With a sudden burst, Donovan Dent accelerated towards the basket for a layup whereas absorbing contact that despatched him tumbling to the baseline.
With an outstretched hand, Dent blocked a shot to set off a quick break that he ended along with his personal lengthy jumper.
With a flick of the wrist, Dent made virtually each three-pointer he took.
The whole lot UCLA’s level guard did Tuesday throughout a roughly 80-minute summer season exercise open to reporters confirmed his means to raise his new staff.
“It just changes things,” coach Mick Cronin stated of getting the veteran switch from New Mexico, “and it makes life easier on his teammates.”
It may additionally quicken the tempo of Bruins basketball.
UCLA level guard Donovan Dent says of his means to make no-look passes to teammates: “Everyone’s starting to recognize that.”
(Jan Kim Lim / UCLA Athletics)
Dent stated a part of Cronin’s recruiting pitch after he entered the switch portal was taking part in sooner, serving to the staff convert turnovers into transition factors.
“He felt like I could fit right into that system and he just needed someone he could trust with the ball in their hand,” Dent stated, “and I feel like that was what I could bring to the table. So we talked about that, we talked about playing a lot of pick and rolls, and he’s been doing that a lot in practice. So I’m excited to see what we’re gonna get going during the season.”
One of many major beneficiaries of taking part in alongside Dent on Tuesday was small ahead Eric Dailey Jr., who routinely discovered himself receiving passes that he was factors. Virtually everybody on the roster has had the enjoyment of being arrange for simple baskets relying on how the staff is split on a given day.
“I don’t have to work a lot on offense,” Dailey stated of taking part in with Dent. “I can just cut, I can spot up, in transition I can run and be his finisher.”
Dent stated his sturdy displaying was preceded by a irritating session Monday that drew Cronin’s wrath, one thing that was once more on show a day later when the coach advised ahead Tyler Bilodeau that he could be taking part in in Uruguay if he didn’t be taught to set a passable display.
“I got hollered at pretty bad,” Dent stated, “because I would make some silly plays, sloppy turnovers. So I wanted to respond the right way and I think I did that today. So seeing it firsthand, being a part of it, I think it does nothing but better the players.”
Lowering errors shall be an emphasis for the 6-foot-2 senior who averaged 20.4 factors, 6.4 assists and three.1 turnovers final season on the way in which to changing into the Mountain West Convention participant of the yr and an honorable point out All-American. Dent stated his new teammates are nonetheless studying that they have to be able to obtain a move always.
“I may not be looking at you,” Dent stated, “but it might still come to you, so everyone’s starting to recognize that.”
Cronin stated Dent’s capturing — the rationale he was not recruited by any Pac-12 Convention colleges popping out of Corona Centennial Excessive — continued to enhance after he made a career-high 40.9% of his three-pointers final season at New Mexico.
A sooner offense is only one anticipated change with the season opener towards Japanese Washington on Nov. 3 somewhat greater than two months away. Bilodeau has moved from middle to energy ahead and Dailey from energy ahead to small ahead in strikes that might assist maximize their abilities.
“I think I can get to the glass a little easier not fending off bigger guys, just space the floor more, can post up smaller four men,” the 6-9 Bilodeau stated, “so I think it’s going to be good.”
Dent is one in every of 5 veteran transfers, becoming a member of redshirt senior middle Steven Jamerson II, junior middle Xavier Booker, redshirt senior guard Jamar Brown and redshirt senior ahead Anthony Peoples Jr. Cronin recognized Jamerson, a switch from the College of San Diego who beforehand performed for coach Steve Lavin, as “a huge steal for us” primarily based on what he’s proven in summer season exercises.
An early optimistic analysis by assistant coach Darren Savino was supported by Cronin’s conversations with Saint Mary’s coach Randy Bennett, who usually confronted Jamerson within the West Coast Convention and referred to as him essentially the most underrated huge man on the West Coast.
“He can screen, he can defend, he can rebound,” Cronin stated. “And he’s got legitimate size — he’s every bit of 6-10.”
Jamerson confirmed good instincts across the basket Tuesday, one thing Booker continues to be studying as a part of his transition from being extra of a wing participant throughout his two seasons at Michigan State. Taking part in alongside Dent will undoubtedly assist in his bid to turn out to be extra of a rim-running submit participant.
“We’re trying to figure out some stuff for lobs and all that,” Dent stated, “but we’re getting it down a lot.”
