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Breaking Down Every UCLA Offseason Departure
Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Donovan Dent (2) dribbles the ball past UCF Knights forward Jordan Burks (99) in the first half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

It is no mystery that UCLA will have to deal with plenty of offseason departures this season, but how does each one actually affect the Bruins’ transfer portal strategy?

In today’s episode, we will go over the most significant departures UCLA has had to deal with this offseason. Even though some were expected, others came as a surprise. Either way, UCLA needs to figure out how to mend the voids left by these players.

Watch Today's Episode Below

Donovan Dent | G

Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

One of the biggest holes UCLA has to fix is the one Donovan Dent left behind. Not only was he UCLA’s floor general, but he also led the Bruins in total points last season. When combining his points and assists per game, Dent contributed an average of 28.2 points per game.

UCLA will need to attack the guard position aggressively. Without Dent, UCLA really only has two guards who could play substantial minutes — Eric Freeny and Trent Perry. Both players are good, but they still need time to fully develop into their best versions.

Skyy Clark | G

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

Skyy Clark came as a surprise when he entered the transfer portal. However, it should be noted that he was technically ineligible and was waiting to see if he would receive an extra year from the NCAA. Because of that uncertainty, UCLA did not feel comfortable re-signing him.

It is safe to assume UCLA entered the transfer portal expecting to move forward without Clark. Even though his return would have been impactful, the Bruins likely moved on after the final buzzer of the UConn game.

Tyler Bilodeau | F

Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

Tyler Bilodeau is another massive loss for UCLA, right alongside Dent. Not only was he UCLA’s leading scorer, but he was also the backbone of what could sometimes be a fragile offense. However, replacing Bilodeau might be easier than most expect.

UCLA already has two very talented forwards in Eric Dailey Jr. and Xavier Booker. The Bruins may only need to find a few extra points per game to offset Bilodeau’s departure. The easiest way to accomplish that would be by adding a center who allows the forwards to play more freely.

Jack Seidler | G

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Jack Seidler also announced his departure to the transfer portal this offseason. However, this is not a player UCLA will likely miss too heavily, as Seidler did not have a major impact during the 2025-26 season, primarily serving as a role player when UCLA already had comfortable leads.

Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The bottom line is that UCLA still has a solid core in place, but these departures will absolutely influence how the Bruins approach the transfer portal. It will be concerning to see the fallout if UCLA is unable to fill the holes left by these key players.


This article first appeared on UCLA Bruins on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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