Meet the 2017-18 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team
Editor’s note: This article is part of the Star’s 2017-18 basketball guide, which runs in Sunday’s paper.
New season, higher expectations:
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Assistant coach Lorenzo Romar, left, guard Rawle Alkins and Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller watch the dunk contest.
Arizona enters this season as a favorite to repeat as Pac-12 outright champions and hope to end the 17-year drought of not appearing in the Final Four.
The Wildcats lost key players in Lauri Markkanen, Kadeem Allen, Chance Comanche and Kobi Simmons, but they also return three starters mixed in with the 2017 recruits, which some would consider the best freshmen group UA has ever brought in.
Take a look at this season's Arizona Wildcat men's basketball squad:
24 EMMANUEL AKOT
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Freshman Emmanuel Akot, driving against teammate Allonzo Trier in the Red-Blue Game, is a versatile offensive player with defensive ranginess and attitude. Coach Sean Miller says he has the size, length, quickness and mentality to be a reliable stopper.
Class: Freshman
From: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Size: 6-7, 200
Probable role: Starting or key reserve wing
Age: 18
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @Emman_Akot (Twitter), EmmanuelAkot (Instagram)
Miller said it: “Emmanuel’s blessed with unbelievable court vision. He’s kind of like a point guard even when he’s not the actual point guard out there. He’s a tremendous defensive player with great size.”
1 RAWLE ALKINS
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Class: Sophomore
From: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Size: 6-5, 220
Probable role: Starting small forward (but will miss at least first two weeks of season with broken foot)
Age: 20
Major: General studies
Follow him here: @iam_RawleAlkins (Twitter), kingrawle (Instagram)
Miller said it: “Rawle loves the game of basketball. It’s almost a skill he possesses. Nobody loves to work on their game and practice more, and when we practice he always wants to make it competitive.”
13 DEANDRE AYTON
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Arizona’s 7-foot-1-inch freshman Deandre Ayton, right, is expected to be a top-3 pick in June's NBA Draft.
Class: Freshman
From: Nassau, Bahamas
Size: 7-1, 250
Probable role: Starting power forward
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @realdeandreay (Twitter), deandreayton (Instagram)
Miller said it: “I have never seen anybody like him at his age. I don’t think I will again. It’s just because he’s so physically imposing. He’s as strong and as gifted running for somebody that size that I’ve worked with and he loves the game.”
23 ALEX BARCELLO
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Arizona Wildcats guard Alex Barcello (23) roars after slamming home his third dunk try in the dunk contest.
Class: Freshman
From: Chandler
Size: 6-2, 180
Probable role: Reserve combo guard
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @AlexBarcello23 (Twitter), alexbarcello (Instagram)
Miller said it: “Alex is strong, has a big heart, has very deceptive quickness and toughness.”
20 TALBOTT DENNY
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Class: Senior
From: Tucson
Size: 6-5, 215
Probable role: Reserve forward
Age: 23
Major: Management (masters)
Follow him here: @TalbottDenny (Twitter), talbottdenny (Instagram)
Miller said it: “We think the world of him as a player, as a person and as a student. Everybody uses that word ‘culture’ — you need a lot of pieces to the puzzle and Talbott has brought some character to our team and leadership, having grown up in Tucson and having really understood what Arizona basketball is about.”
55 JAKE DESJARDINS
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Class: Sophomore
From: Henderson, Nev.
Size: 6-6, 215
Probable role: Walk-on forward
Age: 19
Major: Pre-business
Follow him here: @jakedesjardins (Twitter), jakedesjardins (Instagram)
0 PARKER JACKSON-CARTWRIGHT
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Arizona Wildcats guard Alex Barcello (23) defends Arizona Wildcats guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (0) during the second half.
Class: Senior
From: Los Angeles
Size: 5-11, 170
Probable role: Starting point guard
Age: 22
Major: Psychology
Follow him here: @unrulymino0 (Twitter)
Miller said it: “I think to have a senior point guard is something we all value as coaches and that’s what he is. We look at him as being really one of our team’s leaders. Somebody who’s played against every style that you can play against.”
4 CHASE JETER
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Class: Junior
From: Las Vegas
Size: 6-10, 230
Probable role: Practice forward (redshirting after transfer from Duke)
Age: 20
Major: General studies
Follow him here: @chasejeter04 (Twitter), yhase_ (Instagram)
Miller said it: “Chase is a wonderful addition to our team. Transfers always take a back seat to the incoming recruiting class from high school but Chase will be a vital cog for our future.”
52 KORY JONES
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Arizona Wildcats center Dusan Ristic (14) shows Arizona Wildcats guard Kory Jones (52) something funny on his phone. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Class: Sophomore
From: Herndon, Va.
Size: 6-3, 170
Probable role: Walk-on guard (out for season with torn ACL)
Age: 20
Major: Pre-business
Follow him here: @KoryJones52 (Twitter), koryjones2 (Instagram)
11 IRA LEE
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Arizona Wildcats forward Ira Lee (11) is mobbed by teammates after his dunk contest slam during the University of Arizona Wildcats Red-Blue men's basketball scrimmage in McKale Center on Oct. 20, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz.
Class: Freshman
From: Los Angeles
Size: 6-7, 235
Probable role: Reserve forward
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @iramandoesit (Twitter), leetime11 (Instagram)
Miller said it: “He doesn’t look like a freshman physically. He’s going to be able to impact our team with his ability to do a lot of different things.”
25 KEANU PINDER
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Arizona Wildcats forward Keanu Pinder (25) laughs with fellow forward Talbott Denny (20) during open practice. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Class: Senior
From: Perth, Australia
Size: 6-9, 220
Probable role: Reserve forward
Age: 22
Major: General studies (social behavior and human understanding)
Follow him here: @KeanuPinder28 (Twitter), keanupinder (Instagram)
Miller said it: “He’s very, very mobile and extremely aggressive. Offensively, he moves the ball, he’s fluid, but rebounding is really his calling card.”
5 BRANDON RANDOLPH
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Freshman Brandon Randolph, soaring to win the Red-Blue Game dunk contest, is among the talented newcomers on the UA roster.
Class: Freshman
From: Yonkers, N.Y.
Size: 6-6, 175
Probable role: Starting or key reserve wing
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @brandolph902 (Twitter), slim2._ (Instagram)
Miller said it: “Brandon, as he’s gotten stronger, his athleticism really stands out. He’s also a clever passer for somebody who plays off the ball.”
14 DUSAN RISTIC
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Arizona center Dusan Ristic (14) gestures to the Zona Zoo student section after dropping in a three-pointer against Arizona State in the second half of their Pac-12 game at McKale center, Thursday, January 12, 2017, Tucson, Ariz. Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Class: Senior
From: Novi Sad, Serbia
Size: 7-0, 245
Probable role: Starting center
Age: 21
Major: Psychology
Follow him here: @ristic_dusan (Twitter), dusanristic14 (Instagram)
Miller said it: “I think it’s fairly evident that Dusan has made steps each year. He’s like a staircase and that’s what you want to see from those guys who become seniors. Offensively, it all came together for him last year. There were times where our best bet offensively was to get him the ball in the low post. He can be unstoppable down there.”
3 DYLAN SMITH
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Arizona Wildcats guard Dylan Smith (3) soars in for a breakaway jam in front of forward Ira Lee (11) during the 2017-18 Red-Blue scrimmage.
Class: Sophomore
Size: 6-5, 170
Probable role: Reserve guard
Age: 20
Major: General studies
Follow him here: @shift_smith10 (Twitter), Ds3.ynbm (Instagram)
Miller said it: “He really shot the ball well (during UA’s exhibition trip to Spain) and that’s something we know he can do. We’re working with him on other things and the year that he had with our program practicing every day is clearly to his advantage. He’s already played one season of college basketball and sometimes you forget about him.”
35 ALLONZO TRIER
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Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35) flexes after a dunk.
Class: Junior
From: Seattle
Size: 6-5, 205
Probable role: Starting shooting guard
Age: 21
Major: General studies
Follow him here: @ISO_ZO (Twitter), iso_zo (Instagram)
Miller said it: “He’s always been a natural scorer, then he became a better shooter and now he’s a better playmaker. We’re gonna ask him to be a better defensive player and more of a leader on and off the court. He has a chance to be a great, great player in his junior year.”
50 TYLER TRILLO
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Class: Junior
From: Southbury, Conn.
Size: 5-11, 170
Probable role: Walk-on guard
Age: 21
Major: Business Finance
Follow him here: @tyler_trillo50 (Twitter)
54 MATT WEYAND
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Class: Freshman
From: Irvine, Calif.
Size: 6-5, 180
Probable role: Walk-on forward
Age: 18
Major: Undecided
SEAN MILLER
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Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller calls out from the bench during the second half.
Title: Head coach
Age: 48
From: Beaver Falls, Pa.
College: Pittsburgh, ’92 (B.A. communications)
LORENZO ROMAR
UpdatedTitle: Associate head coach
Age: 58
From: Los Angeles
College: Washington (1978-80 as player), Cincinnati, ’91 (criminal justice degree)
Follow him here: @CoachRomar (Twitter)
MARK PHELPS
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Title: Assistant coach
Age: 51
From: Virginia Beach, Va.
College: Old Dominion ’96 (B.S. physical education)
Follow him here: @coachmarkphelps (Twitter)
AUSTIN CARROLL
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Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1), right, laughs with assistant director of basketball operations Austin Carroll on the bench during the University of Arizona Wildcats Red-Blue men's basketball scrimmage in McKale Center on Oct. 20, 2017, in Tucson, Ariz.
Title: Acting assistant coach
Age: 27
From: Bedford, Mass.
College: American University, ’14
Follow him here: @Austin_Carroll7 (Twitter)
