The focus of the NBA Draft Combine this week may be mostly about the potential of younger prospects and undecided players such as Rawle Alkins, who may or may not return to school.
But the old guys have a chance to make some noise, too. Already, the compelling story of Colorado's Derrick White is generating some national buzz while UA's 24-year-old Kadeem Allen will also have a chance to make an impression.
The departing UA senior was invited after a strong performance in the Portsmouth Invitational last month, and ESPN analyst Fran Fraschilla said he wouldn’t be surprised to turn on an NBA game someday to find Allen playing.
“He’s a little bit older and that works against him… but given the the kind of kid he is and career he crafted for himself, he’s a D-League player and potentially higher,” Fraschilla said on an ESPN conference call Tuesday. “He’s got speed, can make open shots, can defend and he’s a high-character guy. There’s 450 (spots) in the NBA, 30 are stars and everybody else is a role player.
“He is the prototypical third point guard or backup in the NBA because of his toughness, defense and ability to handle the ball.”
Allen will be one of three UA players at the Combine this week, along with Alkins and projected second-round pick Kobi Simmons. Lauri Markkanen was invited but not surprisingly has opted not to participate because of his status as a potential lottery pick.
ESPN2 will televise the Combine from 1-5 p.m. on Thursday and Friday from Chicago’s Quest Multisport complex. We’ll be on hand for UA-related coverage in the Star and Tucson.com.
San Diego 2018 forward Miles Norris has moved up his decision to Wednesday, but Scout's Josh Gershon says he's likely to choose Oregon over Arizona and several other schools.
"Everything I'm hearing makes me think Oregon is a very heavy favorite heading into Miles' decision date," Gershon said. "Oregon and Arizona had been his top two but with UA landing Shareef O'Neal at the same position, there's probably less of a fit with each party than there was a month ago."
On 24/7's Crystal Ball, 75 percent of analysts are saying Norris will pick the Ducks.
The Ducks, with plenty of minutes available for next season, will now host Brian Bowen, whose recruitment has gone on so long that he's run out of official visits and will make it to Eugene on his own dime.
After Cam Johnson and Chase Jeter visited Arizona last weekend, Johnson is headed to UCLA and (guess where?) Oregon next.
Oregon's Chris Boucher is is headed to the Combine though he still has a while to go before he can play again.
