Sean Miller snagged yet another elite recruit. Get used to it.
Brandon Ashley’s decision Monday gives Arizona a third top 50 player from the class of 2012, pushing the Wildcats to the top of the rankings, according to ESPN.com. Grant Jerrett and Gabe York were already on board, but neither are as touted as Ashley, a 6-9 power forward from California. Jeff Borzello raves about Ashley’s skills, mobility and post moves.
“You’re talking about three high-level players,’' Paul Biancardi, ESPN’s national director of basketball recruiting, told Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic. “The things that are special about all three of them, all three of these guys can really score the ball. York is a prolific scorer and the bigs can score off the jump shot or the drive. ... That’s tough to beat.”
But if this were simply three good recruits lining up for Miller, it’d be notable. It’s beyond that now.
(As Rob Dauster notes, John Calipari’s absurd recruiting classes have set the bar so high that it takes quite a bit to earn serious acclaim now.)
Miller needed just two seasons to lead the Wildcats to a Pac-10 title and the Elite Eight (having Derrick Williams certainly helps), and that’s because of his recruiting. Last year’s class – Josiah Turner, Nick Johnson, Angelo Chol and Sidiki Johnson – was Scout.com’s 4th-rated group.
Combine them with established guys like Kevin Parrom, Solomon Hill and Jordin Mayes and that’s a group with elite talent and depth at every position.
This season, the ‘Cats will be a top 10 team. In 2011-12, they’ll likely be the team to beat.
At this rate, opponents will long for the days of Lute Olson. Or at least wish that Maryland had lured him away from Arizona ...
Related stories:
- Miller’s promise of ‘the long haul’ music to Arizona’s ears
- No more Momo means Arizona will rely on freshman PG
- As Pac-10 fades away, a reminder of Olson’s reign
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