UCLA Bruins 2020-21

 

UCLA Men's Basketball Signs Myles Johnson

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Myles Johnson wears #15 

 

uclabruins.com | Apr 19, 2020 | LOS ANGELES 

The UCLA men's basketball program has received a signed grant-in-aid from Myles Johnson, a 6-foot-11 center who will enroll in graduate school after transferring from Rutgers University (New Jersey).
 
Johnson will be a senior at UCLA in 2021-22 after having played three seasons at Rutgers. He was a four-year varsity basketball letterwinner at Long Beach Poly High School (Long Beach, Calif.) before enrolling at Rutgers in 2017.
 
"We're very excited to add Myles Johnson to our program," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "Myles has a vision for where he wants to be and what he aspires to do, beyond playing basketball, and I believe that he's a great fit for UCLA. He is an experienced player who has really improved during his four years in college, and he will be a critical piece for us in the frontcourt next season. With Myles having graduated from nearby Long Beach Poly, I know that he's looking forward to being back in Southern California and playing in Pauley Pavilion."
 
Last season, Johnson averaged 8.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 2.4 blocks in all 28 games (22 starts) for Rutgers in 2020-21. He led the team in rebounding (8.5 rpg) and blocks (2.4 bpg) and was second on the team in overall field goal percentage (62.8%). He finished the 2020-21 season ranking No. 2 in the Big Ten Conference in blocked shots (2.4 bpg) and No. 6 in rebounding (8.5 rpg).
 
Rutgers went 16-12 overall in 2020-21, advancing to the NCAA Tournament's second round with a 60-56 win over No. 7-seed Clemson in a first-round matchup in the Midwest Regional.
 
Johnson has been a two-time Big Ten All-Academic honoree (2019-20, 2018-19) and was named to the NABC Honors Court in 2020. As a junior in 2020-21, he secured honorable mention All-Big Ten Conference acclaim, as selected by members of the media.
 
Johnson will graduate from Rutgers with his undergraduate degree in electrical and computer engineering this spring before he enrolls in UCLA's graduate program in engineering.
 
As a sophomore in 2019-20, Johnson averaged 7.8 points and a team-leading 7.9 rebounds per game. He also registered a team-best 47 blocks. As a freshman in 2018-19, he averaged 4.8 points and 5.7 rebounds per game.
 
Johnson will join an incoming UCLA class that features a pair of freshmen guards in Peyton Watson (Long Beach, Calif.) and Will McClendon (Las Vegas, Nev.). Watson is currently a senior at Long Beach Poly High School, while McClendon is a senior at Bishop Gorman High School.

Coach Cronin Signs Two-Year Contract Extension

 uclabruins.com | Apr 6, 2020 | LOS ANGELES 

UCLA has signed head men's basketball coach Mick Cronin to a two-year contract extension through the 2026-27 season, it was announced today by Martin Jarmond, the Alice and Nahum Lainer Family Director of Athletics. The contract extension will be worth a guaranteed $4 million per year.
 
Through two seasons as The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach, Cronin has compiled a 41-22 record and led the Bruins' 2020-21 team to the NCAA Final Four, UCLA's first such appearance since 2008.
 
"In less than two years in Westwood – through seasons disrupted by a global pandemic – Mick has led UCLA Men's Basketball back to its rightful place among the nation's elite," Jarmond said. "His leadership has given Bruin Nation a program to be proud of, galvanizing alumni and fans around the world, and it's only the beginning. This extension represents the stability and commitment needed to execute the long-term vision that Mick and I share. The future is bright."
 
UCLA went 22-10 in 2020-21 and advanced to the program's first NCAA Final Four since 2008. The Bruins finished fourth in the Pac-12 standings with a 13-6 record and entered the NCAA Tournament as a "First Four" selection. UCLA took down Michigan State in the First Four contest before registering wins over BYU, Abilene Christian, Alabama and Michigan, en route to the Final Four. UCLA had three players – Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Johnny Juzang – who secured All-Pac-12 honors.
 
"I am extremely grateful to Chancellor Block and Martin Jarmond for the opportunity to continue leading the UCLA program," Cronin said. "I love being at UCLA. The commitment from our players over the past two seasons has been rewarding, especially as we have dealt with some unusual challenges during a global pandemic. I would like to thank our players and my coaching staff for their continued commitment to build this basketball program into something of which we can all be proud. I am humbled by the support of the Bruin community. We are looking forward to next season when we can get back into Pauley Pavilion with our fans."
 
The Bruins recorded a No. 7 final ranking earlier this week in the Ferris Mowers Coaches Poll, powered by USA Today Sports, marking the program's best finish since a No. 4 ranking in 2007-08.
 
UCLA's 2020-21 squad featured a balanced scoring attack with at least six players who averaged at least 10 points per game. The Bruins ranked No. 13 in the nation in fewest turnovers committed per game (10.6) and compiled a record of 13-4 in games decided by five points or fewer (including contests that advanced into overtime).
 
The Bruins' 2019-20 team finished the year with 11 wins in their final 14 games before the COVID-19 pandemic prompted cancellations of the Pac-12 Tournament and the NCAA Tournament. UCLA had finished with a 12-6 record in Pac-12 play during Cronin's first season at UCLA. The Bruins finished second in the Pac-12 standings.
 
Fans can now reserve seats for all of the 2021-22 home games in Pauley Pavilion presented by Wescom. Click here to place a $99 season ticket deposit, or contact the UCLA Athletics Sales & Service staff for more information (310-206-5991/tickets@athletics.ucla.edu).

Juzang Named UCLA Student-Athlete of the Week

uclabruins.com | Apr 6, 2020 | LOS ANGELES

Sophomore Johnny Juzang from UCLA Men's Basketball has been selected the UCLA Student-Athlete of the Week, presented by Ready, earning honors for March 30 – April 5. 

Juzang averaged 28.5 points and 4.0 rebounds against a pair of No. 1-seed NCAA Tournament opponents last week, helping the Bruins advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2008. Juzang scored 28 points (11-of-19 shooting) in a 51-49 win against Michigan last Tuesday (in the Elite Eight). He followed up that performance with a team-high 29 points (12-of-189 shooting) in UCLA's 93-90 overtime loss to Gonzaga in the Final Four on Saturday. Juzang concluded the season as the team's leading scorer (16.0 points per game).  

This is the first-career Student-Athlete of the Week honor for Juzang.

 

Also Nominated: Chae Campbell, Gymnastics; Riley Ferch, M. Soccer; Jada Hart, W. Tennis; Kevin Kobrine, M. Volleyball; Devon Newberry/Lindsey Sparks, Beach Volleyball; Hannah Palmer, W. Water Polo Makenzy Pierre-Webster, W. Track & Field; Karina Rodriguez, W. Soccer; Matthew Tsolakyan

Juzang Secures All-NCAA Tournament Team Honors

uclabruins.com | Apr 6, 2020 | INDIANAPOLIS 

UCLA sophomore Johnny Juzang secured All-NCAA Tournament Team honors, as announced Monday evening after the NCAA Championship game concluded at Lucas Oil Stadium. 

Juzang, a 6-foot-6 sophomore guard, averaged a team-leading 22.8 points per game in the Bruins' six NCAA Tournament contests. He also averaged 4.0 rebounds per game, totaling six assists and five steals. Juzang shot 50.9 percent from the field and connected on 15 of 40 attempts from 3-point range (37.5 percent).
 
Joining Juzang on the five-person all-tournament team included Baylor's Davion Mitchell and Jared Butler and Gonzaga's Jalen Suggs and Drew Timme. Baylor defeated Gonzaga, 86-70, in the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship contest on Monday night.
 
Juzang helped UCLA advance to the NCAA Final Four for the 19th time in program history, UCLA's first appearance in the national semifinals since three consecutive trips in 2006, 2007 and 2008. He scored a team-leading 29 points against Gonzaga last Saturday evening, as the Bruins dropped a 93-90 overtime contest to the No. 1-seeded Bulldogs.
 
Juzang, a second-team All-Pac-12 selection, finished the season as UCLA's leading scorer (16.0 points per game). Through 27 games (26 starts), he averaged 4.1 rebounds and 1.6 assists per contest. Juzang finished the season having shot 44.1 percent from the field and 35.3 percent from 3-point range.
 
UCLA concluded the 2020-21 season with a 22-10 overall record and a 13-6 mark in Pac-12 play. The Bruins advanced to the NCAA Tournament as a "First Four" selection, winning a play-in game against Michigan State before securing consecutive victories over BYU, Abilene Christian, Alabama and Michigan.