UCLA Basketball: Ex-Bruins Rookie Already Looking Like Draft Steal

He's making UCLA very proud with his play.

One of the better players to come through your UCLA men's basketball program recently was forward Jamie Jaquez Jr., who more than earned his keep with the Bruins. He was selected in the first round of this year's NBA draft by the Miami Heat, and things are going extremely well so far.

Through 14 games, he is averaging 9.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He has also shot 35.7 percent from beyond the three-point line, which is much better than most believed he would shoot.

Jaquez has one of the better work ethics and it seems to be clicking very well with the way the Heat do things. He has even earned praise from one of the better players in the NBA, his teammate Jimmy Butler.

“He’s got some go,” Butler said. “This might be his rookie year but he’s played basketball in a winning manner for so long that he’s doing it on this level now.”

Per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald

Butler is one of the toughest players in the NBA, and he is even tougher on his teammates. He is known for being a workaholic, so having Jaquez Jr. on the team is likely a breath of fresh air for the star.

“I’m just learning as I go. This is the game I played my entire life,” he recently told media. “This is all I’ve ever wanted to do. I knew when I got my chance, I was going to be ready. That’s why I did four years of college, to prepare for this, so I could be ready and confident in my ability. To go out there and make an impact right away. That was kind of my plan all along.”

Per Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald

If he keeps this up, he could end up being one of the steals of his draft class. He has fit in perfectly with the Heat, and they have benefitted from his production.

Miami has one goal in mind, which is winning an NBA title. Jaquez could end up being a major contributor to that if all goes right for the Heat this season.

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