Spanish talent Aday Mara facing uncertain future with UCLA / News - Basketnews.com

Aday Mara, who has just finished his first season with UCLA, reflected on his struggles as a freshman and the differences between college basketball and Europe.

Credit: Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) Credit Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Aday Mara played his last game of the season on March 14, when UCLA lost to Oregon 68-66 with two points and three blocks from the 18-year-old prodigy. He thus finished his first course at the historic Californian University.

Mara has not had the prominence that was expected when he decided to commit to UCLA, leaving Casademont Zaragoza after a turbulent departure in which the Spanish club demanded payment of a termination clause.

In 28 games with UCLA, Mara averaged 3.5 points, 1.9 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 0.7 blocks in only 9.5 minutes on the court. There have been stretches of the season in which he left the rotation and on more than one occasion his coach spoke about his problems on defense and his physicality.

The center, taking stock, did not make his future clear: "We have to see. I have to return to UCLA and meet with Mick Cronin [the coach], see what he thinks and what I think about the season. The minutes will be important, who's going to be at center, who is going to be on the team, how the training sessions are going to go," he recently commented.

"My priority right now is to go to the gym and be able to get stronger for next season. I want to feel more comfortable and play with more contact," the player told 'Bruin Report'.

In his adaptation process, the Spanish center found problems especially with the differences at the defensive level. "The biggest change was the rules- the referees, the style of play... I don't think it is more physical than in FIBA, but in defense it is noticeable. In FIBA ​​we can use our hands, but here the contacts must be perfect or they call a foul. After the first months I managed not to make as many."

According to Marca's Nacho Duque, before resolving his future and deciding whether to continue at UCLA next season, Mara could participate in one of the Spanish teams' training camps.

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