Another day, another quality coup for the UCLA Bruins on the recruiting trail where, on Wednesday afternoon, the Pac 12 bunch picked up a commitment out of Jaylen Hands. The 6-foot-1 guard out of San Diego brings quality instincts, a super quick first step, and confidence onto the ball and should become a quick contributor in Los Angeles in two years.

While just a junior at this time, Hands had gone through quite the priority recruitment but it was the Bruins and the Arizona Wildcats program that were the clear frontrunners for the lead guard’s services. Running with the Compton Magic 17-under crew this past summer on the Adidas circuit, Hands averaged close to 15 points and four assists per game. While he does have to improve his overall percentages from the field and his turnover count, the quick and tough guard can score the ball in bunches amidst contact but also use his quality feel in finding the open man off the bounce.

Hands now becomes the third commitment out of the Compton Magic program out of the two classes ahead and the Bruins are also deep in the hunt for another alum of the program in 6-foot-9 forward, TJ Leaf. It was the deep relationship that Hands felt with the coaches that ended up leading to his own commitment. “Me and my family felt the most comfortable with UCLA and their staff as a whole.”

Hands spoke further on the entire picture that was portrayed and offered to him. “The education, the spotlight, the lineage of point guards being sent to the league, and being so close to home is something we couldn’t pass up.”

In all, Steve Alford found his quick and elusive point guard that should work very well alongside such others as Kobe Paras, Lonzo and LiAngelo Ball, and the plethora of other talented situated around the Balboa City School guard in the coming years.