from the three-point line, she made 67 threes on 39.5% shooting last season. She is proficient in the mid-post and excels in initiating plays from there. As elite of a shooter that she is, she is far from one dimensional. The versatility and spacing she adds to their offense is invaluable. Gardiner will command so much attention from defenses opening up the floor for her teammates.
Unfortunately, Leger-Walker tore her ACL in January, so we aren’t completely sure what her timetable to return is. She is a four-time All-PAC 12 team member and was the PAC-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player in 2023. While her numbers were down last season prior to the injury, she’s proven how valuable she is on the court.
Charlisse is an exceptional rebounder for her position, averaging five or more every season of her collegiate career. She became more of a pass first guard last season, averaging about for less shots than the season prior. She is an experienced guard who has the ability to defend at a high level and is always a threat to score.
Kendall Dudley has a very similar skillset to Gabby Jaquez. A 6-2 wing with guard skills, a high IQ, and the athleticism to guard multiple positions. An unselfish player who doesn’t need the ball in her hands to create opportunities and impact the team. I expect her to contribute right away. Avary Cain is a big guard who can shoot the three and has great footwork when getting to the rim. I’m very curious as to what her role can be for a team like this, or even in the future. She’s got a ton of potential. Zania Socka-Nguemen is a 6’3 forward that has the ability to face up and attack the rim, a soft touch in the post and block shots at a high level.
Returning Players Roles
Gabby Jaquez and Londynn Jones will both play significant roles on this team. Jaquez can play and guard multiple positions and doesn’t need the ball in her hands to make an impact. She’s effective off-ball, screen setting, rim rolling and in transition opportunities. I also think she was the best at getting Lauren Betts the ball, and at different angles all season. She has a high motor and is willing to do anything her team needs. If her shooting improves there’s absolutely nothing taking her off the court or stopping her from being a professional in the future.
Jones is a fearless competitor with the ability to defend and shoot the ball at an effective clip. She improved in nearly every statistical category. Her efficiency and decision making needs to improve but she brings energy, effort and speed every time she’s on the court. You can’t teach those intangibles, and she brings all of them. If she gets hot offensively, she’s hard to contain. If that becomes more consistent, she adds yet another weapon to the offense for this loaded roster.
Is UCLA Ready to Win it All?
Can UCLA use their heartbreaking Sweet 16 loss as motivation this season? I had high hopes for them last season, going as far as picking them to make it to the National Championship. On paper, this team is more talented, more versatile. The team’s chemistry last year was great, this team had the offseason to work on that but there’s no guarantee everything fits together well. Although I’m willing to bet it does.
They have who I think is the best center in the country in Betts, one of the most talented guards in the country, and two versatile forwards. That’s without mentioning Jaquez, Jones, Dudley, Leger-Walker and even an unsung player like Angela Dugalic. Their path isn’t without roadblocks, but nothing worth having comes easy. They have an argument for the deepest team in the country, now let’s see if the Bruins can bring another banner to Pauley Pavilion.
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