UCLA announced the signing of 7-foot-3 Spanish center Aday Mara on Thursday.

It was a long recruitment for the Bruins to try and get across the finish line, but Mara was worth the work. He’s one of the best young prospects in international basketball and projected to be a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He has the kind of offensive skillset that would allow coach Mick Cronin to run the offense through him.

Mara will join the program for the upcoming 2023-24 season.

“We are excited to announce the addition of Aday to UCLA,” Cronin said in a statement. “Throughout this process with Aday, he and his family have stood firm on one thing – that they want a great education for Aday, and to see him grow as a young man at UCLA. He has tremendous size and skill and has developed a great understanding of the game of basketball. He’s a humble young man with great parents, and he’s blessed to stand at 7-foot-3 with such talent and a strong work ethic. Aday has great FIBA experience, having played within the Spanish basketball federation program while winning awards and championships at different levels. We can’t wait to have him here with us in Westwood.”

A product of Zaragoza, Spain, Mara has played a central role for Spain this summer at the FIBA U18 European Championships. He averaged 14.0 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 2.7 blocks in seven games for a Spain club that placed second in the competition.

In the summer of 2022, Mara averaged 12.6 points, 5.0 rebounds, 1.6 assists, and 1.9 blocks for Spain in seven games at the FIBA U17 World Cup. He totaled a team-leading 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and five blocks in a loss to the U.S. in the title game.

How Cronin decides to pair Mara and returning big man Adem Bona will be fascinating. Mara moves well enough for his size and has the length to be a rim protector, but he has plenty of work to do on the defensive end of the floor. On the offensive end, he has the ability to step outside for a jumper, but he’s at his best around the basket.

Mara’s best skill is his passing. He also has strong footwork and good hands, making him a potential pick-and-roll nightmare for opposing defenses.

He becomes the seventh addition for the Bruins this offseason. UCLA signed forward Devin Williams, forward Brandon Williams, and guard Sebastian Mack during the early signing period last November. Earlier this summer, UCLA gained a transfer commitment from former Utah wing Lazar Stefanovic. Freshman guards Ilane Fibleuil (France) and Jan Vide (Slovenia) also join the team from the international ranks.

You can see some of Mara’s tape below: