Every year, Arizona has a walk-on who, for whatever reason, becomes a fan favorite.
Last year, it was Jacob Hazzard.
Before that, Drew Mellon.
Max Wiepking held the title for a few years during the Derrick Williams-Solomon Hill years.
It’s unclear who will take the reins this season, but one walk-on threw his hat in the ring on Tuesday night — guard Paulo Cruz from San Diego.
Cruz, a sophomore, played in six games for the Wildcats last season. He is one of three walk-ons; the other two — Tyler Trillo and Jake Desjardins — are newcomers.
With Arizona’s multitude of roster question marks, including Ray Smith’s injury-induced retirement and Allonzo Trier’s questionable status, the Wildcats are down to an eight-man rotation of scholarship players. UA coach Sean Miller has said that the walk-ons need to be ready to play in a pinch.
Miller needed the 6-foot-4-inch Cruz on Tuesday with starting two-guard Kadeem Allen out with a left knee sprain and the Wildcats thin in the backcourt. The San Diegan played one minute and didn’t record any stats in the first half, and never checked in during the second half.
