What to expect as Johnny Juzang returns next season

Rising Junior guard Johnny Juzang from UCLA will reportedly be returning back to school for another season. Recently, he tested the NBA draft waters but did not forgo his NCAA eligibility. After a great tournament run for his Bruins squad, Juzang is ready to run it back with his returning teammates. This means there will be a lot of pre-season hype around Juzang and UCLA. As Johnny juzang returns, here are some things that we will be able to expect out of the elite guard.

Juzang returning to school improves his draft stock

This past season was by far Juzang’s best season, with many reasons as to why he tested the draft waters. In the NCAA tournament this past March, Juzang posted 22.8 PPG on 50.9% shooting from the field. Juzang was posting these numbers as a sophomore guard in an unprecedented season due to COVID-19. He scored 137 total points in his NCAA tournament run, which ended up being the second highest in UCLA history.

During the season, he averaged a solid 16 PPG and 4.1 RPG. As you can see, Juzang stepped up his game as it got closer to the big stage. But even though he stepped up his game in a dynamite postseason run, Juzang was still only projected a second-round pick. Although he could have gotten drafted late in the second round, he can improve his stock with another season in college. After posting the numbers that he did this past season as a sophomore, it will be interesting to see what he does this upcoming season.

From a young teenager who started his freshman career at Kentucky only averaging 2 PPG as a freshman, to an up-and-coming star at UCLA, the Bruins have a lot to look forward to. There are even talks for the Bruins to be a top five team in the AP Preseason poll since Juzang announced his return. This is a valid point and will be something to watch for as an experienced team of many returners.

Juzang’s teammates will trust him as their leader

One thing that Juzang will come back to is a team that will be hungry for more. With the tournament run raising a lot of eyebrows, teams have their eyes on them. Starting with Juzang all the way down to the up and coming freshmen, the Bruins have talent and have potential to rise to the occasion.

Juzang will bring a lot of leadership when he returns because of the tremendous poise and resiliency that he showed. This was shown not only throughout the NCAA tournament but throughout the season as well. Freshman stars such as Peyton Watson, Will McClendon, and transfer Myles Johnson will be making impacts next season. Cody Riley, who played last year and also tested draft waters, will be returning as well.

The talent of the team is there without a doubt. But what is going to standout for UCLA is having guys that will be led by someone other than the coach and flourish together. This is something that Juzang will help with and make the team that much smoother. Another thing that will help Johnny a lot is adjusting on the fly to pressure. Not only game pressure, but pressure off the floor from fans to perform. He already felt pressure having to perform on one of the biggest stages in the final four against Gonzaga last season, but he will have to perform all season long in front of his fans. And then of course go and do it on the big stage again in the NCAA tournament in March.

Juzang’s return will make him an all-around better player

Every player that plays collegiate sports, or any sport of that matter, have two things in common. Those things are strengths and weaknesses. Johnny Juzang returns not only gets the pleasure of playing in collegiate games again in front of a roaring UCLA crowd, but when Johnny Juzang returns he also gets to improve his game.

On Juzang’s draft stock, he was listed as having average foot speed and it is clear that he needs to improve strength. At 6’6, going against long and lengthy players in the NBA, he will definitely need to get stronger. For foot speed, if he is a primary or secondary ballhandler, he will also need to add foot speed. Those are two little things in his game that will make a difference.

With that being said, he has the chance to improve these things at UCLA starting this offseason and during the season as well. Not only can his strength coaches help him improve, he himself knows mentally what he needs to do to get to that elite professional level. After listing a few weaknesses of his, some strengths are his mid-range and three-point shooting capabilities and his scoring ability. He can flat out score the ball and move without the ball just as well.

Additionally, at UCLA he will be forced to mature personally and as an athlete on the floor. Juzang will be exposed to different situations now as he becomes a top upperclassmen. When things get tough during the season, he will deal with them and be forced to lead his team. All of these things are going to prepare him for next year’s draft. All in all, Juzang returning to school is a big deal for UCLA, Bruin fans, and college basketball. The UCLA coaching staff will not have to worry too much about having a leader. Players will be able to learn and develop based on Juzang’s game and how he carries himself. Seeing a Johnny Juzang return will help his teammates, the school, and most importantly himself as a player.