UCLA freshman Berke Buyuktuncel could play against Marquette after being cleared

UCLA anticipates being at full strength for the Maui Invitational.

Freshman forward Berke Buyuktuncel is set to debut for the Bruins after being cleared by the NCAA, strengthening the team for their upcoming showdown against No. 4 Marquette.

Arriving from Turkey, the 6-foot-9 Bukuytuncel had to watch his new team beat Saint Francis, Lafayette, and Long Island in street clothes, but now he’s ready to join them on the court.

Read more: Aday Mara shows off his array of skills as UCLA rolls to a win over Long Island

This summer, UCLA coach Mick Cronin compared Buyuktuncel to Jaime Jaquez Jr., praising his diverse set of skills and contributions to the Turkish national team.

The return of sophomore point guard Dylan Andrews for the game against Marquette remains uncertain after his absence against Long Island last week. However, the Bruins have their sights set after handing a decisive 67-56 loss to Marquette in 2021, and look to continue their unbeaten streak.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.