Jaylen Clark was everywhere in UCLA’s season-opening win over Sacramento State.

The third-year guard had 17 points on a perfect 7-for-7 night from the floor. He had eight rebounds and four assists. And he had seven (!!!) steals.

The L.A. Times’ Ben Bolch wrote this week that, according to OptaSTATS, Clark is the only NBA, WNBA, or NCAA Division I men’s or women’s player in the last 20 years to record at least 15 points, at least seven rebounds, and at least seven steals while making every shot in a game.

An all-defensive team selection in the Pac-12 last season, Clark could be unleashed this year as a defensive terror for coach Mick Cronin. He’s a bulldog, someone who could challenge for the program’s single-season steals record, someone who could earn the Pac-12’s Most Improved Player award for his work at the less-glamorous end.

“That’s where I get my enjoyment,” Clark said after the game. “You can ask (teammates). It’s like that in practice, too, for the most part. I just like going up and taking people out of the game and it creates easy offense for me. I try to be an in-the-flow type player, so it just gets me going. My defense is my offense.”

Cronin thinks that mentality comes from Clark’s family.

“Jaylen’s mom’s from Cleveland and his dad’s from Newark, two of the toughest, hardest-working towns in American,” Cronin said, according to Bolch. “So I’ve got to give them a lot of credit. I think a lot of that comes from the DNA of his family.”

Wherever it comes from, UCLA is happy to reap the rewards.

The Bruins (1-0) return to the floor against Long Beach State (1-0) at 8 p.m. on Friday.