After experiencing McKale Center with Tennessee, Tobe Awaka commits to Arizona Wildcats

Tobe Awaka took his first “visit” to Arizona in December 2022, and he may never forget that one.

The former Tennessee forward, who announced Monday he will transfer to UA for his junior season in 2024-25, battled Oumar Ballo and Azuolas Tubelis during the Wildcats’ 75-70 win before a sold-out crowd at McKale Center — and picked up four fouls over the seven minutes he played.

“It was definitely electric,” Awaka said. “Being a freshman, it was sort of a good introduction into what high-level college basketball was all about.”

A year and a half later, Awaka took a second visit to Arizona, and found it made an even bigger impression. Awaka told the Star on Monday that his recruiting visit last week sealed his decision to join the Wildcats, where he is expected to bring a physical presence to a key post role next season.

“It was a great connection and experience with coach (Jack) Murphy and coach (Tommy) Lloyd,” Awaka said. “The graciousness of the whole staff to me and me and my family was something I really respect. I thought with the fit and overall basketball compatibility, it was right in sync.”

Awaka said NIL opportunities played no role in his decision, noting that both were comparable anyway.

“Tennessee does a great job of taking care of players and so does Arizona,” Awaka said. “It wasn’t really a factor, to be honest.”

A 6-8, 250-pound rising junior from Hyde Park, New York, Awaka became the New York Gatorade Player of the Year at Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx in 2021-22, then began playing a reserve role for the Volunteers.

Last season, Awaka averaged 13.1 minutes, 5.1 points and 4.6 rebounds per game, but was an efficient rebounder and a rugged defender for a Vols team that went to the Elite Eight. He had an eye-opening offensive rebounding percentage of 17.9 and a defensive rebounding percentage of 20.0, collecting a fifth of opponents’ missed shots when he was on the floor.

Awaka’s style also generated plenty of whistles. He averaged 4.5 fouls drawn per 40 minutes and shot 74.2% from the line, but he committed an average of 7.6 per 40.

At Arizona, Awaka could also average more minutes, though likely off the bench if returning sophomore center Motiejus Krivas and Oakland power forward transfer Trey Townsend start as expected.

But Awaka expressed no issue with his potential role, saying he and Townsend have already hit it off. On the court, Townsend says he can play both forward spots for Arizona, while Awaka is suited for center or power forward.

“Me and Trey are pretty versatile in the way that coach and the system sort of operates,” Awaka said. “I think obviously with Krivas being there, Trey being there, there’s a lot of pieces that we can mix and match for whatever scenario might pop up during the game.”

Awaka’s commitment appears to complete UA’s frontcourt for next season. The Wildcats now have Krivas, Awaka, Townsend, redshirt sophomore Henri Veesaar, freshman forward Carter Bryant and freshman center Emmanuel Stephen available for their two post spots.

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Overall, Arizona now has at least 10 players expected for next season, with guards Caleb Love and KJ Lewis testing the NBA Draft. Teams are allowed a maximum of 13 scholarship players, and the Wildcats have been expected to pursue at least one guard, especially if Love and/or Lewis leave for good.

Borovicanin picks New Mexico

Former Arizona wing Filip Borovicanin announced he would transfer to New Mexico after playing two limited seasons for the Wildcats.

Averaging just 5.5 minutes over 20 games for the Wildcats last season, Borovicanin will try to follow the same path as former UA wing Adama Bal of France, who became a standout for the Broncos as a junior this season after two seasons on UA’s bench.

Upon announcing his decision to enter the transfer portal on April 1, Borovicanin said he promised “that one day I will get what I came to America for.”

As Bal did toward the end of his freshman season with the Wildcats, Borovicanin appeared like he might make a move this season. He led UA to a 124-77 exhibition win over Israel Select in August with 13 points, eight rebounds and six assists in 23 minutes, but Borovicanin rarely played when a regular-season game was in question.

Boronvicanin said before the NCAA Tournament began that he was staying ready in case the opportunity arose.

“You don’t know what’s gonna happen in the game,” Borovicanin said. “Players are going to get fifth foul or whatever. Anything can happen in the game, so you need to be ready always to jump in and do your best to help the team win the game.”

On3 ranks Bryant No. 13

Bryant ranked No. 13 in On3’s final class of 2024 rankings, while committed guard Jason Sanon was placed at No. 26.

Of UA’s other incoming freshman, guard Jamari Phillips was ranked No. 74 and Stephen ranked No. 93.

ASU lands Quaintance

Although ASU’s roster has been decimated by transfer portal losses linked to NIL issues over the past two seasons, the Sun Devils landed On3’s No. 5-rated player Monday in center Jayden Quaintance.

The 6-9, 230-pound Quaintance signed with Kentucky but backed out after coach John Calipari took the Arkansas job. He also reportedly considered joining Calipari at Arkansas but instead chose the Sun Devils.