Jaime Jaquez Jr. will begin his career with the Miami Heat.

The former UCLA forward was selected with the No. 18 overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft on Thursday night by the Heat — a team coming off a run to the NBA Finals as an 8-seed. It’s an incredible rise for Jaquez, but not totally unsurprising given who made the pick.

When it comes to Heat Culture, few players in this class fit better than Jaquez for Miami. Still, he was entirely off draft boards a year ago. When he declared, he was viewed as an early second-round pick. Throughout the predraft process, Jaquez reportedly wowed teams.

Now, he provides Miami with experience and size out on the wing.

Jaquez averaged 17.8 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.5 steals a game as a senior this past season for the Bruins. His UCLA career came to a close in disappointing fashion — ending with a loss to Gonzaga in the Sweet 16 — but Jaquez put on a show. He finished with 29 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and three steals that day.

The 6-foot-7 Jaquez helped UCLA make the Final Four in 2021 and departed the program ranked inside the top 10 in career points and steals. He was a two-time All-Pac-12 First Team selection and a two-time Pac-12 All-Defensive Team selection.

Last season, he was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year after helping lead the Bruins to a regular-season Pac-12 crown.

He’s one of the older prospects in the draft class, but that’s probably part of the attraction for the Heat, who have designs of returning to the NBA Finals. Jaquez is a readymade rotation player.

He defends 1 through 5 and he shoots the 3 well enough (39% as a sophomore, 33% for his career). He’s a crafty scorer and possesses some of the best footwork of any player in the draft class. He’s a big shot taker and a big shot maker, a consummate teammate, and a tireless worker.

Jaquez played through ankle issues during the 2021-22 season and cemented his status as one of the more beloved Bruins with his decision to return last season.

Even if it didn’t lead to a national title like Jaquez had hoped, it helped him become a first-round pick in the NBA.