THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: Nothing stays the same, even in college hoops

I missed Johnny Juzang this season.

No, nothing like that.

But as I watched UCLA play this season, even when the Bruins were at full strength, it seemed like there was one piece missing.

One more guy that could have helped them bring the storied program its first national title.

But Juzang, who had one more year of eligibility remaining, opted to turn pro, went undrafted and played 17 games in the NBA G-League and is currently with the Utah Jazz, where he has played in 16 games, averaging 4.8 points per game heading into today’s season finale.

Even without him, and two other starters out with injuries late in the season, UCLA made it to the Sweet 16, and as you know, pushed the Zags to the limit before losing on a deep, deep 3 that, had it not fallen, might have led to a Zag crying on the court for a second time following a regional loss to the Bruins.

BUT THIS isn’t to discuss the pros and cons of leaving school early. Sometimes, it’s just time to move on.

(When I was a senior at Eastern Washington, I was on the newspaper staff with another guy who “turned pro” midway through his senior year, because of a job offer. I didn’t want him to leave because we were having such a good time at the paper … but I understood.)

And as I’ve said before — being a college basketball fan, I selfishly would prefer to see players stay in college for as long as they can. I’d rather watch them star for one more year in college than playing sparingly in the NBA … or play in the G League … or play overseas.

But I get why they would do it.

Besides, the more these guys stay in school, the better the game of college basketball is.

Maybe that’s one thing that makes the Zags so lovable.

Rarely do they leave before they are “supposed to.”

And with the nonstop fawning over them from even before the time they arrive on campus to when they finally leave, it seems like Zags players have been here longer than they actually were.

And with name, image and likeness money these days, there’s reason for some to stay in school rather than turn pro.

Zag fans should be ever grateful for guys like Drew Timme sticking around for four years.

Like Timme, Jaime Jaquez Jr. of UCLA, who recently opted for the NBA draft instead of using his final year of college eligibility, is one of those players you wish could be grandfathered in to play college basketball as long as they wanted — maybe even until they’re … grandfathers.

Maybe that “rule” will be passed someday. After all, who thought there would come a day when college players could be (legally) paid?

AND THEN there’s the transfer portal — essentially, free agency for college athletes.

The Zags have lost three to the portal already this offseason in Dominick Harris, Hunter Sallis and Efton Reid III — and to think how Zag boosters went gaga over the “great” games two of them had against the backups from NAIA Eastern Oregon!

Anyway, the lovables have pulled one back from the portal in Eastern Washington star swingman Steele Venters and, judging by the other players in the portal who say they have been contacted by the Zags, the lovables figure to find more suitable replacements as well.

Which is maybe something those who left saw coming, before we did.

So, good for the Zags, but …

You have to feel for the Eags.

Two years ago, coming off an NCAA tourney appearance and their head coach leaving soon thereafter, many of the key Eastern Washington players departed — some to Portland to follow their coach, others to Oklahoma to play at a higher level.

But kudos to the current EWU coaching staff, for building a Big Sky Conference regular season champion in just two seasons with mostly new parts.

Their “reward” — they lose their best player to the higher profile school just down the freeway.

WSU has been hit by the portal as well — as well as by its star center opting to test the NBA waters.

Sometimes, the transfer portal can be a blessing.

Hailey Van Lith of Cashmere (Wash.) High, who has played three seasons at Louisville, is now in the portal.

Years ago, when a talent like that “got away,” we shrugged and figured the only way we’d see them again was on television.

Now, with two years of eligibility remaining for Van Lith, the spunky left-hander who trained in high school with Kobe Bryant and his daughter Gigi …

You don’t think there might be a school in her home state — or region — that might be interested?

Mark Nelke is sports editor of The Press. He can be reached at 208-664-8176, Ext. 2019, or via email at mnelke@cdapress.com. Follow him on Twitter @CdAPressSports.