UCLA Basketball: 4-Star Freshman Unpacks "Big Leap" To College Game

This youngster has impressed so far.

Four-star freshman UCLA Bruins guard Sebastian Mack has been terrific in the first six games of his collegiate career, averaging nearly 16 points, along with north of five rebounds and two steals. 

The Coronado High School product has only scored below single-digits once, which was in his debut, putting up nine. 

Efficiency and three-point shooting have been issues for the aggressive scoring guard, as he's shooting 42% from the field, a figure plagued by a 28.6% three-point shooting clip. 

Here's what Mack had to say about the adjustment to UCLA thus far: 

“It’s a big leap, coming from high school and AAU basketball because you’ve got to be in help in this game. Just watching film, I’m trying to listen to everything he [Coach Cronin] asks me to do and then just go from there.”

Freshman Sebastian Mack, speaking to reporters pic.twitter.com/rSAhPWzQCC

— UCLA Men’s Basketball (@UCLAMBB) November 28, 2023

Mack remarks how the big difference for him has been how "you've got to be in help," continuing to state that he's listening to Coach Cronin as much as he can, listening to his advice and guidance. 

The freshman guard's defense has been excellent thus far, averaging as many steals as he is fouls – a mark that is hardly ever eclipsed. 

Cronin is a terrific coach when it comes to player development, and there's no doubt that given the trajectories that players like Johnny Juzang, Tyger Campbell, Jaylen Clark, and of course, Jaime Jaquez Jr. were put on, that Mack could be the next face of the UCLA program. 

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