Thirty years ago, earning McDonald's All-American honors didn't carry the same weight it does today.Β
For instance, Khalid Reeves, one of the most the prolific scorers in UA history and record-holder for most single-season points (848) in 1994, was a McDonald's All-American in 1990, but came off the bench as a freshman while Matt Muehlebach started in front of him.Β
βI just think the experience factor is hard. Itβs hard to imagine,β Muehlebach told the Star this week. βI always tell people I started ahead of Khalid Reeves, and Khalid was clearly better than me. But I was a senior and thatβs probably why I started. He was learning the ropes and we had a bunch of older guys.β
Now? Playing in the McDonald's All-American game is a one-way ticket to starting at whichever school the player is committed to.Β
This year's Arizona squad relies on three freshmen: point guard Nico Mannion, uber-athletic wing Josh Green and forward Zeke Nnaji. But the Wildcats have an inconsistent supporting cast of veterans, which includes a streaky Dylan Smith, transfers Jemarl Baker, Max Hazzard and Stone Gettings, Ira Lee and Chase Jeter, who's only played two minutes since the UA's road loss to Oregon State on Jan. 12.Β
History shows Arizona's best teams pieced together a rotation of All-American freshmen and experienced β and consistent β veterans.Β
2019-20:Β G Nico Mannion (14.0 ppg, 5.5 apg), F Josh Green (11.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Two seniors, three freshmen
Leading scorer:Β F Zeke Nnaji, Fr. (16.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg)
Other key starter:Β F Stone Gettings, Sr. (6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Team record:Β 16-7 (6-4 Pac-12) to date
Arizona's forward Deandre Ayton during the first half of a first-round game against Buffalo in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament Thursday, March 15, 2018, in Boise, Idaho. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
2017-18:Β C Deandre Ayton (20.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Two seniors, one junior, one sophomore, one freshman (Ayton)
Leading scorer:Β Ayton
Other key starters:Β G Allonzo Trier, Jr. (18.1 ppg, 3.0 rpg), C Dusan Ristic, Sr. (12.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg), G Rawle Alkins, So. (13.1 ppg, 4.8 rpg)
Team finish:Β 27-8 (14-4 Pac-12, first), NCAA Tournament first round
Arizona Wildcats guard Kobi Simmons (2) gets pumped in the first half during a game at Pauley Pavilion on Saturday January 21, 2017. Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
2016-17:Β Β G Kobi Simmons (8.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β One senior, one junior, one sophomore, two freshmen
Leading scorer:Β F Lauri Markkanen, Fr. (15.6 ppg, 7.2 rpg)
Other key starters:Β G Allonzo Trier, So. (17.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), G Kadeem Allen, Sr. (9.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg)
Team finish:Β 32-5 (16-2 Pac-12, tie first), NCAA Tournament Sweet 16
Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller has some words with Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (11) in the second half during a game at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz., on Nov. 22, 2015. Arizona won 61-42. Mamta Popat / Arizona Daily Star
2015-16:Β G Allonzo Trier (14.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Three seniors, one junior, Trier
Leading scorer:Β F Ryan Anderson (15-3 ppg, 10.1 rpg)
Other key starters:Β G Gabe York (15.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg), C Kaleb Tarczewski, Sr. (9.4 ppg, 9.3 rpg)
Team finish:Β 25-9 (12-6 Pac-12, fourth), NCAA Tournament first round
Arizona forward Stanley Johnson (5) lets out a roar after a two-handed jam during the No. 6 Arizona Wildcats vs. Arizona State men's college basketball game in Tempe, Ariz. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
2014-15:Β G Stanley Johnson (13.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β One senior, two juniors, one sophomore, Johnson
Leading scorer:Β Johnson
Other key starters:Β F Brandon Ashley, Jr. (12.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (11.2 ppg, 6.8 rpg), G T.J. McConnell, Sr. (10.4 ppg, 6.3 apg)
Team finish:Β 34-4 (16-2 Pac-12, first), NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Arizona forward Aaron Gordon (11) roars after a dunk during the first half of the University of Arizona vs. Gonzaga game at the NCAA basketball tournament at San Diego State University on Sunday, March 23, 2014. Arizona won 84-61, advancing to the Sweet Sixteen.
2013-14: F Aaron Gordon (12.4 ppg, 8.0 rpg), F Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (9.1 ppg, 5.7 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Two juniors, two sophomores, one freshman (Gordon)
Leading scorer:Β G Nick Johnson, Jr. (16.3 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Other key starter:Β F Brandon Ashley, So. (11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Team finish:Β 33-5 (15-3 Pac-12, first), NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
University of Arizona players Grant Jerrett, left, and Brandon Ashley, are take a break as the Wildcats called a time out near the end of the game during a PAC-12 conference game against California on Sunday February 10, 2013 in Tucson, Arizona at McKale Center. Photo by Benjie Sanders/Arizona Daily Star
2012-13:Β F Brandon Ashley (7.5 ppg, 5.3 rpg), F Grant Jerrett (5.2 ppg, 3.6 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Three seniors, one sophomore, Jerrett
Leading scorer:Β G Mark Lyons, Sr. (15.6 ppg, 2.8 apg),
Other key starters:Β F Solomon Hill, Sr. (13.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg), G Nick Johnson, So. (11.5 ppg, 3.2 apg)
Team finish:Β 27-8 (12-6 Pac-12, tie second), NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
Arizona guard Jerryd Bayless drives around West Virginia forward Wellington Smith in the second half during the first round of the NCAA tournament at Verizon Center in Washington, D.C., Wednesday Mar. 20, 2008.Β
2007-08:Β G Jerryd Bayless (19.7 ppg, 4.0 apg)
Starting lineup:Β One senior, three sophomores, one freshman
Leading scorer:Β Bayless
Other key starters:Β F Chase Budinger, So. (17.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), C Jordan Hill, So. (13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg)
Team finish:Β 0-14** (0-10 Pac-10, seventh), NCAA Tournament first round**
** All wins and NCAA Tournament appearance vacated because of NCAA violations. UA was 19-15 overall and 8-10 in conference before sanctions.
Oregon's #4 Bryce Taylor, who scored Oregon's game high 18 points, can't look at Arizona's Chase Budinger after Budinger tied the game at 66 in the second half at McArthur Court Feb. 10, 2007.
2006-07:Β F Chase Budinger (15.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Two seniors, one sophomore, two freshmen
Leading scorer:Β F Marcus Williams, So. (16.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
Other key starters:Β C Ivan Radenovic, Sr. (15.1 ppg, 7.6 rpg), G Mustafa Shakur, Sr. (11.9 ppg, 6.9 apg)
Team finish:Β 20-11 (11-7 Pac-10, tie third), NCAA Tournament first round
UA's Jawann McClellan drives during the Red and Blue Scrimmage game at McKale Center on Oct. 31, 2004.
2004-05:Β G Jawann McClellan (5.8 ppg, 3.0 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Two seniors, one junior, two sophomores
Leading scorer:Β G Salim Stoudamire, Sr. (18.4 ppg, 50.4 3FG%)
Other key starters:Β C Channing Frye, Sr. (15.8 ppg, 7.6 rpg), G Hassan Adams, Jr. (12.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg).
Team finish:Β 30-7 (15-3 Pac-10, first), NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
Arizona's Mustafa Shakur guards Utah's Tim Drisdom during a game at McKale Center, Saturday, Dec. 11, 2004. Photo by Chris Richards / Arizona Daily Star.
2003-04:Β G Mustafa Shakur (9.4 ppg, 4.5 apg)
Starting lineup:Β Two juniors, two sophomores, one freshman
Leading scorer:Β G Hassan Adams, So. (17.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg),
Other key starters:Β C Channing Frye, Jr. (15.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg), G Salim Stoudamire, Jr. (16.3 ppg, 41.3 3FG%), F Andre Iguodala, So. (12.9 ppg, 8.4 rpg)
Team finish:Β 20-10 (11-7 Pac-10, third), NCAA Tournament first round
UA's Salim Stoudamire, left, gets congrats from Hassan Adams with just seconds remaining in the second half as UA defeated Oregon in Eugene. Stoudamire had 27 points in the game on Jan. 20, 2005.
2002-03:Β G Hassan Adams (9.1 ppg 3.4 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Three seniors, two sophomores
Leading scorer:Β G Jason Gardner, So. (20.4 ppg, 4.6 apg)
Other key starters:Β C Channing Frye, So. (12.6 ppg, 8.0 rpg), G Salim Stoudamire, So. (13.0 ppg, 1.6 rpg), F Luke Walton, Sr. (10.8 ppg, 5.1 apg)
Team finish:Β 28-4 (17-1 Pac-10, first), NCAA Tournament Elite Eight
A happy Jason Gardner (center) gets congratulated by coach Lute Olson (right) and Luke Walton (left) after the game win over Notre Dame. Photo by David Sanders. #100723. 3/27/03
1999-00:Β G Jason Gardner (12.6 ppg, 4.8 apg)
Starting lineup:Β One junior, two sophomores, two freshmen
Leading scorer:Β C Loren Woods, Jr. (15.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg),
Other key starters:Β F Michael Wright, So. (15.5 ppg, 7.8 rpg), G Gilbert Arenas, Fr. (15.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg)
Team finish:Β 27-7 (15-3 Pac-10, tie first), NCAA Tournament second round
UA basketball player Richard Jefferson shoots during the Nov. 25, 1998 game against Texas at McKale Center.
1998-99:Β F Richard Jefferson (11.0 ppg)
Starting lineup:Β Two seniors, three freshmen
Leading scorer:Β G Jason Terry, Sr. (21.9 ppg)
Other key starters:Β C A.J. Bramlett, Sr. (14.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg), F Michael Wright, Fr. (13.9 ppg, 8.8 rpg)
Team finish:Β 22-6* (13-5 Pac-10, second), NCAA first round*
β’ Record reduced by NCAA Tournament loss to Oklahoma because tournament appearance vacated due to NCAA infractions
Arizona's backcourt of Mike Bibby and Miles Simon celebrate the Wildcats' overtime win against Kentucky in the 1997 national championship.Β
1996-97:Β G Mike Bibby (13.5 ppg, 5.2 apg)
Starting lineup:Β Three juniors, one sophomore, Bibby
Leading scorer:Β F Michael Dickerson (18.9 ppg)
Other key starters:Β G Miles Simon (18.4 ppg)
Team finish:Β 25-9 (11-7 Pac-10, fifth), NCAA Tournament champions
Arizona guard Khalid Reeves against Providence at McKale Center in Tucson on Dec. 23, 1990. Mari Schaefer / Arizona Daily StarΒ
1990-91:Β G Khalid Reeves
Starting lineup:Β One senior, three juniors, one sophomore.
Leading scorer:Β F Chris Mills, So. (15.6 ppg)
Other key starters:Β Brian Williams, Jr. (14.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg),
Team finish:Β 28-7 (14-4 Pac-10, first), NCAA Tournament Sweet Sixteen
Sean Elliott answers questions during an interview in 1988. Arizona Daily Star file photo
1985-86:Β F Sean Elliott (19.6 ppg, 5.8 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β One senior, one junior, one sophomore, two freshmen
Leading scorer:Β Elliott
Other key starters:Β G Steve Kerr, Jr. (14.4 ppg), G Craig McMillan, So. (11.8), C John Edgar, Sr. (11.1 ppg)
Team finish:Β 23-9 (14-4 Pac-10, first), NCAA Tournament first round
Senior guard Craig McMillan
1984-85:Β Craig McMillan (5.5 ppg, 1.4 rpg)
Starting lineup:Β Four seniors, one sophomore
Leading scorer:Β F Eddie Smith, Sr. (16.1 ppg)
Other key starters:Β C Pete Williams, Sr. (12.5 ppg, 8.5 rpg), G Steve Kerr, So. (10.0 ppg, 4.0 apg)
Team finish:Β 21-10 (12-6 Pac-10, tie third), NCAA Tournament first round
