SCOTTSDALE — Four-star guard Terry Armstrong confirmed with the Star on Wednesday he will play for Arizona in 2019-20, giving the Wildcats a third guard in their well-regarded 2019 recruiting class.

The 6-foot-6-inch, 185-pound wing from Scottsdale’s Bella Vista Prep also Tweeted about his decision Wednesday afternoon, picking the Wildcats over New Mexico and Oklahoma.

Armstrong visited New Mexico last weekend, after visiting Arizona on Oct. 5. UA had started recruiting the Michigan native heavily last spring and offered him a scholarship over the summer, with Sean Miller and his staff making a strong impression.

“That’s the reason,” Armstrong said. “The coaching staff treated me well. Anywhere I was they came to watch, they came to school and watched practice.”

Armstrong said he was impressed with UA’s academics and environment.

“Definitely, the academics — I felt like they can help me,” Armstrong said. “And going on my visit, I got to see the campus and I really just enjoyed my time there.”

Armstrong moved from Flint, Michigan, to attend Bella Vista in August 2017, and Bella Vista coach Kyle Weaver said he has benefited both athletically and academically at the small school in North Scottsdale, adjacent to Cave Creek.

Weaver said Armstrong is a “great kid” who does what he’s asked and has also turned into a better student who will qualify to play collegiately.

Academics “was the only thing that going to hold him back from college but he’s now going to qualify and he’s making sure he’s studying, taking notes,” Weaver said. “He’s really changed his academic perspective on everything.”

On the basketball floor, Armstrong's adjustment to major college basketball could be smooth. He has a long, athletic 6-6 frame that is particularly versatile; Weaver says Armstrong can play either small forward, shooting guard or even point guard and has good potential as a defender, too.

“He’s such a good mid-range scorer,” Weaver said. “Fifteen feet and in, he’s money. He’s athletic. He’s really improved his 3-point shot. He just opens the game with his athleticism and ability to push in transition and use all of that to turn him into a great player.”

Armstrong’s game could fit neatly into the three-guard scheme UA coach Sean Miller may shift to more often. During his annual preseason media day address earlier this month, Miller said the Wildcats could use three guards both this season and beyond.

Arizona has already landed commitments from two five-star guards, Nico Mannion of Phoenix Pinnacle High School and Josh Green of Australia. In addition, five guards on Arizona’s current roster — Brandon Williams, Brandon Randolph, Alex Barcello, Dylan Smith and Devonaire Doutrive — will have eligibility remaining next season.

Armstrong visited UA during the weekend of Oct. 5, then took an official visit to New Mexico last weekend, where fans greeted him upon his arrival at the airport. But Armstrong said he grew tired of the recruiting process and also “having people feel bad” at the places he did not choose.

So Armstrong made his announcement just three days after returning from Albuquerque.

“I knew where I was going to end up so I decided to get it over with now,” said Armstrong, wearing a pair of UA compression shorts under his outfit during a practice at Bella Vista on Wednesday.

Arizona has five players overall so far in its 2019 class, also including Nico Mannion, Josh Green, Cameroonian center Christian Koloko, and Cornell grad transfer forward Stone Gettings, who is scheduled to arrive in December but not play for the Wildcats until 2019-20.

Armstrong said he is already friends with Mannion, who plays for nearby Phoenix Pinnacle High School, and Green, who played with Deandre Ayton under Weaver at Hillcrest Prep in 2016-17.

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Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at 573-4146 or bpascoe@tucson.com. On Twitter @brucepascoe