UCLA starting lineup: SG Jaime Jaquez Jr.
Another player who should step up as a sophomore for UCLA is Jaquez Jr. A 6-foot-6 guard from Camarillo, CA, Jaquez Jr played big minutes as a freshman and made an impact.
Jaquez’s overall stats looked similar to Campbell’s, averaging 8.9 points per game and 4.8 rebounds a game to go along with 1.4 assists per night. The one area where Jaquez was better than Campbell was as a shooter, which is important for his role as the two.
Jaquez shot 45.4 percent from the floor and 31.7 percent from beyond the arc, but he is also capable of putting the ball in the basket from inside the paint. The Bruins would love to see Jaquez continue to attack the basket and boost his perimeter shooting percentage.
In an ideal world, Jaquez’s improved shooting would help UCLA with spacing on offense and his ability to slash inside being a key to his game. That kind of offensive versatility would make Jaquez an extremely difficult cover for opposing guards.
The fact that Jaquez made a noticeable impact as a freshman bodes well for continued improvement as a sophomore. The all-sophomore backcourt could really blossom for UCLA this season.