Was only about four or five months ago when the Arizona Wildcats didnβt even appear to be on DeAndre Aytonβs radar, and there was even some buzz that the gifted big man from the Bahamas might not even go to college.
Since it was the first time Sean Miller spoke about his new signees Thursday, I asked him about all of that.
βHe is going to go to college,β Miller said. βThatβs No. 1 β¦ One of the things thatβs really helped us, that hurts us sometimes, is that we don't have a plethora of players from the state of Arizona. We love the state and when thereβs that player who would fit in to our program we want to do a great job of recruiting that player but many times weβre going to other states. And weβre recruiting top talent in the backyards of other elite programs.
βIn this case the thing that helped us the most is he relocated to Phoenix. His mom left the Bahamas to come here to the United States and sheβs a real significant factor in his life, as it should be. They love the warm weather, they love Phoenix, theyβre not people who love the hype and shine that a lot of these families and kids tend to like in the recruiting process, and they wanted a safe environment and an environment where he could grow and develop. And certainly an environment where he could reach the lofty goals that he has. We offered all three.β
Ayton moved to San Diego in middle school and began playing for Balboa City School, but transferred to Phoenixβs Hillcrest Prep (technically, classes are at Precision High School) in the fall of 2015. In an interview with the Star in September, Ayton said that he's comfortable living in Arizona.
While Miller spoke often of a need to recruit players who love the game and want to work hard at Arizona, that doesnβt mean heβs bent on having them stick around if they are ready for the NBA Draft (as long as they hold their heads up if they aren't quite ready after a year).
Ayton, for one, has already said heβll leave after the 2017-18 season, as anyone in his position would.
βOne and done, we might have five players on our team who either wanted to be or think they are one and done,β Miller said. βSo realistically, how many are there thatβs a big deal. I think itβs OK to go for that as a player, to have those aspirations, but for any of these younger players to look at themselves as a failure, at 19 years old because they had an very good year on a good team but theyβre not part of this yearβs NBA draft thatβs so unfair.β
San Diego big man Brandon McCoy listed Arizona among his five finalists, along with San Diego State, Michigan State, UNLV and Oregon.
Here's the game notes from Sacred Heart and Arizona. The game will start on Pac-12 Networks at 8:10 p.m., with Steve Lavin doing the analysis.
The Daily Wildcat takes a look at the Wildcats after their first two games.
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Stanley Johnson says Stan Van Gundy inspired him to work hard in the offseason.
In a Chase promo on budgeting,Β Rondae Hollis-JeffersonΒ admits to splurging on pants.
Payton Pritchard -- a rare Oregon freshman to be unleashed to speak to the media -- said after the Ducks beat Valparaiso thatΒ it was "embarrassing"Β to lose badly to Baylor.
Markelle Fultz dazzled as Washington outscored Cal State Fullerton.
Former UA commit T.J. Leaf did the same for UCLA against San Diego.
Utah is gradually ramping things up by hosting Coppin State tonight.