Jaylen Petty Is Answer to UCLA’s Point Guard Problem

UCLA basketball is heading into next season with a significant void at the point guard position. Skyy Clark will not be returning to the Bruins after entering the transfer portal in search of a fifth year of eligibility elsewhere. His departure leaves Mick Cronin with one of the more pressing roster needs in the Pac-12 heading into the offseason.

Following the loss to UConn in the second round of March Madness, Cronin moved quickly into the transfer portal and identified several players capable of making an immediate impact. One of those players is Jaylen Petty, who spent his true freshman season at Texas Tech.

Mar 22, 2026; Tampa, FL, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jaylen Petty (11) shoots over Alabama Crimson Tide guard Labaron Philon (0) in the first half during a second round game of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images | Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images

Petty at Texas Tech

Petty was not the most highly recruited player in the 2025 class upon graduating from high school. He was rated as a 4-star prospect on both 247Sports and ESPN but ranked outside the top 100 players nationally. On3’s recruiting site listed him as a three-star prospect. Despite a modest recruiting profile, Petty was one of the top players in the state of Washington and ultimately committed to Texas Tech, where he developed into one of the more reliable players on the roster.

Mar 12, 2026; Kansas City, MO, USA; Texas Tech Red Raiders guard Jaylen Petty (11) brings the ball up court around Iowa State Cyclones guard Jamarion Batemon (1) during the first half at T-Mobile Center. Mandatory Credit: William Purnell-Imagn Images | William Purnell-Imagn Images

The Red Raiders were headlined by the dynamic backcourt pairing of Christian Anderson and JT Toppin, which initially limited Petty’s role to coming off the bench. When Toppin went down with an injury and was lost for the remainder of the season, Petty stepped up and became a dependable…

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Publish date : 2026-05-14 11:00:00

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