CHICAGO β Already a two-time visitor to Tucson, five-star forward Brian Bowen has watched his McDonaldβs All American experience get hijacked into another Arizona recruiting visit of sorts.
Thatβs because his roommate this week is DeAndre Ayton.
βIβm recruiting him all the way,β said Ayton, the highest rated of UAβs four recruits so far in the class of 2017. βIβm bugging him all the time. He still hasnβt decided and given me any edge on what heβs doing. But heβs getting an earful from me every day.β
Ayton, who says heβs also hounding five-star point guard Trevon Duval of Delaware and fellow big man Brandon McCoy of San Diego, says heβs not sure how many players UA will lose early this spring.
Thatβs a big problem for Bowen, too.
The five-star, 6-foot-7-inch wing from Michigan says heβs postponing his decision until rosters shake out over the next few weeks, while he still considers Arizona, Creighton, Michigan State and, to a lesser extent, Texas and N.C. State.
The Wildcats are expected to lose forward Lauri Markkanen and guard Kobi Simmons to pro basketball, while wings Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins appear to be considering whether to stay or not.
βThatβs really the thing Iβm waiting on,β Bowen said Tuesday during media interviews in advance of Wednesdayβs McDonaldβs All-American Game. βIβm not really sure whatβs going to happen, not just with them but with all my schools. Itβs tough.β
Provided thereβs the kind of room he is looking for at Arizona, Bowen may be already sold on the rest of the UA program. Heβs visited twice, even paying his own way to take in the Feb. 25 Arizona-UCLA game on an unofficial visit.
βCoach (Sean) Miller is a great guy and (so is) the staff,β Bowen said. βI had a great visit when I was there and β¦ the amount of wing guys they have going to the NBA is really a big thing for me. I want to go to the NBA. I really enjoyed their recruitment of me as well and theyβre really pushing the guys that theyβve had committed to just win national championships.β
Bowen said Creighton coach Greg McDermott has talked to him about βbeing a big-time scorer surrounded by shooters,β while Michigan State has long been chasing its local prospect (so long, in fact, that doubts have arisen about Bowenβs interest in the Spartans).
Bowen is from Saginaw, Michigan, though he opted to play for Indianaβs La Lumiere School this season.
MSU coach Tom Izzo βkeeps pushing the home factor and everything,β Bowen said. βThatβs big time because I love my state. Itβs really just me taking my time and when I feel 100 percent about a school is the time Iβm gonna make my decision.β
Bowen is hardly the only five-star talent who hasnβt settled on a school yet. Six of the 24 McDonaldβs All-Americans are undecided, and half of those are still considering Arizona.
While Duval was unavailable for comment during Tuesdayβs media interview session β a staffer said he wasnβt feeling well β McCoy said heβs considering Arizona because he enjoyed playing with Ayton on the California Supreme travel team last summer.
The two big men, both transplanted San Diegans earlier in their high school careers, were even named co-MVPs of the EYBL Indianapolis event last April.
βHe was playing up top (in the post) and Iβd be playing down low, but thereβd be times Iβd be high and Iβd hit him down low,β McCoy said. βIt was so fun. That was probably the funnest summer I ever had.β
However, Arizona is considered a long shot for McCoy because of the returners the Wildcats have in the post, assuming both Dusan Ristic and Chance Comanche are back to team with Ayton.
A native of Chicago who says heβs also interested in a return to the Midwest, McCoy is also considering Michigan State, Oregon, UNLV and San Diego State.
The Wildcats may have a better shot at Duval, who has potential to take over point guard while playing with Parker Jackson-Cartwright and signee Alex Barcello, while Bowenβs potential role at Arizona is difficult to envision until the NBA smoke clears.
So it may be a while yet.
βI was thinking about committing a while ago, months ago, and I just thought Iβll take my time,β Bowen said. βItβs a big decision, with guys staying and leaving, just a lot of things.β