Jaylen Clark extends high praise towards Adem Bona

On a team with a lot of veterans, freshman center Adem Bona has had to find his way and his role to start his college basketball career. Over the course of this season, though, his progression has really started to show on a Top-5 UCLA team.

After the Bruin’s 13th straight win, a 68-54 victory over Colorado this weekend, junior guard Jaylen Clark connected a lot of the team’s success to Bona’s growth. The newfound presence Bona has provided for them down low has changed things completely for their team in his eyes.

“I attribute a lot of it to (Adem). I mean if you watch him from the beginning of the year to now? It’s not even the same person,” said Clark. “Now, everybody in the nation knows who he is. They already knew but, now, he’s taken it to a new level. He has a lot to do with this, especially with our situation at big man.”

On the season, Bona is averaging 8.5 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks on 65.2% shooting from the field. Even so, he has really kicked it up another notch to officially start their Pac-12 slate. In their last five games to open conference play, Bona is averaging 11.4 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 2.2 blocks on a 63.6% field goal percentage.

One of UCLA’s biggest strengths has been its depth which, over their 16-2 start, has allowed Bona to take his time and grow this season. After coming out of high school as a highly-touted five-star and Top-20 player, he is now making all the difference on a team that’s ceiling only gets higher as he improves.

Bona describes his college transition, 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.”