In a major blow to No. 2 UCLA’s national championship hopes just days before Selection Sunday, star wing Jaylen Clark is expected to miss the rest of the season due to an achilles injury, Stadium’s Jeff Goodman reports. A semifinalist for the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year Award, Clark left Saturday’s game against Arizona early in the second half and returned to the bench later on crutches.
Clark emerged as a capable offensive weapon this season, ranking second on the team in scoring at 13 points per game and nearly doubling his scoring average from a season ago in the process. But his biggest strength remains on the defensive end, where he is one of the most impactful players in the country and the catalyst for KenPom’s second-ranked defense nationally. In addition to his versatility allowing him to defend multiple positions, Clark leads the Pac-12 and is in the top 10 nationally in steals per game. His ability to force turnovers helps UCLA get easy baskets offensively and is a major reason why the Bruins rank second in the country in turnover margin.
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