Adem Bona describes his transition to college basketball, progression this season

As a freshman at UCLA this season, Adem Bona is making his presence well known, especially on defense. He’s had at least two blocks in six of his last seven games and leads the Bruins with 1.5 blocks per game.

It’s been an interesting transition to college basketball for Bona, who also averages 8.5 points and 5.1 rebounds per game. He said he’s had plenty of support as he made his transition to the pace of the college game.

“One, I want to give thanks to my teammates and my coach,” Bona said. “It wasn’t just me. Coming from high school, I was there for two years and it’s a different ball game. I came in, I started slow. All my teammates were there for me and supporting me the whole time. My coaches were there trying to get me to do the right stuff. The upperclassmen showed me the things I needed to know. Just apply what I learn from them, just learning and application.”

Bona arrived on campus with plenty of hype as a five-star recruit and was the nation’s No. 20-ranked prospect from the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Mick Cronin credits UCLA players for impressive leadership

Now in his fourth season with UCLA, head coach Mick Cronin has already found plenty of success, going to a Final Four and a Sweet Sixteen. This season, however, might be the most promising of all, as the Bruins started the year 16-2 and 7-0 in the Pac-12.

One of the biggest reasons for that is, as Cronin explained, the impressive leadership that UCLA has on its team.

“We have great–our veterans are great guys, the freshmen that are playing [have] great attitudes,” Cronin said. “You know, but people follow the leadership of the team, and when Jaime [Jaquez] and Tyger [Campbell] and Dave [Singleton], Jaylen Clark, they’re such winners it sends a message to your younger guys.”