The UA has made official what Jake DesJardins' high school first said nearly two weeks ago: the onetime walk-on is being put on scholarship.
Arizona issued a news release confirming DesJardins' addition ahead of Thursday's news conference. The program did not comment when asked for an update on DesJardins' status May 21, shortly after his high school tweeted that he was being put on scholarship:
Great to hear from coach Miller that @jakedesjardins is now on a basketball scholarship at the UofA!
— CHS Basketball (@Coronadohoops) May 21, 2018
"Jake has been an instrumental part of 59 wins and back-to-back Pac-12 regular season and tournament championships over the last two seasons," UA coach Sean Miller said in a news release issued Thursday morning. "He is the consummate teammate, an excellent student, a hard worker every day in practice and someone that our program trusts. Congratulations Jake on a job well done!
DesJardins arrived as an invited walk-on in 2016 after being named a Las Vegas Review-Journal all state pick — along with Troy Brown and Zach Collins — at Henderson, Nevada's Coronado High School in 2015-16.
While the 6-foot-6-inch DesJardins has played in only 10 games over two seasons for the Wildcats, he could have a spot role next season on a team with limited frontcourt depth so far. DesJardins played seven minutes over three appearances last season, with two points and three rebounds, and played 12 minutes over seven games as a freshman in 2016-17.
The Wildcats have one scholarship remaining for the upcoming season. Arizona has added five recruits for the class of 2018 so far: Guards Brandon Williams, Justin Coleman and Devonaire Doutrive, plus forwards Omar Thielemans and Ryan Luther.
