Jaylen Clark

Although Jaylen Clark's stellar 2022-23 season with the Bruins was spoiled by an Achilles injury in the final game of the regular season, his junior campaign was a breakout performance overall. Clark earned Naismith Defensive Player of the Year honors in addition to his second consecutive Pac-12 All-Defensive Team nod. Clark averaged 13.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 2,6 steals per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from deep. His defensive acumen helped guide UCLA to the second-best adjusted defensive efficiency in the country. Despite getting surgery in early March, Clark opted to keep his name in the NBA Draft pool. Clark measured 6-foot-4 with a 6-foot-9 wingspan at the NBA Combine. His athleticism, technique, and turnover-forcing skills on defense are rare. Clark is strong with impressive agility. He also graded as one of the better pick-and-roll ballhandlers in the country this season. Clark is a righty who is comfortable finishing everywhere around the basket. He shot 67.4 percent at the rim in 2022-23, fueled by good off-ball activity and a handle that allows him to knife inside fluidly. Clark was on track to potentially be a top-40 selection before suffering his Achilles injury. His skills as a smothering individual and team defender could still result in his name being called on draft night. Clark is switchable across all guards and some small forwards, with a knack for turning defense into offense. That versatility should translate to NBA competition. After making only six starts and hitting under 25% of his total three-point attempts in his first two seasons at UCLA, Clark's 32.9 percent clip from deep in 2022-23 bodes well for continued growth.