Jaquez Jr., Bailey, Clark Selected in 2023 NBA Draft
June 22, 2023 | Men's Basketball
BROOKLYN, N.Y. – UCLA's Jaime Jaquez Jr., Amari Bailey and Jaylen Clark were each selected in the 2023 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on Thursday night.
Jaquez Jr., a 6-foot-7 guard/forward from Camarillo, Calif., led the Bruins' trio of players as the No. 18 overall pick by the Miami Heat. He became the highest-drafted player out of UCLA since Lonzo Ball (No. 2) and TJ Leaf (No. 18) were selected within the first 18 picks of the 2017 NBA Draft. In addition, Jaquez Jr. became UCLA's first senior taken in the draft's first round since Darren Collison in 2009.
Bailey was the No. 41 selection by the Charlotte Hornets, while Clark was chosen No. 53 overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Both Bailey and Clark were selected in the NBA Draft's second round.
UCLA and Arkansas concluded the evening as the only colleges to have produced at least three total draft selections in the 2023 NBA Draft. The Bruins' program totaled three draft selections for the first time since producing four draft picks in 2017.
Jaquez Jr. was honored as the 2023 Pac-12 Player of the Year and the Lute Olson National Player of the Year by CollegeInsider.com. He finished the 2022-23 campaign as UCLA's leading scorer and rebounder, averaging 17.8 points and 8.2 rebounds in all 37 contests. Jaquez Jr. concluded his four-year collegiate career ranking No. 8 on UCLA's career scoring list (1,802 points) and career rebounding list (842 rebounds). He became the first UCLA player ever selected by the Miami Heat in the NBA Draft (Miami joined the NBA in 1988-89).
"The Jaime Jaquez story is what college basketball is all about," said Mick Cronin, The Michael Price Family UCLA Men's Head Basketball Coach. "You're talking about a young man who led his team for four years, went to the Final Four as a sophomore and won the Pac-12 regular-season title as a senior. He led his teams to a 9-3 record in the NCAA Tournament and won an array of awards as a senior, including one national player of the year award. Plain and simple, Jaime is a winner. Words can't describe how proud the entire UCLA community is of Jaime. We can't wait to watch him thrive with the Miami Heat."
Jaquez Jr. helped UCLA compile a record of 99-36 during his four years, as the Bruins advanced to the Final Four in 2021 and to the Sweet 16 in 2022 and 2023. In all, Jaquez Jr. played in 134 games (126 starts) through four seasons and was a three-time All-Pac-12 selection – a first-team honoree in 2022 and 2023 and a second-team selection in 2021. He became the 43rd UCLA player selected in the NBA Draft's first round.
Jaquez Jr., Bailey and Clark became the No. 123, 124 and 125 draft selections in program history on Thursday.
Bailey, who exceled as a freshman in 2022-23, averaged 11.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. A 6-foot-5 guard from Chicago, Bailey competed in 30 games and made 28 starts last season. He shot 49.5 percent from the field and 38.9 percent from 3-point distance. He was one of five players to secure Pac-12 All-Freshman Team honors, along with teammate Adem Bona. Bailey scored in double figures in 18 games and totaled at least 20 points in two games. He was honored as the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week four times, most recently on Feb. 27 after the Bruins' two-game road sweep at Utah and Colorado.
"Amari is a super-talented young man with tremendous upside," Cronin said. "He got better every day with us at UCLA, and he is going to have a long NBA career. We are very happy for Amari and proud to see him get drafted. All Bruins are excited that he chose UCLA, and we're looking forward to watching him build his career as a Charlotte Hornet."
Clark, a 6-foot-5 junior with the Bruins in 2022-23, earned the Naismith Men's Defensive Player of the Year award and was recognized as the NABC Defensive Player of the Year. He averaged 13.0 points, 6.0 rebound and 1.9 assists per game in 2022-23 and was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, marking UCLA's first such selection since Russell Westbrook in 2008.
"Jaylen had three great years in Westwood," Cronin said. "He improved every season and finished his collegiate career as the National Defensive Player of the Year. We were all heartbroken when Jaylen got injured at the end of the season. He deserved a better end to his career in Westwood, but we're so thankful for his great effort as a Bruin. Jaylen is the best perimeter defender I've ever coached, and I am sure he will be just as good in the NBA once he comes back healthy. Minnesota is getting a winning player, and we are all so happy for J-Rock."
Hailing from Riverside, Calif., Clark finished the year having secured second-team All-Pac-12 honors and was named to the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team for the second straight year. Clark shot 48.1 percent from the field and 32.9 percent from 3-point distance. He finished the season as the Pac-12 leader in steals (78) and steals per game (2.6). Clark ranked No. 4 in the nation in steals per game (2.6) and No. 9 in total steals (78).
Most recently, the Bruins won the 2023 Pac-12 regular-season title and went 31-6 last season. The Bruins went 18-2 in Pac-12 play, winning the league's regular-season crown by four games (over 14-6 Arizona and 14-6 USC). UCLA secured a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament, defeating No. 15-seed UNC Asheville and No. 7-seed Northwestern to advance to the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year.
Looking ahead to next season, UCLA's season ticket packages for the 2023-24 men's basketball campaign are now available. Place a $99 deposit to reserve the best seats in Pauley Pavilion. Fans can call (310) 206-5991 or email tickets@athletics.ucla.edu for more information.
