SAN FRANCISCO β For the past decade or so, you could argue that Pac-12 basketball has been best marketed in June.
Thatβs when the conferenceβs star freshmen regularly tend to populate the NBA Draft lottery: Arizonaβs Aaron Gordon (2014), Stanley Johnson (2015), Lauri Markkanen (2017) and Deandre Ayton (2018), plus UCLAβs Zach LaVine in 2014, Washingtonβs Marquese Chriss and Calβs Jaylen Brown in 2016 and, notably, the 1-2 punch of 2017, Washingtonβs Markelle Fultz and UCLAβs Lonzo Ball.
None of those players were ever on hand in October, when the Pac-12 and its television partners tried to drum up the most interest via preseason media day.
In fact, until Arizonaβs Nico Mannion and Josh Green showed up Tuesday, true freshmen hadnβt appeared at the conferenceβs preseason media day since 2007-08, when UCLAβs Kevin Love and USCβs O.J. Mayo showed up in an airport hotel ballroom during the eventβs more low-key days in Los Angeles. (Coloradoβs Evan Battey appeared as a redshirt freshman last season.)
Not that the conference hasnβt tried. The Pac-12 annually asks each coach to bring players that the conference believes the Pac-12 Networks, ESPN and Fox would most like to interview and feature in promotions.
If the Pac-12 asks for freshmen, the answer is usually no. Coaches typically prefer to send older players β possibly to shield newcomers from even more attention, to keep them in class or to prevent jealously from upperclassmen who arenβt invited.
UA coach Sean Miller expressed no such worries. Not only had the Wildcats already sent senior center Chase Jeter to last seasonβs media day, but Miller says heβs found Mannion and Green already pivotal to his current team. Both were keys to Arizonaβs highly rated recruiting class. Mannion was named to the conferenceβs preseason first all-league team, while Green was a second-team pick.
βI think itβs appropriate that they come,β Miller said. βThey both are going to be counted on heavily and made decisions to come to our school at a pivotal time.
βI think itβs a great experience for them and really a sign of things to come because freshmen today arenβt really freshmen. A lot of times theyβre counted on heavily, and really all of our freshmen will be counted on this year.β
Besides, it was no big deal for Mannion and Green to be on this sort of stage anyway.
Mannion has already played for the Italian senior team, represented Italy in the Hoop Summit showcase, played in the McDonaldβs All-American Game and led Phoenix Pinnacle High School to back-to-back state championships.
Green, meanwhile, has long been known as one of Australiaβs top up-and-coming athletes, having played both basketball and Australian rules football before moving to Phoenix five years ago.
An Australian reporter shadowed Green for his Hoop Summit and McDonaldβs appearances. Green played with Ayton at Phoenix Hillcrest Prep in 2016-17, then helped another high-profile high school program, Floridaβs IMG Academy, to the Geico national championships.
These are guys that, even before they have played a game for the Wildcats, canβt even get out of Tucson Mall without appearing in somebodyβs selfie.
Arizona freshmen Josh Green and Nico Mannion (1) spent three years on the same travel-ball team.
βWe know we have eyes on us,β Mannion said. βWe just try to be good kids. Take time out of our day to take pictures with kids and families or whatever it is and try to make their day.β
The same goes for Green, even though he says heβs naturally a quieter sort who prefers to keep to himself.
βHaving the spotlight on you, thereβs a lot of ups and downs,β Green said. βBut Iβm grateful for the situation Iβm in. Itβs cool to go out sometime, just to go out in general and people recognize you, people scream your name. Itβs a surreal feeling.
βSometimes you just want to lay low, but at the same time, Iβm grateful for the everything in life, and I wouldnβt take it back for anything.β
Mannion and Green said they took Tuesdayβs media day as an opportunity to have some fun. As club-ball teammates for three years, the two took road trips for a games and grueling tournaments.
On Tuesday, they flew into San Francisco, talked hoops, went on TV, enjoyed lunch on a rooftop on a sunny 70-degree day and even played some pop-a-shot basketball.
Not a bad day.
βFor once, we get to travel and we donβt have to play,β Green said. βWe just get to enjoy ourselves and have fun with each other, experiencing something we have never really experienced before, just have a great time meeting other players.β
Within all that fun comes a lot of work, though.
The Pac-12 asks players to show up in uniform, then shuttles them through a full day of appearances. They’re featured on the three-hour Pac-12 Networks studio show, make three ESPN stops, including an ESPNU studio show, and make two conference stops — including one with print and digital media on the main stage. Other stops include sit-downs with Fox Sports, CBS Sports, Sirius XM and NCAA.com.
Especially considering how rare it is for freshmen to wade through all of that, Pac-12 communications director Jesse Hooker said the conference was βvery happyβ to have Mannion and Green attend.
So were the TV people, according to UA spokesman Matt Ensor.
βThe feedback I got from the conference and all of the television partners about bringing Nico and Josh was overwhelmingly positive,β Ensor said. βThey both are awesome kids who are great in the media-day setting and first-class representatives of our program.β
Even if they are, well, just kids.
βWeβre just soaking everything up, man,β Mannion said.
βWeβre still 18 years old, weβre in our first couple months of college, so everything is new to us at this point. I like the fact that Iβm in college now, and I get the opportunity to come here to media day as a freshman, learn from Coach Miller and practice every day. I mean, Iβm just in a great situation.β
Rim shots
β’ Mohave King, a fast-rising 6-foot-5-inch wing in the class of 2021 from New Zealand and Australia, is visiting Arizona this week, with plans to visit Baylor this weekend.
β’ Warriors general manager Bob Myers said the Dec. 21 Al Attles Classic at the new Chase Center β a quadruple-header that includes Arizona facing St. Johnβs β is a great opportunity for Pac-12 schools.
βI think thereβs just room to grow there, and I know our ownership and business side wants to support the Pac-12,β Myers said. The other games include Stanford-San Diego, Cal-Boston College and Nevada-St. Maryβs.
