The UCLA Bruins received a huge boost to their plans for a successful 2023-24 basketball season when freshman Berke Buyuktuncel, a 6-9 forward from Turkey, was cleared by the NCAA to participate in the 2023-24 basketball season, a source close to the situation told The Sporting News.
Buyuktuncel was considered an exceptionally important recruit for the Bruins as they rebuild following the departures of guard Tyger Campbell and forward Jaime Jaquez, who led the program to a Final Four and consecutive NCAA Sweet 16 appearances over the previous three years.
Buyuktuncel signed in August to join the Bruins after playing last season as an 18-year old with Tofas SK. It was expected through that season he would be coming to UCLA.
Because Buyuktuncel came to UCLA from the European club system, it was no surprise establishing eligibility to compete for the Bruins would be a process, but coach Mick Cronin always expressed belief he would be cleared. He traveled to Honolulu with the Bruins, where they will open Monday in the Maui Invitational against Marquette at 11:30 ET on ESPN2.
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In opening the season 3-0, UCLA has been reliant on sophomore center Adem Bona and a young, deep backcourt. Buyuktuncel can give the Bruins the option to play him either as a "stretch-4" forward or on the wing.
"He has established himself as a versatile forward with tremendous talent," Cronin said at the time Buyuktuncel was signed, according to Bruin Report. "Not only can he create for his teammates and score, but he has also developed an identity as a defensive stopper. Berke has become a well-known, highly-regarded international prospect. We can see him excelling at UCLA, both in our basketball program and in the classroom. With Jaime Jaquez having graduated in the spring, we had been searching for a multi-dimensional player with good size, and Berke fits that description. He can do it all on the basketball court."
This summer, he played for Turkey's U20 squad in the European championship and led the team with an average of 13.3 points, including a high of 26 against Italy in group play. He shot 10-of-33 on 3-pointers and averaged 5.3 rebounds and 2 assists.