Miller once again does it again!

[GatorAZ]

You guys should see the pissing and moaning on BRO and elsewhere about Quinerly. Several people suggesting Under Armour should have threatened to pull his invite to the Curry camp when he said he was going to announce since it was obvious it was either Arizona or Nova and both were Nike schools. Someone blasting Jay Bilas, new with Under Armour saying it was likely his idea to invite several non Under Armour affiliated kids to the camp "insulting the Under Armour brand."

I fully get that shoe companies have major influence, Bagley for example, but these are still teenagers, I'm all for anything that results in events having more good players there to compete against each other. and if you're trying to establish the Under Armour name in grassroots basketball and use Steph Curry to push it, what better way to do it than get non UA kids to the Curry camp and expose them to your brand?

I can't imagine telling a 17 year old kid you can't compete at the Steph Curry camp if you're going to announce for a Nike school.

Are they ever not bitching and moaning on BRO? Seems like half the threads are about Alford and Guerrero being incompetent to some degree.

Apparently it's between Miami and AZ for Nassir Little. Liddell seems like a backup plan but either guy plus Bol would be the #1 class unless Duke or UK lands Zion, Reddish and a couple more 5* guys. Romar will probably get a job after Arizona has a great upcoming season.

 

[TJ]

Welp. Rumor circulating that Ayton isn't eligible to play in Spain. Not a lot of info out there except that it isn't related to academics.

 

[overseascardfan]

Welp. Rumor circulating that Ayton isn't eligible to play in Spain. Not a lot of info out there except that it isn't related to academics.

Visa issues?

 

[GatorAZ]

Welp. Rumor circulating that Ayton isn't eligible to play in Spain. Not a lot of info out there except that it isn't related to academics.

Wouldn't be Arizona Basketball without some kind of issue. If you told me he'd only be eligible for March I'd take it.

 

[Russ Smith]

Wouldn't be Arizona Basketball without some kind of issue. If you told me he'd only be eligible for March I'd take it.

I'm sure he will be. My guess is it goes back to when he first arrived from Haiti and was in San Diego connected to some of the people that were around Chol and later around people who had been connected to Jeremy Tyler. Chol was being financed by a local family and he eventually got cleared, my guess is Ayton will too, it just takes awhile for the NCAA to go through all that stuff. Given the people they'd be dealing with have gone through it before, with Chol, maybe it won't take as long.

 

[GatorAZ]

I'm sure he will be. My guess is it goes back to when he first arrived from Haiti and was in San Diego connected to some of the people that were around Chol and later around people who had been connected to Jeremy Tyler. Chol was being financed by a local family and he eventually got cleared, my guess is Ayton will too, it just takes awhile for the NCAA to go through all that stuff. Given the people they'd be dealing with have gone through it before, with Chol, maybe it won't take as long.

I doubt there's any major issues otherwise Miller wouldn't be gushing about his ability publicly. By all accounts he's been dominant in practice and Miller said we'll probably never see anything like him again. That's coming from a very reserved head coach.

PJC, Barcello
Trier, Randolph
Alkins, Akot
Ayton, Lee (who's also getting great reports)
Ristic, Ayton

Comanche and Simmons probably made a good choice when you think about it.

 

[Russ Smith]

I doubt there's any major issues otherwise Miller wouldn't be gushing about his ability publicly. By all accounts he's been dominant in practice and Miller said we'll probably never see anything like him again. That's coming from a very reserved head coach.

PJC, Barcello
Trier, Randolph
Alkins, Akot
Ayton, Lee (who's also getting great reports)
Ristic, Ayton

Comanche and Simmons probably made a good choice when you think about it.

I fully expect him to clear but remember this time last year everyone was saying the staff fully expected Ferguson to clear too. The difference is his issue was academics and with Ayton that doesn't seem to be the issue.

The big knock on Ayton in the past has been he doesn't always play hard, that's where playing for Miller should help him, if anybody can get him to play harder you'd think it would be Miller. And when he does play hard, he's damn good, again remember the line he put up against UNC in their summer tourney when he was like 15 or 16 years old, he's REALLY good.

THere just isn't any reason this year for Arizona not to have a monster year, 3 starters back plus a part time starter in PJC, they lost their best player, Markannen, and replaced him with Ayton who should be even better.

Edit, I said Haiti earlier, of course he's from the Bahamas

 

[overseascardfan]

Williams, Quinerly & Barcello could form a similar trio to the '97 championship team with Bibby, Simon & Terry.

 

[TJ]

Scary stuff, but the team was staying a few blocks away from the terrorist attack in Barcelona.

 

[GatorAZ]

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Nassir Little is reportedly down to Arizona, Miami and UNC. This class could be

 

[Russ Smith]

How many kids is Miller going to take in the class? You have the 2 PG's and O'Neal already committed, it looks like you lead for Bol, you could probably get Reid if you want him but seems unlikely he's commit with both O'Neal and Bol there but who knows. Little looks very realistic too. That's 5 or 6 right there.

I guess there's a good argument to take all the bigs you can get since you're going to lose your starting 2 bigs this year.

 

[GatorAZ]

How many kids is Miller going to take in the class? You have the 2 PG's and O'Neal already committed, it looks like you lead for Bol, you could probably get Reid if you want him but seems unlikely he's commit with both O'Neal and Bol there but who knows. Little looks very realistic too. That's 5 or 6 right there.

I guess there's a good argument to take all the bigs you can get since you're going to lose your starting 2 bigs this year.

Miller said up to 7 depending on NBA departures. There's always someone who leaves that you don't expect; possibly Randolph or Akot...

Bol make think he's a 4 but he'll play the 5 in college so Reid or Little wouldn't be an issue. Only thing that could happen is Shareef wanting out but he's a lesser prospect than both guys so it's not the end of the world. Problem is that's a lot of lost publicity considering his dad's persona.

Barrett would be the gem but it'll be tough to get him away from the blue bloods. Arizona has the Akot/Canada connection on their side but I don't know if they're close or not. The coaching staff must've been on him more than meets the eye considering Evan Daniels says Arizona is right there.

Gerald Liddell seemed like a backup plan but he committed to Texas. I'm guessing it's a 6-man class of Quinerly, Williams, O'Neal, Bol, Little and one more. UNC getting hammered by the NCAA would help with Little seeing as it's between AZ, UNC and Miami for him.

 

[Russ Smith]

Miller said up to 7 depending on NBA departures. There's always someone who leaves that you don't expect; possibly Randolph or Akot...

Bol make think he's a 4 but he'll play the 5 in college so Reid or Little wouldn't be an issue. Only thing that could happen is Shareef wanting out but he's a lesser prospect than both guys so it's not the end of the world. Problem is that's a lot of lost publicity considering his dad's persona.

Barrett would be the gem but it'll be tough to get him away from the blue bloods. Arizona has the Akot/Canada connection on their side but I don't know if they're close or not. The coaching staff must've been on him more than meets the eye considering Evan Daniels says Arizona is right there.

Gerald Liddell seemed like a backup plan but he committed to Texas. I'm guessing it's a 6-man class of Quinerly, Williams, O'Neal, Bol, Little and one more. UNC getting hammered by the NCAA would help with Little seeing as it's between AZ, UNC and Miami for him.

Barrett would make a monster class but even without him it's a great class. and it's an absolute death knell class for Steve Alford if Arizona winds up with Quinerly, Little and Reid, all of whom at one point or another UCLA was heavily involved with and hoping to get help from Under Armour.

UCLA is now trying to get in on Dotson the PG that Miller dropped after Quinerly committed but he seems close to committing to Kansas.

I certainly didn't think Under Armour would be able to steer a bunch of national kids to UCLA right away, but the fact that so many of them are picking arizona is just the worst thing that could have happened to Alford.

 

[GatorAZ]

Barrett would make a monster class but even without him it's a great class. and it's an absolute death knell class for Steve Alford if Arizona winds up with Quinerly, Little and Reid, all of whom at one point or another UCLA was heavily involved with and hoping to get help from Under Armour.

UCLA is now trying to get in on Dotson the PG that Miller dropped after Quinerly committed but he seems close to committing to Kansas.

I certainly didn't think Under Armour would be able to steer a bunch of national kids to UCLA right away, but the fact that so many of them are picking arizona is just the worst thing that could have happened to Alford.

Dotson is definitely a lock for KU. At one point it seemed like Arizona had their choice of Quinerly or Dotson and Quinerly pulled the trigger first. There's no doubt Lorenzo Romar is putting in work this summer. Arizona was Brandon Williams' "dream school" so Miller would've landed him regardless but they wouldn't have pulled in an additional highly rated PG given Miller's track record of PG's without Romar IMO.

I didn't realize Reid was more of a 5 so it may affect Bol. Maybe the Reid visit will get things moving with Bol similar to Quinerly/Dotson. Gershon didn't say it directly but he seems very low on Shareef O'Neal so I wouldn't expect a lack of aggression pursuing other forwards.

UCLA needs to hope their freshman stick around which seems likely.

 

[Russ Smith]

Dotson is definitely a lock for KU. At one point it seemed like Arizona had their choice of Quinerly or Dotson and Quinerly pulled the trigger first. There's no doubt Lorenzo Romar is putting in work this summer. Arizona was Brandon Williams' "dream school" so Miller would've landed him regardless but they wouldn't have pulled in an additional highly rated PG given Miller's track record of PG's without Romar IMO.

I didn't realize Reid was more of a 5 so it may affect Bol. Maybe the Reid visit will get things moving with Bol similar to Quinerly/Dotson. Gershon didn't say it directly but he seems very low on Shareef O'Neal so I wouldn't expect a lack of aggression pursuing other forwards.

UCLA needs to hope their freshman stick around which seems likely.

yeah Shareef IMO is not that good but good PR and good friends with Bol and others so not a bad take. I don't think he'll play much but it will only backfire if Shaq starts to criticize Miller over it and I think he realizes his son is probably not going to be a major star.

Honestly even if they do the so far utter failure to get a PG and a big in 18 and the look that it's not getting any better is going to be a problem. You go into 18 with Hill as the best 5 on the roster and that's a huge issue. Even if Hands sticks around, and I think he will, you need a backup PG.

Been saying it for months UCLA should be all over Logan Johnson, not an immediate impact guy but IMO by his junior year he'd be good enough to start.This was a down year for PG's in the West, Miller got the best one and Alford has struck out on the national ones, he needs to lock up Johnson before someone else does.

We're hearing on BRO that Reid to UA is a real possibility, as you said Miller is willing to take as many as 7 so 3 bigs in the class wouldn't be a problem.

 

[overseascardfan]

Theoretically, couldn't O'Neal play the SF spot and Bol the PF spot with Reid in the middle. Bol & O'Neal can space the floor with their shooting range. UA is going to be deep in 2018 with their class and holdovers like Lee, Barcello and possibly Akot & Randolph if he doesn't bolt for NBA.

 

[Russ Smith]

Theoretically, couldn't O'Neal play the SF spot and Bol the PF spot with Reid in the middle. Bol & O'Neal can space the floor with their shooting range. UA is going to be deep in 2018 with their class and holdovers like Lee, Barcello and possibly Akot & Randolph if he doesn't bolt for NBA.

3 totally different levels of kids IMO. Bol is almost a guaranteed one and done, if he goes to college at all it's going to be 1 year IMO.

Reid is a very talented kid, don't think he's a 1 and done but very talented.

Shareef is a 4 year guy and the type of guy who could easily wind up transferring out because he doesn't play enough. Big kid with talent but he doesn't like to play inside and he's not good enough to play the wing at Arizona.

He was worth taking for UA, great PR, good friends with other kids like Williams and Bol,but I'd be very surprised if he's playing much the year Bol is in college and presumably at UA.

 

[GatorAZ]

Reid to LSU. If anything it jumpstarted the process for Bol who is setting up his visit to AZ according to Scout. The sooner a kid commits the better chance they get him qualified.

I actually thought Reid would help more as a freshman but Bol's ceiling is much higher long term. Bol/O'Neal will have some issues if that's the frontcourt.

 

[Russ Smith]

Reid to LSU. If anything it jumpstarted the process for Bol who is setting up his visit to AZ according to Scout. The sooner a kid commits the better chance they get him qualified.

I actually thought Reid would help more as a freshman but Bol's ceiling is much higher long term. Bol/O'Neal will have some issues if that's the frontcourt.

If Miller had gotten Reid and Bol it would have been amazing. I'm surprised how well Wade is recruiting right away at LSU, I know he was considered an up and comer but he's jumped right in recruiting elites.

 

[GatorAZ]

If Miller had gotten Reid and Bol it would have been amazing. I'm surprised how well Wade is recruiting right away at LSU, I know he was considered an up and comer but he's jumped right in recruiting elites.

Reid tweeted out at Rothstein that he's wrong and deleted it. He told Zagsblog he's just visiting to see his GF. He's still talking about wanting to play with Quinerly in Zags' latest piece but he's probably just trying to keep some buzz around the announcement.

#1 prospect RJ Barrett is visiting Sep 21-23 and it'd be cool to get Bol visiting the same weekend and shoot for the mega class.

 

[Russ Smith]

Reid tweeted out at Rothstein that he's wrong and deleted it. He told Zagsblog he's just visiting to see his GF. He's still talking about wanting to play with Quinerly in Zags' latest piece but he's probably just trying to keep some buzz around the announcement.

#1 prospect RJ Barrett is visiting Sep 21-23 and it'd be cool to get Bol visiting the same weekend and shoot for the mega class.

I guess we'll see, sometimes kids just don't like their commitments being announced before they can do it themselves but maybe Rothstein really is wrong.

Barrett is interesting his shot is weird and he's not a very good outside shooter but man does he have a knack for scoring anyways. Bigtime recruit but like people did with Lonzo you have to wonder is he going to be able to do it at the next level if he doesn't fix that shot?

 

[Russ Smith]

I guess we'll see, sometimes kids just don't like their commitments being announced before they can do it themselves but maybe Rothstein really is wrong.

Barrett is interesting his shot is weird and he's not a very good outside shooter but man does he have a knack for scoring anyways. Bigtime recruit but like people did with Lonzo you have to wonder is he going to be able to do it at the next level if he doesn't fix that shot?

I should add after watching some tape of the Canada win over team USA, he's a perfect Duke player. He's got a bunch of James Harden to his game and I don't mean because he's a lefty I mean all the flopping on shots to draw fouls, he must have drawn 4 shooting fouls at least in that game on blatant flops, one of them a 3 pointer. can't recall the last HS player I saw who did so much of that but I can almost bet Harden is his favorite player

 

[Russ Smith]

If I were a UA fan I'd be pretty teed off right about now. Duke announced today that the NCAA has fully cleared Bagley to play this year and so Duke will open the season preseason #1 with a roster that starts both Trevon Duval and Marvin Bagley, 2 kids that virtually nobody expected to qualify, and Bagley did it a full year early.

Duval went to the same school as Ferguson, his dad said they were concerned about the academics there so he was doing online classes instead but Ferguson's handlers said the same thing. he wound up in Australia, and somehow Duval qualifies at academically elite Duke?

Matt Norlander on CBS wrote a story where he talks about Duke haters having lots to complain about now but in the story he openly states there are lots of people wondering right now how in the world Bagley qualified, let alone ayear early. 2 months ago he wrote a story detailing what it would take for Bagley to qualify and he said the obvious hurdle is he needs to get so many credits and core classes in such a short time. Remember Jan 2016 the nCAA announced a new rule that made it much tougher to do that, they openly stated the intent of the rule was to stop the abuse of the system where athletes were cramming in tons of core classes after their junior years of HS so they could qualify.

So here we go a year later and the top recruit in the entire country crams in an entire year of core classes and credits, online, in one summer, all while still playing in the EYBL, and Norlander wonders why people might question it?

So they get 2 guys and you couldn't get Ferguson, and now they will be #1 the start of this season instead of Arizona.

I really hope you guys play Duke at some point this year would be great to see Bags and Ayton go head to head.

 

[overseascardfan]

If I were a UA fan I'd be pretty teed off right about now. Duke announced today that the NCAA has fully cleared Bagley to play this year and so Duke will open the season preseason #1 with a roster that starts both Trevon Duval and Marvin Bagley, 2 kids that virtually nobody expected to qualify, and Bagley did it a full year early.

Duval went to the same school as Ferguson, his dad said they were concerned about the academics there so he was doing online classes instead but Ferguson's handlers said the same thing. he wound up in Australia, and somehow Duval qualifies at academically elite Duke?

Matt Norlander on CBS wrote a story where he talks about Duke haters having lots to complain about now but in the story he openly states there are lots of people wondering right now how in the world Bagley qualified, let alone ayear early. 2 months ago he wrote a story detailing what it would take for Bagley to qualify and he said the obvious hurdle is he needs to get so many credits and core classes in such a short time. Remember Jan 2016 the nCAA announced a new rule that made it much tougher to do that, they openly stated the intent of the rule was to stop the abuse of the system where athletes were cramming in tons of core classes after their junior years of HS so they could qualify.

So here we go a year later and the top recruit in the entire country crams in an entire year of core classes and credits, online, in one summer, all while still playing in the EYBL, and Norlander wonders why people might question it?

So they get 2 guys and you couldn't get Ferguson, and now they will be #1 the start of this season instead of Arizona.

I really hope you guys play Duke at some point this year would be great to see Bags and Ayton go head to head.

$$$ talks and this is Duke we are talking about. NCAA was not going to disqualify the most hyped HS player since LeBron especially since he is going to one of the crown jewels of college basketball. Ferguson wasn't as highly rated as Bagley or Duval so that't that.

 

[Russ Smith]

$$$ talks and this is Duke we are talking about. NCAA was not going to disqualify the most hyped HS player since LeBron especially since he is going to one of the crown jewels of college basketball. Ferguson wasn't as highly rated as Bagley or Duval so that't that.

I'm curious if in the end Ferguson just didn't want to bother waiting and left, or if he really knew he wasn't qualifying? He went to the same HS Duval did, twice, they were reportedly doing the same online classes because of the problems at Prime Prep and the school after that.

One ACC coach per Norlander said the fact that Bagley qualified was "incredible, but not at all surprising", clearly there are some people out there wondering how a school that is allegedly difficult to get into keeps getting kids like Duval and Bagley accepted through admissions.