Five-star center Jalen Hill commits to UCLA basketball’s class of 2017

All it took was a visit.

Five-star center Jalen Hill made a verbal commitment to UCLA basketball’s class of 2017 after an unofficial trip to Westwood on Sunday, according to Bruin Report Online.

The rising high school junior was being pursued by University of Arizona and UC Berkeley among other schools, yet he only visited UCLA.

“I really didn’t think that I was going to make the decision today,” Hill said in an interview with Scout.com. “They spelled out everything I wanted and everything I was looking for in a college. There was no other second place to them. I went with my gut.”

Hill broke the news by tweeting his announcement on Sunday evening: “Thanks to all the coaches that recruited me but I would like to announce that I have committed to UCLA #blessed.”

The 6-foot-8 post player becomes the second member of the Bruins’ class of 2017, joining three-star shooting guard Liangelo Ball.

In mid-June, Hill and the USA Men’s U16 National Team won gold at the 2015 FIBA Americas Championship. With an 88.2 shooting percentage, the 15-year-old set a new record for the United States.

Nationally, the Corona Centennial product is ranked No. 25 overall by Scout.com and No. 35 by 247Sports.

Compiled by Tanner Walters, Bruin Sports senior staff.

Published by Tanner Walters

Walters is the Alumni director. He was editor in chief in 2016-17. Previously, he was an assistant editor in the Sports Department and has covered men's soccer, men's volleyball and men's water polo.

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1 Comment

  1. Welcome to our beautiful campus where CHAMPIONS ARE MADE. Good to have you on our team. Stay healthy, work hard and don’t get yourself into trouble for the next 2 years. See you soon on campus

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