LOS ANGELES — Instant gratification distorts reality in this era of college basketball. Donovan Dent and Xavier Booker are proof of concept.
Both transferred to the UCLA men’s basketball team before the 2025-26 season with the expectation of immediate success. Instead, it’s been a gradual process with Dent adapting to a power-four conference and Booker taking on a starting role — each learning a new system.
But over the last five games, Dent is averaging 17.6 points, 8.8 assists and 1.6 steals, while Booker is averaging 10.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.8 blocks. They’re lifting the Bruins during a taxing stretch of Big Ten play. Their production will be vital to notching a fifth win in six games when UCLA (16-7, 8-4 Big Ten) hosts Washington (12-11, 4-8) on Saturday.
It’s been a natural timeline for their development, but in a sport defined by year-to-year windows, success can never come quick enough.
“When you’re taking transfers,” Bruins head coach Mick Cronin said on Jan. 28, “unless you got unbelievable talent, it takes time — even though Donny’s a senior and Book’s a junior — to get them molded into what it takes to win at this level.”
There were glimpses that it could be expedited.
When each transferred to UCLA — Dent from New Mexico, Booker from Michigan State — the advertisement was that they would open the floor. Dent, a magical facilitator. Booker, a big man with a shooting touch, and the athleticism to run the lane. Then at a preseason intrasquad scrimmage on Oct. 3, they dominated their teammates. Dent dished pocket passes. Booker finished lobs.
“It’s amazing playing with him,” Booker said then of Dent.
As the regular season started, that connection was sporadic. Dent lost his confidence. Booker lost his minutes. Cronin’s system wasn’t jibing with a point guard who thrives in transition and a center unfamiliar with the paint.
Dent put up a stinker in UCLA’s loss to Cal. He went scoreless during a mucky victory at Penn State. Booker played one minute in the Bruins’ loss at Wisconsin. He doubled that in their loss at Ohio State — with backup Steven Jamerson II starting the second half in both games.
“Got to be able to defend or I just can’t play him,” Cronin said of Booker on Jan. 7 after the Badgers laid an offensive onslaught on the Bruins.
“You dream your whole life about the opportunity he’s got right now,” Cronin said of Dent on Dec. 19. “You could sit there and seize it or watch it pass you by.”
Dent and Booker were failing to turn their fate as UCLA teetered on the bubble in desperate need of a significant victory. Their chance came on Jan. 20 when No. 4 Purdue visited Westwood. The school an hour north of where Booker grew up, led by the point guard — Braden Smith — many believed was Dent’s equal.
With their backs against the wall, they delivered. Dent dropped 23 points, threw 13 assists — setting up forward Tyler Bilodeau for the game-winning 3. He blocked three shots and contained Smith. Booker stood up to the Boilermakers’ bigs, blocking three shots of his own, playing a season-high 35 minutes three days after being iced out of the rotation against the Buckeyes.
Their performances helped UCLA snag a much-needed Quad 1 victory, and keep its NCAA Tournament hopes afloat. It wouldn’t have been possible without the ups and downs, patience throughout their development.
Cronin supported Dent as he played through injury and endured the longest slump of his college career. As fans became critics, as hate replaced adoration, Dent shut down, his coach at Centennial High, Joshua Giles, described to the Southern California News Group.
Cronin believed in his point guard.
“They’re going to talk about you,” Cronin said. “Just get to work. Just remember it. They can motivate you. I’m pretty good at that — at not giving up, teaching a guy how to fight through something. I got my weaknesses, but that ain’t one. So I’m proud of him.”
In early January, Dent started to feel good again, he told Giles. The injuries subsided. His responsibilities — stout defense, ball security — in Cronin’s offense became clearer. Everything clicked in the victory against Purdue.
“I haven’t seen that look in your eyes in a long time, dude,” Giles messaged him after that game.
Cronin didn’t lose faith in Booker either.
“I may get frustrated, but if the guy don’t give up on himself, I won’t give up on him.” Cronin said.
Booker remained confident, too. He grew comfortable banging inside. He didn’t let Purdue’s size intimidate him. He carried that same assurance into UCLA’s game against Rutgers on Tuesday as he scored a career-high 24 points.
“Just staying positive and just staying ready,” Booker said. “You can’t check yourself out of it — it’s a long season — so you just gotta always stay ready.”
Cronin earned the trust to challenge Dent and Booker.
Between the loss to Ohio State and the Purdue game, he berated them in front of their teammates.
“Push somebody on the ground, bro,” he chided Booker. “Do something to show your teammates you care.”
“You got to throw punches and get in the ring,” he told Dent. “I don’t care if you miss. Play. Quit being a bystander.”
Dent and Booker responded. They’ve stepped into the octagon, accepted the fight, and carried the Bruins over the last two weeks.
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