Stars and seniors: Arizona Wildcats leave behind memorable careers after falling in NCAA Tournament
The Wildcats are set to lose six players from this year's team heading into next season.
Careers to remember
Updated
Arizona Wildcats guard Rawle Alkins (1), Arizona Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier (35), Arizona Wildcats guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (0) and Arizona Wildcats center Dusan Ristic (14) watch the game clock tick down in the second half during the first round NCAA South Region game at the Taco Bell Arena in Boise, Idaho on March 15, 2018. Buffalo won 89-68.
By Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star
BOISE, Idaho — The Wildcats embraced the Arizona-versus-everybody mentality heading into the NCAA Tournament, and the team seemed to be carrying a now-or-never vibe.
At least it felt that way, considering the Wildcats are losing six players from this year's team and it could be quite some time before the UA has a roster loaded with so much individual talent.
Coach Sean Miller announced on Senior Day that Deandre Ayton, Rawle Alkins and Allonzo Trier would take their talents to the next level, while Dusan Ristic, Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Keanu Pinder are all graduating.
While the UA returns Ira Lee, Emmanuel Akot, Dylan Smith, Brandon Randolph, Alex Barcello and Duke transfer Chase Jeter, the Wildcats don't have a single commit in the 2018 recruiting class after Brandon Williams and Shareef O'Neal decommitted amid the program's involvement in the corruption probe that's under FBI investigation.
The future is murky, but the past has been memorable. Take a look at how the six Wildcats riding off into the sunset performed in Tucson.
Deandre Ayton
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Arizona Wildcats forward Deandre Ayton (13) roars after an and-one dunk during the second half.
Year: Freshman
Position: Power forward
Height: 7-foot-1
Weight: 260 pounds
Career averages: 20.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 1.9 blocks
Accolades: Pac-12 Player of the Year, Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, First-Team All-Pac-12, All-Pac-12 Freshman Team, All-Pac-12 Defensive Team, All-Pac-12 Tournament Team, Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
Highlights:
Allonzo Trier
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Year: Junior
Position: Shooting guard
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 205 pounds
Career averages: 16.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, 2.4 assists
Accolades: First-Team All-Pac-12 (2018), All-Pac-12 Freshman Team (2016), Pac-12 Tournament Most Outstanding Player (2017), All-Pac-12 Tournament Team (2017)
Highlights:
Dusan Ristic
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Arizona Wildcats center Dusan Ristic, who was named to the All-Pac-12 second team earlier this week, watched the movie “Taxi Driver” to help him learn English after coming to Tucson from Serbia, via Wichita, Kansas.
Year: Senior
Position: Center
Height: 7-foot
Weight: 245 pounds
Career averages: 8.4 points, 4.6 rebounds
Accolades: All-Pac-12 Second Team (2018), All-Pac-12 Tournament Team (2018), Pac-12 Player of the Week (Jan. 29, 2018)
Highlights:
Parker Jackson-Cartwright
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Senior Parker Jackson-Cartwright (0) evades Davonta Jordan during Arizona's first-round loss to Buffalo.
Year: Senior
Position: Point guard
Height: 5-foot-11
Weight: 170 pounds
Career averages: 5.5 points, 3.4 assists, 2 rebounds
Highlights:
Rawle Alkins
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Arizona's Rawle Alkins celebrates after dunking against Southern California during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game for the Pac-12 men's tournament championship Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Las Vegas. Arizona won 75-61. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
Year: Sophomore
Position: Shooting guard, small forward
Height: 6-foot-5
Weight: 220 pounds
Career averages: 11.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.2 assists
Accolades: All-Pac-12 Freshman Team (2017), All-Pac-12 Honorable Mention (2018), Pac-12 Play of the Year (2018)
Highlights:
Keanu Pinder
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Arizona Wildcats forward Keanu Pinder (25) celebrates after blocking a shot in the second half during a game against UMBC at McKale Center on November 12, 2017. Arizona won 103-78.
Year: Senior
Position: Power forward
Height: 6-foot-9
Weight: 220 pounds
Career averages: 2.3 points, 2.5 rebounds
Highlights:
Keanu Pinder just stole a man's soul! pic.twitter.com/1WgOLlXDMl
— Christopher Boan (@cgboan) January 13, 2018
The Pride of Perth (Keanu Pinder) showing off his deft touch under the hoop. #USCvsAZ #Aussie pic.twitter.com/TOAKiUQVC3
— Christopher Boan (@cgboan) February 11, 2018
