UCLA guard Jaime Jaquez says he's entering NBA draft

UCLA star Jaime Jaquez will declare for the 2023 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility, he told ESPN on Thursday.

«I had an amazing journey graduating from UCLA,» Jaquez said. «I want to thank all my coaches, teammates and staff for helping me along this journey.»

Jaquez, the No. 34 prospect in ESPN's NBA draft projections, was a consensus All-American, the Pac-12 Player of the Year and winner of the Lute Olson National Player of the Year award.

«My goal when enrolling at UCLA was never personal accolades,» Jaquez said. «It was to restore UCLA to basketball conversations. When I was growing up, there were some down years. I wanted to propel the program back in the right direction. I didn't think I would be in this position when I graduated.»

Jaquez averaged 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds and 1.5 steals per game, leading UCLA to a Pac-12 championship and a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. UCLA made its third consecutive Sweet 16 appearance, losing on a last-second shot to Gonzaga, with Jaquez posting 29 points, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

Jaquez, who helped UCLA make the NCAA Final Four in 2021, ranks in the program's top 10 in career points and steals and is 11th in rebounds. He was a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection and a two-time all-defensive team member.

A senior, Jaquez could have come back for a fifth year thanks to the extra year of eligibility granted to all student-athletes in 2020 after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

«I knew this was my last year at UCLA coming in,» Jaquez said. «It never crossed my mind, returning. I wanted to do everything I could to win a national championship, but I'm proud of everything we accomplished in my four years here.»

At 6-foot-7 with a 6-foot-11