Shaq's son joins growing (and impressive) list of Arizona Wildcats commits
- Updated
Arizona will reload in 2017 and 2018. Get to know the newest Wildcats now.
- Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
The Arizona Wildcats landed a commitment from Shareef O'Neal, the son of former NBA MVP Shaquille O'Neal, on April 19.
Shareef is the sixth commit the Wildcats have landed for the next two seasons, and the second in the class of 2018.
Here's a breakdown of the six commits:
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Position: Center
Height: 7 feet
Weight: 245 pounds
Hometown (high school): Phoenix, Arizona (Hillcrest Prep Academy)
Commitment date: Sept. 6, 2016
Chose Arizona over: Kansas, Kentucky
Class of: 2017
What he said: "I was just ready to become a Wildcat," Ayton told the Star by telephone in September, shortly after announcing his commitment on ESPN. "I didn't want to make too many dramas."
Besides, Ayton said, he knew what he wanted: a coach in Sean Miller who would help his defense and intensity, and feverish fans to play for.
"The University of Arizona, and the fans — it's just the history, and having every game be sold out," Ayton said. "I haven't been to any games (at UA) but I can tell."
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170
Hometown (high school): Tempe (Corona del Sol High School)
Commitment date: Aug. 26, 2016
Chose Arizona over: Arizona State, Butler, Stanford, Virginia
Class of: 2017
What he said: "I didn't want to waste any coach's time so I told myself, When I know it's right, I'm gonna commit,'" Barcello said by phone in August. "I just felt like this was the perfect fit for me. With coach (Sean) Miller recruiting me to be their point guard, I felt like there was nowhere better to be."
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 225
Hometown (high school): Santa Monica, California (Crossroads School)
Commitment date: Oct. 20, 2016
Chose Arizona over: Cal, Oregon
Class of: 2017
What he said: "This really was the hardest decision I've had to make," Lee told Southern California basketball analyst Frank Burlison. "Each of the three schools has a great program and I have good relationships with all of the coaches. But I could only pick one."
Lee indicated in comments to Burlison that his relationship with UA coach Sean Miller played a key role. Arizona has been recruiting Lee since his freshman year of high school.
"They've followed me for a long time," Lee told Burlison. "And they were the first 'big-time' program to offer me a scholarship."
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-6
Weight: 180
Hometown (high school): West Chester, Pennsylvania (Westtown School)
Commitment date: Oct. 12, 2016
Chose Arizona over: Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Marquette, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Villanova, Virginia Commonwealth, Wake Forest
Class of: 2017
What he said: "I guess it was just the best fit," Randolph told Scout.com. "It had everything we were looking for."
Randolph told Scout he wanted to study accounting and finance at UA and that academics appeared to be a big part of the Wildcats' program. In addition, he cited the personalized push UA coach Sean Miller made.
"What I like about (Miller) is he basically reached out to me a lot," Randolph told Scout. "He showed that he was really interested. Not just the assistant, a couple of schools I thought it was just the assistant coaches interested.
"I just felt me having a relationship with the head coach is a lot better. I just thought if he was interested in me and wants me and I loved their program, this would be a great fit."
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 190
Hometown (high school): Mount Pleasant, Utah (Wasatch Academy)
Commitment date: March 9, 2017
Chose Arizona over: Louisville, NC State, Oregon, Utah, Utah State, Virginia Tech
Class of: 2018
What he said: "Arizona has great basketball coaches and they fit my style," Akot said. "They have great bigs. They do a lot of pick-and-roll and I'm really good at that. I want to win a national championship."
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-9
Weight: 200
Hometown (high school): Santa Monica, California (Crossroads School)
Commitment date: April 19, 2017
Chose Arizona over: Baylor, Cal, Kansas State, LSU, Texas Tech, UCLA, USC
Class of: 2018
What he said: “I’ve been to Arizona for an unofficial visit and the campus was great, the coaches treated us like family,” O’Neal told Rivals recently. “I know they let their bigs shoot and play the perimeter and that’s the kind of thing I like."
- Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona Wildcats landed a commitment from Shareef O'Neal, the son of former NBA MVP Shaquille O'Neal, on April 19.
Shareef is the sixth commit the Wildcats have landed for the next two seasons, and the second in the class of 2018.
Here's a breakdown of the six commits:
Position: Center
Height: 7 feet
Weight: 245 pounds
Hometown (high school): Phoenix, Arizona (Hillcrest Prep Academy)
Commitment date: Sept. 6, 2016
Chose Arizona over: Kansas, Kentucky
Class of: 2017
What he said: "I was just ready to become a Wildcat," Ayton told the Star by telephone in September, shortly after announcing his commitment on ESPN. "I didn't want to make too many dramas."
Besides, Ayton said, he knew what he wanted: a coach in Sean Miller who would help his defense and intensity, and feverish fans to play for.
"The University of Arizona, and the fans — it's just the history, and having every game be sold out," Ayton said. "I haven't been to any games (at UA) but I can tell."
Position: Point guard
Height: 6-2
Weight: 170
Hometown (high school): Tempe (Corona del Sol High School)
Commitment date: Aug. 26, 2016
Chose Arizona over: Arizona State, Butler, Stanford, Virginia
Class of: 2017
What he said: "I didn't want to waste any coach's time so I told myself, When I know it's right, I'm gonna commit,'" Barcello said by phone in August. "I just felt like this was the perfect fit for me. With coach (Sean) Miller recruiting me to be their point guard, I felt like there was nowhere better to be."
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-8
Weight: 225
Hometown (high school): Santa Monica, California (Crossroads School)
Commitment date: Oct. 20, 2016
Chose Arizona over: Cal, Oregon
Class of: 2017
What he said: "This really was the hardest decision I've had to make," Lee told Southern California basketball analyst Frank Burlison. "Each of the three schools has a great program and I have good relationships with all of the coaches. But I could only pick one."
Lee indicated in comments to Burlison that his relationship with UA coach Sean Miller played a key role. Arizona has been recruiting Lee since his freshman year of high school.
"They've followed me for a long time," Lee told Burlison. "And they were the first 'big-time' program to offer me a scholarship."
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-6
Weight: 180
Hometown (high school): West Chester, Pennsylvania (Westtown School)
Commitment date: Oct. 12, 2016
Chose Arizona over: Georgetown, Georgia Tech, Indiana, Kansas, Louisville, Marquette, Maryland, North Carolina, Oregon, Seton Hall, Syracuse, Villanova, Virginia Commonwealth, Wake Forest
Class of: 2017
What he said: "I guess it was just the best fit," Randolph told Scout.com. "It had everything we were looking for."
Randolph told Scout he wanted to study accounting and finance at UA and that academics appeared to be a big part of the Wildcats' program. In addition, he cited the personalized push UA coach Sean Miller made.
"What I like about (Miller) is he basically reached out to me a lot," Randolph told Scout. "He showed that he was really interested. Not just the assistant, a couple of schools I thought it was just the assistant coaches interested.
"I just felt me having a relationship with the head coach is a lot better. I just thought if he was interested in me and wants me and I loved their program, this would be a great fit."
Position: Small forward
Height: 6-7
Weight: 190
Hometown (high school): Mount Pleasant, Utah (Wasatch Academy)
Commitment date: March 9, 2017
Chose Arizona over: Louisville, NC State, Oregon, Utah, Utah State, Virginia Tech
Class of: 2018
What he said: "Arizona has great basketball coaches and they fit my style," Akot said. "They have great bigs. They do a lot of pick-and-roll and I'm really good at that. I want to win a national championship."
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-9
Weight: 200
Hometown (high school): Santa Monica, California (Crossroads School)
Commitment date: April 19, 2017
Chose Arizona over: Baylor, Cal, Kansas State, LSU, Texas Tech, UCLA, USC
Class of: 2018
What he said: “I’ve been to Arizona for an unofficial visit and the campus was great, the coaches treated us like family,” O’Neal told Rivals recently. “I know they let their bigs shoot and play the perimeter and that’s the kind of thing I like."
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