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Mick Cronin reveals Jaylen Clark will not play this week as UCLA prepares for Pac-12 Tournament

PeterWarrenPhoto2by:Peter Warren•03/07/23•

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CBS Sports Classic - UCLA v Kentucky
(Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)

UCLA guard and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Jaylen Clark will not play in the Pac-12 Tournament, head coach Mick Cronin announced.

Clark left Saturday’s victory over Arizona with a leg injury.

“Jaylen Clark has a lower leg injury,” Cronin said during his Tuesday media availability. “That’s all I’m authorized to say. He’s out this week, he will not travel to Las Vegas. We will communicate with the NCAA Tournament selection committee if they so wish if they contact us as far as his further availability. That’s all I can say about that.”

Clark is third on the team in minutes at 30.5 per game, second in scoring at 13.0 points per game and second in rebounding at 6.0 boards per game. He is shooting the rock at a 48.1% clip.

Jaylen Clark provides invaluable playmaking to Mick Cronin’s team

Jaylen Clark has come into his own as a starter this year after being a key role player of the bench the past two seasons.

His defense has always been his calling card but his offensive ability has elevated the Bruins this season and is a reason why they won the Pac-12 regular season title.

But even then, Mick Cronin said there are many things that he can do that don’t show up in the box score.

“He’s just a great athlete that’s just got a knack for making plays,” Cronin said. “That’s it. A guy like him, you can’t watch him in a summer workout. You can’t watch him in drills. You got to watch him compete. The best way I could describe this to you would be NFL stories that I’ve heard about. Chris Spielman was a great linebacker, Ray Lewis, but they never were the most impressive guys in their top 40 times and all that type of stuff. But then the game started and somehow they were the best linebacker. You know what I’m saying now. There’s a level of winner and competitive spirit that supersedes sometimes maybe your lack of height for your position or your shooting or your ballhandling, whatever. That would be the best way I could equate that to. It was obvious. To me, it was obvious.”