The UCLA Bruins men’s basketball team always finds a way to have players selected in the NBA Draft. Last year, it was Jaime Jaquez Jr., and he has been a sensation in his rookie year with the Miami Heat.
This time around it looks to be Adem Bona, who has become a huge part of the UCLA rotation and a double-double threat.
In a recent mock draft by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, Bona landed at No. 40 to the Portland Trail Blazers:
While the excitement over Adem Bona has died down, mostly due to a replicable archetype and no signs of exciting improvement, there should clearly be an NBA role for an athletic, high-motor 6’10” big who can finish, block shots and move defensively like he can.
He has been more productive scoring in the post, but the 3.6 fouls and 2.5 turnovers (in just 26.6 minutes) highlight the big questions about his feel.
The talent and potential are definitely there for Bona, and he has made a lot of noise during his time at UCLA.