Five-star junior Hands to UCLA

UCLA had been considered to be the behind-the-scenes leader for five-star junior Jaylen Hands. The Bruins are no longer behind the scenes with Hands.

Hands can Steve Alford and his staff reason to celebrate Wednesday when the 6-foot-1 point guard from San Diego (Calif.) Balboa offered up a verbal commitment.

"Me and my family felt the most comfortable with UCLA and their staff as a whole," Hands told Rivals.com. "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.

"So we just got it over with now to ensure the spot."

Currently ranked No. 23 overall in the class of 2017, Hands has the tools to develop into a big-time player. With his quickness, long arms, ability to deliver the ball, scoring ability and potential as an on-the-ball defender, his playing style is somewhere between Jeff Teague and former Bruin Darren Collison.

Hands certainly feels he can add to the Bruins attack.

"I feel like I bring a dynamic point guard who is able to create scoring or passing," said Hands. "Fits great in their system."

Hands' commitment adds to two growing trends in UCLA recruiting. The Bruins are locking down the most Southern Cal talent, and they are establishing a deep pipeline into the loaded Compton Magic summer program.

All three of the Bruins' 2016 commitments - five-star Lonzo Ball, four-star Ike Anigbogu and three-star Kobe Paras - are based out of Southern Cal and are members of the Rivals150. In 2017, Hands' classmates, four-star power forward Jalen Hill and three-star shooting guard LiAngelo Ball are also SoCal based.

Anigbogu, Paras and Hill play their summer ball under the Magic's grassroots umbrella. The biggest priority remaining on the board for UCLA in either 2017 or 2016 is five-star power forward T.J. Leaf, another member of the Magic.

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