News Summary
The UCLA men’s basketball program is undergoing significant changes, welcoming former player David Singleton as an assistant coach and adding new recruits Anthony Peoples Jr. and Markell Alston. Singleton, who had a successful collegiate playing career, is expected to bring valuable leadership to the team. Peoples Jr. transfers from North Carolina Central University, while Alston is a promising guard from New York. These developments indicate a bright future for the Bruins as they prepare for the upcoming season.
Los Angeles, CA
UCLA’s men’s basketball program has made significant changes for the upcoming 2025-26 season, hiring David Singleton as an assistant coach and welcoming two new players, Anthony Peoples Jr. and Markell Alston. The announcement was made by head coach Mick Cronin.
Singleton, a former player for the Bruins from 2018 to 2023, becomes part of the coaching staff after a successful collegiate career. As a 6-foot-4 guard originally from Torrance, California, he played a crucial role in helping UCLA advance to the NCAA Tournament in each of his last three seasons (2021, 2022, and 2023). Notably, he contributed to UCLA’s remarkable 2021 run, where the team advanced from the First Four to the Final Four.
In his final season (2022-23), Singleton led the Bruins to a Pac-12 regular-season title and a trip to the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament. He established a school record for the most games played at UCLA with 164, aided by an extra year of eligibility granted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Over his five seasons, Singleton averaged 5.7 points and 1.8 rebounds per game, with a significant emphasis on his long-range shooting, ranking No. 5 in UCLA’s career 3-point percentage (43.4%) and No. 9 on the Pac-12’s career list. Singleton made a total of 219 career 3-pointers, placing him third in UCLA history.
Singleton’s leadership and performance have been instrumental in the team’s success, with his squads posting an impressive record of 116 wins and 52 losses, resulting in a .690 winning percentage. In the last three seasons alone, the Bruins secured an 80-24 record with a commendable 9-3 performance in the NCAA Tournament. Singleton’s final season saw him average 9.0 points and 2.8 rebounds per game in 37 games, while leading his team with 73 made 3-pointers at a shooting percentage of 42.4%.
Alongside Singleton, UCLA has signed Anthony Peoples Jr., a 6-foot-9 forward from Eastvale, California, who transferred from North Carolina Central University. Over 69 career collegiate games, Peoples Jr. averaged 5.0 points and 2.4 rebounds in 12.0 minutes per game. He also played for a CIF state championship team and was part of three league championship teams during his high school tenure at Corona Centennial.
The other addition is Markell Alston, a 6-foot-1 guard hailing from New York City. Alston had a standout senior season at Christ the King High School, where he averaged 13.1 points per game, earning all-state honors from the New York State Sportswriters Association. He played a pivotal role in leading his high school team to the semifinals of the CHSAA playoffs and was recognized as a second-team all-league selection in New York’s CHSAA. Notably, Alston previously played alongside UCLA’s guard/forward Brandon Williams at Christ the King.
Both Peoples Jr. and Alston will join four other athletes scheduled to join UCLA’s basketball program, contributing to an evolving roster for the Bruins. Singleton’s transition from player to coach, combined with the recruitment of talented newcomers, marks an exciting phase for the UCLA men’s basketball program as it prepares for the upcoming season.
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Additional Resources
- UCLA MBB Adds David Singleton as Assistant Coach
- Wikipedia: UCLA Bruins men’s basketball
- No. 2 UCLA Men’s Volleyball Hosts No. 10 Stanford This Week
- Google Search: UCLA Men’s Basketball
- MBB Adds Anthony Peoples Jr. & Markell Alston
- Google Scholar: David Singleton UCLA
- No. 2 UCLA Men’s Volleyball Sweeps Vanguard 3-0
- Encyclopedia Britannica: UCLA athletics
- No. 2 UCLA Men’s Volleyball Breezes Past Vanguard 3-0
- Google News: UCLA volleyball
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