The UCLA men’s basketball team announced the addition of three more players via the transfer portal while the biggest Bruin – literally – got away Friday.
Xavier Booker, Jamar Brown and Steven Jamerson II will join Donovan Dent as the latest players to transfer to Westwood, offsetting the official departure of 7-foot-3 Aday Mara to Michigan.
Booker, a 6-foot-11, 240-pound forward/center and former McDonald’s All-American, averaged 4.7 points, 2.2 rebounds and 0.7 blocks per game for Michigan State as a sophomore last season. In the Bruins’ 63-61 victory over the Spartans on Feb. 4, Booker played 14 minutes off the bench and had six points, three rebounds and two blocks.
Brown, a 6-foot-5, 205-pound guard, averaged 16.0 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.3 steals per game in two seasons at the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Last season, the senior led the Roos with 17.0 points and 7.4 rebounds and 1.6 steals a game and 70 3-pointers at a 40.2% clip to make the All-Summit League second team.
Jamerson, a 6-foot-10 forward/center from Crespi High in Encino, averaged 10.0 points, 7.8 rebounds and 0.8 blocks per game last season at the University of San Diego, where he played the past three years.
The trio will arrive with Dent, who left New Mexico regarded as the top point guard in the transfer portal. The 6-foot-2 former Corona Centennial High star averaged 20.5 points and 6.4 assists per game as a junior last season, earning Player of the Year honors in the Mountain West Conference.
Big Ten rival Michigan landing Mara was first reported by On3.com on Friday. The sophomore, who shot 59.0% last season, averaged 6.4 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.6 blocks while playing 13.1 minutes per game.
Mara joins junior forward William Kyle III (Syracuse) and sophomore guard Sebastian Mack (Missouri) in leaving UCLA, which finished 23-11 overall and 13-7 in its first season in the Big Ten. Junior guard Dylan Andrews and sophomore forward Devin Williams have entered the transfer portal but yet to decide on their next destination.