The Arizona Wildcats could have a new look next season, and not just because of all their new faces.
With newcomers Brandon Williams and Justin Coleman possibly leading the way, the Wildcats might now feature a more perimeter-oriented attack that will also feature returning wings such as Brandon Randolph, Dylan Smith, and Emmanuel Akot.
Thatβs one reason Williams opted to stick with the Wildcats, announcing Saturday he recommitted after considering ASU, Gonzaga and Oregon.
βHeβs gonna be utilized with the ball in his hands,β Chris Wright, Williamsβ stepfather, said of the way UA coach Sean Miller described how he would deploy the four-star point guard from Los Angeles. βHeβll be the primary ballhandler and (Miller is) going to go to a more guard-oriented offensive system. Having two 7-footers is over.β
While announcing his re-commitment on Saturday, Williams also said his choice was about “where my heart first led me.” While Williams did not return a message from the Star seeking comment, he expanded on that reasoning in a video interview with Rivals.com’s Goazcats.
βI just thought about where I could be truly happy and be with a coaching staff that really supports me,β Williams said. βArizona was the school for me.β
Williams decommitted from the Wildcats on March 2, a week after ESPN reported that Miller discussed a pay-for-play scheme with a recruit, a report that Miller denied on March 1. That led Williams and his family to some pause, at least for the time being.
βAt the time of the decommitment, what made us really want to look around was not the initial FBI inquiry, but when that second report came out,β Wright said.
βThat triggered a thought that βMaybe itβs time to step out and take a look around.β β
Wright said Miller soon after visited to offer his side of things, but the family went on to consider other schools. Williams visited ASU the weekend of April 6, then checked out Oregon the weekend of April 14 and Gonzaga the weekend of April 28 before taking another week to announce his decision.
While Gonzaga, Oregon and Arizona were Williamsβ three finalists, Wright said it was really ASU that Arizona beat out β maybe because of that feeling in Williamsβ heart.
βIf it wasnβt for Arizona, thatβs probably where he would have gone,β Wright said of ASU. βIt was a perfect fit for him over there. (Coach Bobby Hurley) letβs those guards play. But after that trip, Brandon was like βMan, I just canβt do it.
βItβs just too close.β β
Williams then rejoined a UA recruiting class that now also includes Coleman, guard Devonaire Doutrive, wing Omar Thielemans and forward Ryan Luther. Randolph, Akot, Smith, point guard Alex Barcello, forward Ira Lee and center Chase Jeter are the returnees, giving Arizona 11 total players with two openings remaining.
βTheyβre great,β Williams told Rivals of his new teammates. βChase going against Deandre (Ayton) every practice, thatβs only going to get you better. You see flashes of Brandon Randolph here and there and you see Ira is a hustle rebounder, a hustle guy doing all the garbage work. You fill in all those pieces and then you have me coming in, I think thatβs going to be big for us.β
Brown getting closer
Of course, the Wildcats might also have a go-to weapon up front if they can manage to land their top remaining 2018 target, five-star Northern California forward Jordan Brown. Dion Brown, Jordanβs father, told Zagsblog his son is still deciding whether or not heβll take a final official visit and is βlooking at about a week or twoβ before making a decision.
Brown is considering Nevada, Cal and Arizona among his final choices but he has only one official (paid) visit remaining to take. He has already visited Nevada unofficially and Cal officially but not Arizona.
Combine list could affect Pac-12
While Arizonaβs Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins will attempt to increase their NBA Draft stock in the leagueβs Combine next week in Chicago, the event also could help shape next seasonβs Pac-12 race.
In fact, the list of participants alone could make a difference: Stanfordβs Reid Travis, Washingtonβs Noah Dickerson and Washington Stateβs Robert Franks were not among the 69 NBA Combine participants announced Monday, making it more likely the three standouts could return to school since they have not signed agents.
There are only 60 draft spots, and top international players and top U.S. college players such as Ayton do not participate in the Combine, suggesting that those not invited face long odds to be drafted.
UCLA guard Jaylen Hands, who also has not signed with an agent, was invited to the combine.
Other notable Pac-12 players not invited include: Utah guard Sedrick Barefield, who has been expected to return to the Utes; OSUβs Drew Eubanks, who has hired an agent and will not return to the Beavers; and UCLAβs LiAngelo Ball, who played in Lithuania most of last season after being involved in the UCLA shoplifting incident in China.
Rim shots
β’ NBC Sportsβ updated Top 25 for next season doesnβt include the Wildcats but has Oregon at No. 17 and UCLA at No. 19.
β’ Former WSU guard Malachi Flynn, the Cougarsβ second-leading scorer last season, announced he will transfer to San Diego State.
