Five-star point guard Jaylen Hands commits to UCLA’s 2017 class

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In the near future, UCLA will be set with a back-to-back pair of five-star point guards.

Jaylen Hands announced his commitment to the Bruins’ 2017 class today, making him the eventual successor to Lonzo Ball. The latter, who picked UCLA 18 months ago, headlines the team’s 2016 haul. Ball — whose two younger brothers are also future Bruins — has said publicly that he intends to be a “one and done” player, heading off to the NBA as soon as possible.

Assuming those plans don’t change, Hands ensures that the UCLA offense will still have a capable backcourt leader. The 6-foot-2, 165-pound San Diego-area product is a high-upside prospect, and is ranked a top-25 recruit nationally by both Scout.com and Rivals.com. He was one of 17 finalists for the 2015 USA Basketball U16 National Team, and measured out with a 6-foot-4 wingspan at training camp.

Hands played at Mater Dei Catholic in Chula Vista before enrolling at Foothills Christian in May, but ended up at Balboa City Prep in San Diego after the CIF ruled against his transfer.

“I love how (the Bruins) play up tempo and rely on their guards,” Hands told Scout.com. “They use the pick and roll well and put the ball in their guards hands and let them play freely. I feel with my ability to create for my teammates and as well as myself, I would fit in great with that system.”

His commitment also signals a shifting trend in UCLA’s recruiting patterns. From 2013-15, nine of the 12 players who joined the Bruins hailed from outside Southern California.

Hands, however, is the third member of the Compton Magic AAU program to commit to head coach Steve Alford since late April. He is set to arrive on campus in the same class as four-star power forward Jalen Hill, and a year after four-star center Ike Anigbogu.