Men’s basketball guard Will McClendon to miss 2021-2022 season following ACL tear
UCLA men’s basketball freshman guard Will McClendon tore his left ACL in a team workout Sept. 17 and will miss the entire 2021-2022 season. (Courtesy of UCLA Athletics)
By Jon Christon
Sept. 24, 2021 4:21 p.m.
This post was updated Sept. 27 at 1:12 a.m.
Fewer than 50 days out from their season opener, the Bruins are already down a player.
UCLA men’s basketball freshman guard Will McClendon sustained a torn ACL in his left knee during a team workout Sept. 17 and will miss the entire 2021-2022 season, UCLA Athletics confirmed Friday.
The injury marks the second time in the past three years the Bruins have lost a top guard recruit before his freshman season, with current redshirt junior guard Tyger Campbell missing his entire true freshman campaign because of a torn ACL in his left knee sustained before the season.
A four-star recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, McClendon has yet to suit up for the Bruins since committing to UCLA in January of 2020. The guard helped his team to three state championships from 2018 to 2020 and averaged 16 points, five rebounds, four assists and three steals per game in his junior year.
The injury leaves the Bruins with five rotation guards on the roster, including Campbell and junior Johnny Juzang. Freshman guard/forward and five-star recruit Peyton Watson is now the only first-year on the active roster.
UCLA starts its season in less than two months with an exhibition match against Chico State on Nov. 4.
