UCLA played well during the 2025-26 men’s college basketball season, finishing 24-12 (13-7 in Big Ten play) and reaching the second round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Seeded No. 7 in the East Regionals, Mick Cronin’s Bruins defeated UCF in the first round before falling to national championship finalist UConn.
UCLA Bruins’ 2026 Transfer Portal Tracker
Heading into next season, Cronin and his coaching staff will have plenty of work to do in the offseason, particularly in building a competitive lineup capable of contending in the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA Tournament next year. The ultimate goal for the Bruins is to win the program’s 12th national basketball title and end the team’s 31-year title drought.
However, with the NIL/transfer portal era affecting every team’s aspirations to contend for March Madness and win the coveted prize in men’s college basketball, Cronin needs to build a competitive team under various circumstances, including players who will transfer to other programs, those who have exhausted their eligibility, expected returnees, and recruits from high school and international programs.
The UCLA head coach will need to address the departure of his veteran core, which helped the team compete in the Big Ten and in March Madness. These players have exhausted their collegiate eligibility and are likely to enter the NBA Draft or pursue other options.
Confirmed Departures
- Tyler Bilodeau – Exhausted College Eligibility
- Donovan Dent – Exhausted College Eligibility
- Jamar Brown – Exhausted College Eligibility
- Steven Jamerson II – Exhausted College Eligibility
- Anthony Peoples Jr. – Exhausted College Eligibility
Bilodeau was UCLA’s top offensive producer, averaging 17.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 1.1 assists in 30.2 minutes per game. The 6’9″ forward, who spent his first two seasons at Oregon State, shot 51.8% from the field and 46.4% from 3-point range this past season, earning him a second consecutive Third Team All-Big Ten selection.
Dent was the Bruins’ leading playmaker, averaging 13.3 points, 2.9 rebounds, 7.6 assists, and 1.7 steals in 34.4 minutes per game. The 6’2″ New Mexico transfer shot 40.8% from the field and 65.6% from the free-throw line.
Brown suited up in all 36 games for UCLA this past season, averaging 15.6 mpg, 3.8 ppg, and 2.7 rpg. The 6’10” Jamerson played in 35 games, averaging 1.9 ppg and 2.0 rpg, while Peoples appeared in six games, tallying 0.3 ppg and 0.8 rpg.
Players Leaving in the Transfer Portal
- Skyy Clark
- Christian Horry
- Jack Seidler
Clark entered the transfer portal on April 7, following two seasons at UCLA. The 6’3″ guard appeared in 26 games for the Bruins, averaging 11.5 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 2.0 apg, and 1.2 spg. He is seeking a waiver to play another season.
Horry, the son of seven-time NBA champion Robert Horry, appeared in four games as a freshman for the Bruins this past season. The 6’2″ guard, who entered the transfer portal on April 8, recorded just one assist and missed both of his field-goal attempts.
Seidler appeared in seven games this past season, averaging 0.3 ppg and 0.6 rpg. He entered the transfer portal on April 9.
Expected To Return
- Trent Perry
- Eric Dailey Jr.
- Xavier Booker
- Brandon Williams
- Eric Freeny
- Markell Alston
Perry was UCLA’s third-leading scorer, averaging 12.6 ppg this past season. The 6’4″ incoming junior also tallied 3.0 rpg and 2.8 apg, shooting 43.6% from the field and 39.2% from beyond the arc.
Dailey was the team’s top rebounder, averaging 5.8 rpg. He also averaged 11.6 ppg and 1.3 apg. The 6’8″ guard/forward shot 48.6% from the field and 31.6% from beyond the arc.
Booker started in 27 of 36 games for UCLA this past season, averaging 20.1 minutes per game. The 6’11” forward from Indianapolis, Indiana, averaged 7.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks.
Williams suited up for 34 games and averaged 2.8 ppg and 1.9 rpg this past season. The 6’7″ guard played 12.1 minutes per game for UCLA. Freeny, a 6’4″ guard, averaged 2.0 ppg and 1.6 rpg as a freshman. Alston, on the other hand, is projected to return as a sophomore guard for the Bruins in the 2026-27 season.
Incoming Transfer Players
- Azavier Robinson (from Butler)
- Jaylen Petty (from Texas Tech)
- Sergej Macura (from Mississippi State)
- Filip Jovic (from Auburn)
Robinson appeared in 22 games for Butler as a freshman, averaging 6.1 points, 1.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. The 6’2″ guard, who started 15 games for the Bulldogs last season, shot 47.0% from the field and 43.3% from 3-point range.
Petty played in 33 games for Texas Tech and averaged 9.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 2.2 assists in 30.5 minutes per game this past season. The 6’1″ incoming sophomore shot 40.8% from the field and 37.5% from beyond the arc.
Macura suited up for Mississippi State last season, averaging 5.0 ppg and 4.8 rpg. The 6’8″ forward appeared in 28 games for the Bulldogs, shooting 55.7% from the field and making only 43.2% of his free throws.
Jovic played 37 games for Auburn in the 2025-26 season, averaging 6.3 ppg and 4.0 rpg. The 6’8″ forward started in nine games as a freshman and shot 64.0% from the field.
Incoming Freshmen
- Joe Philon
- Javonte Floyd
Philon played for Montverde Academy during his senior season, averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 1.6 assists per game. The 6’8″ guard/forward is a four-star recruit who helped Montverde Academy reach the 2026 national high school final.
Floyd, on the other hand, is a 6’9″ center from Georgia who played at Cedar Grove High School. He averaged 11.4 points per game this past season, helping his school win the Georgia High School Association’s Region 5-3A title.
