UCLA Basketball: Returning Bruin To Miss Spanish Summer Tour With Injury

Uh oh.

Spain will be getting a sneak peak at your 2023-24 UCLA Bruins men's basketball team this summer, ahead of even the program's Westwood fans, but it sounds like one sophomore will be sitting out the impending offseason jaunt.

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin has revealed that second-year power forward Adem Bona is grappling with a shoulder injury that will be at least serious enough to bench him in August during the Bruins' overseas adventure, per John Rothstein of CBS Sports.

The 6'10" big man, 20, who already has international experience under his belt after playing pro with Pınar Karşıyaka in his native Turkey, is expected to be healthy enough to suit up for the beginning of team practices this fall, Cronin adds.

Bona enjoyed a stellar start to his NCAA career in 2022-23. A five-star recruit heading into Pauley Pavilion, Bona averaged 7.7 points on 67.5% shooting from the floor, 5.3 rebounds, and 1.7 blocks a night across just 22.9 minutes per contest last year. Though those numbers might look a little modest, his impact went beyond counting stats, and he was named the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year while also making the Pac-12 All-Defensive Team. 

Bona emerged as a pivotal part of that Sweet 16 2023 NCAA Tournament team, led by now-Miami Heat swingman Jaime Jaquez Jr., and he'll be critical for this new squad if it hopes to make similar noise this season. If he has to miss a month's worth of preseason exhibition bouts, then so be it.