Mick Cronin says Amari Bailey has 'tremendous talent'

Amari Bailey came to UCLA this season as arguably the most talented player on the roster. However, as part of an ensemble on a veteran team, his star hasn’t always gotten to shine as brightly.

Still, Mick Cronin says, in his mind, he’d rather have players as gifted as Bailey than anything else on his team. He says his star freshman has only progressed further and further by playing more time over the course of this season and that it has helped him become an impactful player for the Bruins on both ends of the court.

“What did Amari have? 14? I was hoping for 18,” Cronin said after UCLA’s win over Northwestern in the NCAA Tournament. “But it’s my fault he didn’t get enough shots. (I’m) still working on figuring that one out.

“I would always say you want talent and experience, but I’ll take talent,” admitted Cronin. “Amari has tremendous, tremendous talent. The more he plays, the more comfortable he gets, the better he gets. And he’s just as good on the defensive end as he is on the offensive end.”

Bailey came to Hollywood from nearby Sierra Canyon High School where he was a five-star prospect and the No. 1 player in the state of California per the On3 Industry Rankings. Now, in 29 games as a freshman, he has averaged 10.9 points, good for fourth on the team. He has also put up 3.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals on 49.2% shooting in 26 minutes a game.

However, with the recent injury to Jaylen Clark, Bailey has found a new gear as UCLA has entered the postseason. In the five games since the Bruins opened up in the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas, he has averaged 17 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 1.4 steals on 56.5% shooting from the floor in over 33 minutes a game.

Bailey hasn’t always been the star considering who he has had to compliment this season. Fitting in alongside veterans like Clark, Jaime Jaquez, and Tyger Campbell can be a lot. That’s especially the case when you’re used to being at the top of the pecking order. Even so, this opportunity came his way and he has stepped up in a big way for UCLA in it. In doing so, he has also shown Cronin exactly why he recruited him to come play under the bright lights in the first place.