Next season will not only be a defining year for UCLA’s basketball program, but it will also be a defining year for these two players.

This offseason, UCLA assembled a fairly solid roster. But what really headlines next season is the returning core made up of a few potential superstars. If they fall short of expectations, UCLA’s season could come crumbling down.

Trent Perry

Mar 20, 2026; Philadelphia, PA, USA; UCLA Bruins guard Trent Perry (0) shoots the ball in the second half during a first round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images | Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

The first player who arguably has the highest expectations next season is Trent Perry . The reason for this is because of the explosive development we saw from him last season, where he started the year on the bench and eventually became UCLA’s third-leading scorer.

In some ways, this season could be viewed as a revenge year for Perry.…