Get to know the 2016-17 Arizona Wildcats basketball team
Here's a look at your Arizona Wildcats for the 2016-17 season.
Senior, No. 5
From: Wilmington, N.C.
Size: 6-3 205
Probable role: Starting or key reserve guard
Age: 23
Major: General studies
Follow him here: @AllenKadeem (Twitter), kadeemallen5 (Instagram)
First team ever watched: (North) Carolina.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: (Last season) we never really got out of the hotel
Pregame superstition: I just call my mom before every game. No basketball. Just talk about life.
Favorite campus hangout: Union.
Favorite snack: Rice Krispies Treat
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Biggie Smalls
Freshman, No. 1
From: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Size: 6-5 220
Probable role: Starting or key reserve guard
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @iam_RawleAlkins (Twitter), @kingrawle (Instagram)
First team ever watched: New York Knicks
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Treviso, Italy (For the 2015 Adidas EuroCamp)
Pregame superstition: Haven’t thought about that.
Favorite campus hangout: This gym right here (Richard Jefferson Gymnasium)
Favorite snack: None.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Me. I was born in ’97.
Sophomore, No. 21
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Size: 6-11, 215
Probable role: Key reserve center
Age: 20
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @comanche2414 (Twitter), noo2ndchances (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: My mom.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Australia (For the Pac-12 exhibition tour last summer.)
Pregame superstition: None.
Favorite campus hangout: I don’t really have one. We just travel in a pack.
Favorite snack: Graham crackers. (Cinnamon or honey?). Both.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: My mom.
Sophomore, No. 51
From: San Diego
Size: 6-4 210
Probable role: Walk-on guard
Age: 19
Major: Pre-business
Follow him here: @paulocruz51 (Twitter), paulo.cruuzz (Instagram)
First team ever watched: Philadelphia 76ers
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: The University of Arizona.
Pregame superstition: Try to make halfcourt shots with Gabe York.
Favorite campus hangout: The Union.
Favorite snack: Lucky Charms.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: ’97 baby right here.
Freshman, No. 55
From: Henderson, Nev.
Size: 6-6 215
Probable role: Walk-on forward
Age: 18
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @jakedesjardins (Twitter), jakedesjardins (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: My grandma is from Minnesota so I’m a big Minnesota Vikings fan. I’ve followed them since I was little.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: I went to Reno for the state championship last year. It was just a cool experience with my family. They all drove up with us, so that was my favorite experience so far.
Pregame superstition: I just like to put my headphones in, relax, get ready for the game and think about what I’m about to do. Nothing too special.
Favorite campus hangout: Locker room
Favorite snack: I’m an Oreo guy. Oreo and milk. (What variety?) Maybe a Double Stuf sometime, but I just keep it simple.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: I was born in ’98 so I don’t think of much. I’d have to say the beginning of my life.
Senior, No. 10
From: Tucson
Size: 6-5 215
Probable role: Redshirt forward (injured)
Age: 22
Major: Management (masters)
Follow him here: @TalbottDenny (Twitter), talbottdenny (Instagram)
First team ever watched: University of Arizona.
Favorite place playing basketball took you: Honestly, being able to come to Arizona, getting the opportunity to come play here.
Pregame superstition: I always wear this wristband all the time, then if I don’t take it off before 60 minutes on the pregame clock, it’s weird. I always do it before 60 minutes.
Favorite campus hangout: Right now? My room, because I’m crippled. I just like to lie in bed. I haven’t been able to experience many places around campus yet. The locker room is great.
Favorite snack: I don’t know, not really.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Nickelodeon
Junior, No. 0
From: Los Angeles
Size: 5-11 170
Probable role: Starting point guard
Age: 21
Major: Psychology
Follow him here: @unrulymino0 (Twitter), pgmino0 (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: Duke when they had J.J. Redick and Chris Duhon. I just loved the way they played. It really caught my eye.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Probably Vegas. There’s been a lot of basketball played there. Lot of crazy experiences, camps and everything.
Pregame superstition: Never listen to music. I think that’s the biggest one. Just straight focus.
Favorite campus hangout: Home.
Favorite snack: Yogurt. Strawberry yogurt is pretty good.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Wow. Um, I think of young Kobe (Bryant), those Lakers-Kings battles (1999-2000) in the playoffs. And me really starting as a young basketball player.
Freshman, No. 10
From: Jyvaskyla, Finland
Size: 7-0 230
Probable role: Starting power forward
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @MarkkanenLauri (Twitter), laurimarkkanen (Instagram)
First team ever watched: I didn’t have a favorite team growing up, but as a 15-year-old I liked the Minnesota Timberwolves. I like the players they had.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Tucson.
Pregame superstition: Just the order I lace up my shoes.
Favorite campus hangout: I mostly hang out at McKale.
Favorite snack: Burritos
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: I don’t know.
Junior, No. 25
From: Perth, Australia
Size: 6-9 220
Probable role: Reserve forward
Age: 21
Major: General studies (social behavior and human understanding)
Follow him here: @KeanuPinder28 (Twitter), keanupinder (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: Growing up, I used to love LeBron. Wherever LeBron was at, that’s where I was at. He inspired me to play basketball. I played football before that, he went on Oprah one day and I see he made $20 million when he was 18 and I thought I wanted to have that.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Czech Republic. For the FIBA U19s. It was fun. It was a great environment. There were teams from around the world playing for a world championship, it’s not something you get to do every day.
Pregame superstition: Not really
Favorite campus hangout: Recently I’ve been going down to the Union to play pool, I’m pretty good at that.
Favorite snack: Don’t have one
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Oh, I don’t know
Junior, No. 14
From: Novi Sad, Serbia
Size: 7-0 245
Probable role: Starting center
Age: 20
Major: Psychology
Follow him here: @ristic_dusan (Twitter), dusanristic14 (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: Sacramento Kings in 2003-04. They had two Serbians — Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic. That was one of my first memories.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Hawaii my freshman year (the 2014-15 Maui Invitational) and probably Spain. We used to go to Spain and play in tournaments (with Serbian club).
Pregame superstition: No.
Favorite campus hangout: Library and the Union.
Favorite snack: Fruit
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Michael Jordan and a lot of good movies. “Green Mile” (1999), “Pulp Fiction” (1994) and “Shawshank Redemption” (1994). I think 1994 was probably one of the best years for movies.
Freshman, No. 2
From: Atlanta
Size: 6-5 175
Probable role: Key reserve or starting guard
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @JordanKobi (Twitter), kobi_simmons2 (Instagram)
First team ever watched: Chicago Bulls.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Italy (2015 Adidas EuroCamp)
Pregame superstition: Nah. I just be myself.
Favorite campus hangout: Gym.
Favorite snack: I don’t think I have one.
What do you think of when you think of the ’90s: Music. Old-school music.
Sophomore, No. 3
From: Mobile, Ala.
Size: 6-5 170
Probable role: Redshirt guard (transferred from UNC Asheville)
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @shift_smith10 (Twitter), Ds3.ynbm (Instagram)
First team ever watched: The Sixers, because of Allen Iverson. My mom’s from Philly. He was my favorite player of all time.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Here.
Pregame superstition: Not really, but I listen to music before the game and I rap the whole song and I just jump around. It’s just more about getting hyped.
Favorite campus hangout: It’s probably here if anything. I like being in the locker room and the players lounge in McKale. We have TV in there, you can play video games.
Favorite snack: I have a lot of favorite snacks. But I haven’t been snacking lately because I’ve been eating so much at Rincon.
Freshman, No. 24
From: Las Vegas
Size: 6-8, 220
Probable role: Key reserve forward
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @raysmith2297 (Twitter)
First team ever watched: Lakers
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: I like Seattle for some reason. It was really nice.
Pregame superstition: Sour Patch Kids. I eat ’em right before the game.
Favorite campus hangout: My house.
Favorite snack: Any sour candy.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: I think I would say hip-hop culture, Jay Z, I don’t know.
Sophomore, No. 35
From: Seattle
Size: 6-5, 205
Probable role: Reserve or starting wing
Age: 20
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @ISO_Zo (Twitter), iso_zo (Instagram)
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Probably Greece. Winning a gold medal in Greece was an amazing thing, and not many people can say they’ve been out of the country like that.
Pregame superstition: I have to make sure I get on the court and work out, and I have to pray.
Favorite campus hangout: Our locker room.
Favorite snack: Oreos
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: The generation I was born in. I think of it as I’m slowly getting older.
Sophomore, No. 50
From: Southbury, Conn.
Size: 5-11, 170
Probable role: Walk-on guard
Age: 20
Major: Business finance
Follow him here: @tylertrillo (Twitter), trillo_five0 (Instagram)
First team ever watched: Chicago Bulls
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Boston
Pregame superstition: None
Favorite campus hangout: None
Favorite snack: Chocolate chip cookies
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Being born
Head coach
Age: 47
From: Beaver Falls, Pa.
Degree: Pittsburgh, ’92 (B.A. Communications)
Follow him here: @UAcoachmiller (Twitter)
Associate head coach
Age: 39
From: New Orleans
Degree: Indiana, ’99 (B.S. marketing)
Follow him here: Twitter: @Joe_Pasternack
Assistant coach
Age: 43
From: New York
Degree: Pittsburgh-Johnstown, ’98 (B.S. business marketing and management).
Follow him here: Not active on Twitter or Instagram
Assistant coach
Age: 50
From: Virginia Beach, Va.
Degree: Old Dominion ’96 (B.S. physical education)
Follow him here: @coachmarkphelps (Twitter)
Senior, No. 5
From: Wilmington, N.C.
Size: 6-3 205
Probable role: Starting or key reserve guard
Age: 23
Major: General studies
Follow him here: @AllenKadeem (Twitter), kadeemallen5 (Instagram)
First team ever watched: (North) Carolina.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: (Last season) we never really got out of the hotel
Pregame superstition: I just call my mom before every game. No basketball. Just talk about life.
Favorite campus hangout: Union.
Favorite snack: Rice Krispies Treat
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Biggie Smalls
Freshman, No. 1
From: Brooklyn, N.Y.
Size: 6-5 220
Probable role: Starting or key reserve guard
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @iam_RawleAlkins (Twitter), @kingrawle (Instagram)
First team ever watched: New York Knicks
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Treviso, Italy (For the 2015 Adidas EuroCamp)
Pregame superstition: Haven’t thought about that.
Favorite campus hangout: This gym right here (Richard Jefferson Gymnasium)
Favorite snack: None.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Me. I was born in ’97.
Sophomore, No. 21
From: Beverly Hills, Calif.
Size: 6-11, 215
Probable role: Key reserve center
Age: 20
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @comanche2414 (Twitter), noo2ndchances (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: My mom.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Australia (For the Pac-12 exhibition tour last summer.)
Pregame superstition: None.
Favorite campus hangout: I don’t really have one. We just travel in a pack.
Favorite snack: Graham crackers. (Cinnamon or honey?). Both.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: My mom.
Sophomore, No. 51
From: San Diego
Size: 6-4 210
Probable role: Walk-on guard
Age: 19
Major: Pre-business
Follow him here: @paulocruz51 (Twitter), paulo.cruuzz (Instagram)
First team ever watched: Philadelphia 76ers
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: The University of Arizona.
Pregame superstition: Try to make halfcourt shots with Gabe York.
Favorite campus hangout: The Union.
Favorite snack: Lucky Charms.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: ’97 baby right here.
Freshman, No. 55
From: Henderson, Nev.
Size: 6-6 215
Probable role: Walk-on forward
Age: 18
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @jakedesjardins (Twitter), jakedesjardins (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: My grandma is from Minnesota so I’m a big Minnesota Vikings fan. I’ve followed them since I was little.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: I went to Reno for the state championship last year. It was just a cool experience with my family. They all drove up with us, so that was my favorite experience so far.
Pregame superstition: I just like to put my headphones in, relax, get ready for the game and think about what I’m about to do. Nothing too special.
Favorite campus hangout: Locker room
Favorite snack: I’m an Oreo guy. Oreo and milk. (What variety?) Maybe a Double Stuf sometime, but I just keep it simple.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: I was born in ’98 so I don’t think of much. I’d have to say the beginning of my life.
Senior, No. 10
From: Tucson
Size: 6-5 215
Probable role: Redshirt forward (injured)
Age: 22
Major: Management (masters)
Follow him here: @TalbottDenny (Twitter), talbottdenny (Instagram)
First team ever watched: University of Arizona.
Favorite place playing basketball took you: Honestly, being able to come to Arizona, getting the opportunity to come play here.
Pregame superstition: I always wear this wristband all the time, then if I don’t take it off before 60 minutes on the pregame clock, it’s weird. I always do it before 60 minutes.
Favorite campus hangout: Right now? My room, because I’m crippled. I just like to lie in bed. I haven’t been able to experience many places around campus yet. The locker room is great.
Favorite snack: I don’t know, not really.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Nickelodeon
Junior, No. 0
From: Los Angeles
Size: 5-11 170
Probable role: Starting point guard
Age: 21
Major: Psychology
Follow him here: @unrulymino0 (Twitter), pgmino0 (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: Duke when they had J.J. Redick and Chris Duhon. I just loved the way they played. It really caught my eye.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Probably Vegas. There’s been a lot of basketball played there. Lot of crazy experiences, camps and everything.
Pregame superstition: Never listen to music. I think that’s the biggest one. Just straight focus.
Favorite campus hangout: Home.
Favorite snack: Yogurt. Strawberry yogurt is pretty good.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Wow. Um, I think of young Kobe (Bryant), those Lakers-Kings battles (1999-2000) in the playoffs. And me really starting as a young basketball player.
Freshman, No. 10
From: Jyvaskyla, Finland
Size: 7-0 230
Probable role: Starting power forward
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @MarkkanenLauri (Twitter), laurimarkkanen (Instagram)
First team ever watched: I didn’t have a favorite team growing up, but as a 15-year-old I liked the Minnesota Timberwolves. I like the players they had.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Tucson.
Pregame superstition: Just the order I lace up my shoes.
Favorite campus hangout: I mostly hang out at McKale.
Favorite snack: Burritos
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: I don’t know.
Junior, No. 25
From: Perth, Australia
Size: 6-9 220
Probable role: Reserve forward
Age: 21
Major: General studies (social behavior and human understanding)
Follow him here: @KeanuPinder28 (Twitter), keanupinder (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: Growing up, I used to love LeBron. Wherever LeBron was at, that’s where I was at. He inspired me to play basketball. I played football before that, he went on Oprah one day and I see he made $20 million when he was 18 and I thought I wanted to have that.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Czech Republic. For the FIBA U19s. It was fun. It was a great environment. There were teams from around the world playing for a world championship, it’s not something you get to do every day.
Pregame superstition: Not really
Favorite campus hangout: Recently I’ve been going down to the Union to play pool, I’m pretty good at that.
Favorite snack: Don’t have one
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Oh, I don’t know
Junior, No. 14
From: Novi Sad, Serbia
Size: 7-0 245
Probable role: Starting center
Age: 20
Major: Psychology
Follow him here: @ristic_dusan (Twitter), dusanristic14 (Instagram, private)
First team ever watched: Sacramento Kings in 2003-04. They had two Serbians — Vlade Divac and Peja Stojakovic. That was one of my first memories.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Hawaii my freshman year (the 2014-15 Maui Invitational) and probably Spain. We used to go to Spain and play in tournaments (with Serbian club).
Pregame superstition: No.
Favorite campus hangout: Library and the Union.
Favorite snack: Fruit
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Michael Jordan and a lot of good movies. “Green Mile” (1999), “Pulp Fiction” (1994) and “Shawshank Redemption” (1994). I think 1994 was probably one of the best years for movies.
Freshman, No. 2
From: Atlanta
Size: 6-5 175
Probable role: Key reserve or starting guard
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @JordanKobi (Twitter), kobi_simmons2 (Instagram)
First team ever watched: Chicago Bulls.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Italy (2015 Adidas EuroCamp)
Pregame superstition: Nah. I just be myself.
Favorite campus hangout: Gym.
Favorite snack: I don’t think I have one.
What do you think of when you think of the ’90s: Music. Old-school music.
Sophomore, No. 3
From: Mobile, Ala.
Size: 6-5 170
Probable role: Redshirt guard (transferred from UNC Asheville)
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @shift_smith10 (Twitter), Ds3.ynbm (Instagram)
First team ever watched: The Sixers, because of Allen Iverson. My mom’s from Philly. He was my favorite player of all time.
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Here.
Pregame superstition: Not really, but I listen to music before the game and I rap the whole song and I just jump around. It’s just more about getting hyped.
Favorite campus hangout: It’s probably here if anything. I like being in the locker room and the players lounge in McKale. We have TV in there, you can play video games.
Favorite snack: I have a lot of favorite snacks. But I haven’t been snacking lately because I’ve been eating so much at Rincon.
Freshman, No. 24
From: Las Vegas
Size: 6-8, 220
Probable role: Key reserve forward
Age: 19
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @raysmith2297 (Twitter)
First team ever watched: Lakers
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: I like Seattle for some reason. It was really nice.
Pregame superstition: Sour Patch Kids. I eat ’em right before the game.
Favorite campus hangout: My house.
Favorite snack: Any sour candy.
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: I think I would say hip-hop culture, Jay Z, I don’t know.
Sophomore, No. 35
From: Seattle
Size: 6-5, 205
Probable role: Reserve or starting wing
Age: 20
Major: Undecided
Follow him here: @ISO_Zo (Twitter), iso_zo (Instagram)
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Probably Greece. Winning a gold medal in Greece was an amazing thing, and not many people can say they’ve been out of the country like that.
Pregame superstition: I have to make sure I get on the court and work out, and I have to pray.
Favorite campus hangout: Our locker room.
Favorite snack: Oreos
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: The generation I was born in. I think of it as I’m slowly getting older.
Sophomore, No. 50
From: Southbury, Conn.
Size: 5-11, 170
Probable role: Walk-on guard
Age: 20
Major: Business finance
Follow him here: @tylertrillo (Twitter), trillo_five0 (Instagram)
First team ever watched: Chicago Bulls
Favorite place basketball has taken you to: Boston
Pregame superstition: None
Favorite campus hangout: None
Favorite snack: Chocolate chip cookies
What you think of when you think of the ’90s: Being born
Head coach
Age: 47
From: Beaver Falls, Pa.
Degree: Pittsburgh, ’92 (B.A. Communications)
Follow him here: @UAcoachmiller (Twitter)
Associate head coach
Age: 39
From: New Orleans
Degree: Indiana, ’99 (B.S. marketing)
Follow him here: Twitter: @Joe_Pasternack
Assistant coach
Age: 43
From: New York
Degree: Pittsburgh-Johnstown, ’98 (B.S. business marketing and management).
Follow him here: Not active on Twitter or Instagram
Assistant coach
Age: 50
From: Virginia Beach, Va.
Degree: Old Dominion ’96 (B.S. physical education)
Follow him here: @coachmarkphelps (Twitter)
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