Mick Cronin reveals what Jamie Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell and Dave Singleton have meant to UCLA

UCLA‘s season ended Thursday night with a gut-wrenching loss to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16. And with that loss, this is likely the end of Jamie Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell, and David Singleton‘s time with the Bruins.

Following their 79-76 loss, UCLA head coach Mick Cronin shared his thoughts on what the trio has meant to the program.

“Loyalty, which is rare in today’s society, which is something that I have great respect for,” said Cronin. “And when I look at those guys, I respect people, I think — I don’t respect anybody I think that’s a fraud that doesn’t work hard. I just don’t. I don’t care if you like me.”

The loyalty the three showed to UCLA is uncommon in the current landscape of college sports. All three have spent the entirety of their college career at the Los Angeles, CA, campus; Campbell and Jaquez Jr. arriving in 2019-2020 and Singleton in 2018-2019.

“I have great respect for those three because when you watch them play you don’t think, well, he should be better than that. When you watch Dave Singleton and you see he’s limited athletically, and you see that he gets everything he can out of his body and his talent.

“Tyger Campbell, unbelievable career. You can’t get any more out of his body and his God-given things that he has that he can’t change. He totally maxes it out,” said Cronin.

“And Jaime Jaquez, same thing. Came in to us as a human turnover the first two months. And I just played him because he was as crazy as me. We were losing. He was pissed. I said I can build a program with this guy because he’s got heart. Now look at him.”

“But it proves, if you work hard, you have a great attitude, you can become a really, really good player. So that’s why I respect those guys so much.”

If this Sweet 16 loss to Gonzaga is indeed the last go around, the three of them did not go down quietly. Jaquez Jr. was the Bruins leading rebounder and scorer, putting up a double-double with 29 points and 11 rebounds. Singleton was still a bit hobbled with his injury but mustard up eight in the scoring column and five boards. And Campbell had 14 points and a game-high nine assists.

Arguably, the lack of depth for the Bruins is likely what did them in. UCLA played just eight players in the game as the team was bitten hard by the injury bug late in the season and in tournament play. Still, a loss is a loss, and the reasons behind it may soon be forgotten. But according to Cronin, the impact Singleton, Jaquez Jr., and Campbell had at UCLA and on his program wont.