Arizona's Pelle Larsson, right, hugs Keshad Johnson (16) after the Wildcats beat ย Utah in three overtimes on Feb. 8, 2024, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Arizona guard Caleb Love won't get a chance to join former teammates Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson in the NBA Combine after participating in the G League Elite Camp over the weekend in Chicago.

Only five G League Elite Camps players were invited to stick around for the more prestigious NBA Combine that began Monday, and USC guard Boogie Ellis, who had received a late invite the G League camp, was the only guard among them.

Players not invited to the NBA Combine are unlikely to be drafted or offered two-way contracts, though Love could pursue other opportunities if he does not opt to return to Arizona and secure an NIL package. Players have until May 29 to withdraw from the draft if they want to return to college basketball.

After talking to Love over the weekend, UA commit Joson Sanon tweeted that "big news" is on the way for Arizona. The two would potentially be an explosive scoring combo if Love returned to the Wildcats and Sanon remains committed.

In two five-on-five G League camp scrimmages over the weekend, Love averaged 8.5 points while shooting 31.3% from the field and hitting 3 of 10 3-pointers. He also averaged 2.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 2.5 steals and 2.0 turnovers, posting a plus-10 in his first game and a minus-2 in the second.

Love recorded agility and speed times that were competitive among guards, while standing 6-foot-2.75 without shoes, which is consistent with the 6-4 that Arizona has listed him at (UA measures players with shoes on and rounds up).ย 

Among other measurements, Love had aย a 6-foot-8.75 wingspan, a 9.75-inch hand length and a 33.5-inch maximum vertical leap that ranked sixth among the 12 players listed as shooting guards.

Mississippi's Matthew Murrell posted the top max vertical among shooting guards at 40 inches -- Villanova's Mark Armstrong also hit 40.0 to lead the point guards -- while Ellis was second among shooting guards at 39.5 inches.ย 

The NBA Combine began Monday with strength, agility and shooting drills at Chicago's Wintrust Arena while five-on-five games are scheduled between 10:15 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Tuesdayย and Wednesday. ESPN2 is scheduled to provide coverage between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. both days.

Washington State forward Isaac Jones was among the other four G League camp players invited to the NBA Combine along West Virginia center Jesse Edwards, Akron forward Enrique Freeman and Memphis forward Naeโ€™Quan Tomlin.

Larsson will join Ellis on Team Herscu, which will have three other small forwards Australia's Trentyn Flowers, Baylor's Jalen Bridges and Pepperdine's Michael Ajayi.

Johnson is scheduled to play on "Team Love" with former Oregon center N'Faly Dante and Akron power forward Enrique Freeman, among others.

During agility testing Monday, Johnson posted a 42-inch vertical leap that is tied for the best so far in the Combine, according to ESPN's Jonathan Givony.

The NBA Combine will give Larsson and Johnson a chance to solidify themselves as second-round picks or possibly get themselves in the discussion for a late first-round pick. ESPN's latest top available draft prospect list ranked Johnson at 45, Larsson at 46 and Love at 100.

The NBA Combine rosters:


Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.

Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe