In a mild surprise, five-star guard Lonnie Walker of Pennsylvania announced today he chose Miami over Arizona, Kentucky, Syracuse and Villanova.
While Walker attended Arizona's Oct. 14 Red Blue Game andย had over 80 percent of the analysts in 24/7's "Crystal Ball" saying he would play for Arizona, there was some late buzz this week that the Hurricanes were moving in on him. The fall signing period ends today.
"I feel itโs best for me, on and off the court, and will make (me a) greater individual on the court," Walker said in a statement he attached to a tweet announcing the decision. "Thanks to all the schools that recruited me, but Iโm officially a Cane. #GoCanes.โ
Walker's Tweet featured a photo with his face and that of Miami coach Jim Larranaga photoshopped into celebratory Muhammad Ali poses.
Walker's decision likely leaves Arizona's fall recruiting class at four players, but still possibly the Wildcats' best fall class ever. Arizona signed five-star center DeAndre Ayton, plus four-star talents in guards Alex Barcello, wing Brandon Randolph and forward Ira Lee.
Arizona's class is also noticeably bigger than its last fall class, which included only Lauri Markkanen. That forced the Wildcats to scramble in the winter and spring to assemble a class that eventually included Kobi Simmons, Rawle Alkins, Keanu Pinder, Dylan Smith, Talbott Denny and Terrance Ferguson (who opted for pro ball in Australia instead).
The Wildcats are still involved with a number of top 2017 targets -- such as forward Brandon McCoy of San Diego, guard Trevon Duval of Delaware and guard Hamidou Diallo of Queens, N.Y. -- but most are not expected to make a decision until after the fall signing period ends today.
Arizona is likely to seek a total of at least five or six players total in the class of 2017, adjusting if needed after it becomes clear who is leaving early next spring.
ICYMI, lots of postgame notes from Arizona's win over Cal State Bakersfield on the previous blog post.
