UCLA Basketball: Bruins Appear on Verge of Adding New International Commit

It appears as though your Bruins are about to sign a new international commit, despite the fact that Ivo Simovic, a former UCLA assistant coach and the team’s best recent international recruiter, left UCLA to work as an assistant coach for the NBA’s Toronto Raptors.

According to sources, UCLA is set to sign stretch four Berke Buyuktuncel this season. He is currently a professional with the Turkish club Tofaş Spor Kulb. According to Pierson, the Bruins have been considering signing Buyuktuncel for about a year.

In 2022-23, the 6’9″ power forward averaged 5.8 points on a .477/.310/.703 slash line, 2.7 rebounds, 0.6 blocks and 0.6 assists with Tofaş.

Buyuktuncel was a member of the All-Five team for the FIBA U-19 World Cup. He assisted his Turkish team in defeating the Americans. to a third-place finish this year. Over the course of seven games in the competition, the wing averaged 11.4 points, 8.3 boards, 3.7 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 1.3 steals, including 34.8% shooting from long range.

Pierson considers the southpaw a potential replacement for the long-gone Jaime Jaquez Jr. because of his nice, crafty game, ability to rebound, and strategic passing, who was drafted by the Miami Heat with the No. 18 pick in this year’s draft.

Reference: www.si.com