Freshman Mac Etienne goes from prep school to early riser for UCLA

UCLA head coach Mick Cronin yells from the bench during the second half against Oregon State on Jan. 30 at Pauley Pavilion.Big Mac. Mac Attack. Precocious Mac.

The nickname possibilities seem endless for Mac Etienne after a sparkling college debut that came at a time when the UCLA forward was supposed to be spending his final season in prep school.

For the moment, Etienne said he goes simply by Mac. Call him whatever you want, just don’t compare him to other players wading through their first year in college.

“He’s not even a freshman,” Bruins coach Mick Cronin said, alluding to Etienne’s having enrolled in January after the COVID-19 pandemic wiped out his prep season in New Hampshire.

Whatever…