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Top recruit 2021 Peyton Watson chooses UCLA

By Steven Kubitza

COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 25: The UCLA Bruins logo on a pair of shorts during a NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - Second Round game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center Center on March 25, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)
COLLEGE PARK, MD - MARCH 25: The UCLA Bruins logo on a pair of shorts during a NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament - Second Round game against the Maryland Terrapins at the Xfinity Center Center on March 25, 2019 in College Park, Maryland. (Photo by Mitchell Layton/Getty Images) /
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Peyton Watson has decided on UCLA for his college basketball career.

It is easy to forget about the world of college basketball recruiting this summer. But as fans know, that cycle never ends. Not even a global pandemic can stop coaches from building future teams.

Peyton Watson is one top prospect who plenty of programs had their eye on as part of the 2021 class. The small forward out of Long Beach had many suitors and has finally made his decision. He announced the move on Twitter and is looking to continue his legacy in the state of California.

https://twitter.com/peytonfromlb/status/1287919090904883200

Peyton Watson headed to UCLA

This is major news for UCLA as Watson is the number one prospect in the state. Keeping California talent within the state is a huge win for Mick Cronin and a UCLA program that has not reached the Final Four since 2008.

Watson stands 6-foot-7 and has risen up to be a top-20 player in the 2021 class. He had offers from Arizona, Washington, Georgetown, and several other top programs. Choosing UCLA should point to Cronin’s ability to recruit after he showed up and led the Bruins to a 19-12 record before the shutdown in March.

That record came with a team that was not built by Cronin himself. Having the ability to land five-star recruits like Watson should change the program’s fortunes rather fast. Watson committing will also let other top recruits know UCLA is a premier program once again. His tweet mentions “shifting the culture” and that will happen quickly with an influx of top talent.

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Watson is joining a talented group with the only question marks being the eligibility of certain players if a full season is not played this year. However, his announcement is great news and Bruins fans have something positive to cheer about this summer.