The Arizona Wildcats have a stable of talented freshmen expected to lead the way this season but how far can Arizona basketball go with them?
Very few programs have had to deal with the distractions the Arizona Wildcats have had the past couple of seasons. From an FBI investigation and allegations surrounding the program, the Wildcats have been in the press more for what’s happened off the court then whats happened off of it.
This last season was a rarity as Arizona failed to make the NCAA Tournament. Usually a stalwart as one of the consistent giants in the NCAA, there was no March Madness for the Wildcats as they were forced to watch from home after a disappointing year sidelined by uncertainty and rampant speculation.
The last taste of March Madness featured Deandre Ayton and the crew falling to Buffalo a couple of seasons back. At the very least, Wildcats fans got to watch those same Buffalo Bulls eliminate the rival Arizona State Sun Devils this past March Madness.
Ayton, the top pick in last year’s NBA Draft, found his name in one of the scandals hanging over the program. He eventually was able to take the floor again for the Wildcats before bouncing for the NBA.
With a couple of uncertain years left in the past, the Wildcats are ready to turn a new page and go back to their status of being a contender to win the Pac-12 and to once again be a regular in the NCAA Tournament.
If there were any concerns the past couple of years would impact the way the Wildcats would be able to recruit, Sean Miller put any unease to rest. Arizona finished with the No. 6 overall recruiting class this year and will boast multiple talented freshmen who should lead the way into a new future for the program.
The two crown jewels to Miller’s recruiting class are five-star point guard Nico Mannion and five-star forward Josh Green. Mannion is a well-known commodity around the state of Arizona after starring at Pinnacle High School in Phoenix.
He was ranked the top high school recruit at the point guard position. Mannion is an excellent passer and also has the ability to score the basketball as well. He’ll be the floor general the Wildcats need from the first game and someone they can rely on to make the right decision late in key games.
Over the course of the history of Arizona basketball, their best teams have had a strong floor general to help guide the program. It’s been a while since they’ve had one with the potential Mannion possesses. He can score from just about every level, which makes him a serious threat when he isn’t facilitating the basketball. Opposing teams are going to be forced to defend him seriously and not just assume he’s going to pass out of an open shot. He averaged over 30 points a game as a senior in high school.
Mannion should benefit from having an experienced option with Max Hazzard next to him. The grad transfer from UC Irvine is an experienced shooter who finds a way to get buckets. Defensively, Mannion should continue to improve as well. At six-foot-three and 190 pounds, he has a solid frame that won’t allow him to be overmatched on the floor.
The other prize in Miller’s recruiting class is Green. The six-foot-six, 190-pound forward possesses elite talent. He has an impressive skill set that includes being able to get the rim at will via his athleticism.
His shot is developing and he should prove fairly quickly he doesn’t have to rely on his ability to cut to the hoop to get points. Green’s extending his range and should be good to go from beyond the arc well as he finds more consistency in his game.
Both Mannion and Green should end up being lottery picks in the NBA if they’re every bit as advertised. They could also become the most lethal duo in the Pac-12 if they flourish early in Tucson. Or at the very least, the most lethal freshmen duo.
In addition to these two, Miller also recruited power forward Zeke Nnaji. The four-star recruit should find himself seeing plenty of time on the floor early due to the Wildcats not having the greatest front-court depth.
Nnaji is still finding his shot and his range might not be as deep yet, but it should be good enough that he can be a suitable option in the scoring department.
There’s a lot of pressure being placed on Mannion and Green this season because of the hype they bring in and the fact the Wildcats are eager to erase the last couple of years. The program wants the off the court stuff to be a distant memory as the new breed of Arizona basketball sweeps over.
Expectations can be a dangerous thing and the Pac-12 has proven to be entirely unpredictable at times. The Wildcats have to contend with the rise of rival Arizona State and a conference looking to turn things around and become more competitive with some of the other big conferences in college basketball.
If Arizona’s freshmen phenoms are as advertised, the Pac-12 has a great chance to turn a new leaf. In many ways, both the school and the conference want a fresh outlook. For Arizona, it starts with winning the Pac-12 again and the conference tournament in Las Vegas. If they’re going to do so, this star-studded class is going to lead the way.
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