UCLA Basketball: Adem Bona Revels In First Bruins Game Since March Shoulder Injury

It's nice to have him back!

UCLA Bruins starting power forward Adem Bona already made quite an impression in the first matchup of his sophomore season with the club. He scored 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor, pulled down nine rebounds and blocked four shots while leading the Blue and Gold to a top 75-44 decimation over the Saint Francis University Red Flash in Pauley Pavilion.

It was a big moment for the 6'10" All-Pac-12 big man (and the Pac-12 Freshman of the Year), whose 2022-23 campaign ended early following a left shoulder injury in March. He reflected on his first game back, in which he bested his NCAA career high, as John Davis of The Los Angeles Daily News details.

“It feels amazing to be able to share the court with my teammates,” Bona said. “To have the coaches on the side, to be able to put on a jersey again, it’s an amazing feeling playing in Pauley, the fans, everyone, just an amazing feel in general.”

Bona is one of the few holdovers from last year's starting five, who helped lead UCLA to a 31-6 record and a Sweet Sixteen appearance. Of that team, only Bona, redshirt fifth-year senior center Kenneth Nwuba,  and sophomore guards Will McClendon and Dylan Andrews mark the only Bruins rotation players returning this year.

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