UCLA Basketball: Bruins Applaud Career Night From Aday Mara Vs Long Island

The freshman center submitted his best NCAA game yet.

After barely playing in his first two collegiate outings (he averaged 7.5 minutes per), freshman UCLA Bruins center Aday Mara finally carved out major rotation minutes for Mick Cronin's 3-0 club in its 78-58 Wednesday blowout home defeat of the Long Island Sharks.

Playing his most minutes yet for the club (24) while earning his first start, Mara scored 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting from the field and 2-of-2 shooting from the foul line, four rebounds, four blocks, and two assists.

The 7'3" big man out of Spain, projected to be a possible late lottery pick in the forthcoming 2024 NBA draft (should he declare after just one NCAA season) is already turning heads -- on his own team!

Starting sophomore power forward Adem Bona sang Mara's praises postgame, per UCLA Communications. Mara replaced fifth-year redshirt senior Kenneth Nwuba as the Bruins' starting center for the first time this season.

“There’s so much to come from him,” [Adem] Bona said. “And there’s so much the country hasn’t seen and he’s an amazing player and he’s gonna continue to grow and he’s gonna continue to do amazing things.”

Another international freshman prospect, 6'6" swingman Jan Vide out of Slovenia, also spoke highly of Mara's massive vertical advantage over the competition.

“Playing with him is easy,” [Jan] Vide said. “Seven-three looking over everything.”

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