The Arizona Wildcats didn’t quite have the end to the 2016-17 season they wanted, losing 73-71 to the 11th-seeded Xavier Musketeers in the Sweet 16 on Thursday.
The Wildcats do, however, have another chance at a good season next year after finishing 32-5, and ESPN basketball recruiting insider Jeff Borzello says the team is trending “level” for next season.
The main difference between this projection and Ken Pomeroy’s ranking of the Wildcats the No. 2 team next year is the fate of guard Allonzo Trier, who led the team with 17.2 points per game.
While Pomeroy’s projection involves Trier staying, Borzello thinks he may move on to the NBA, but Borzello agrees with Pomeroy on forward Lauri Markkanen, calling him a “lock to leave.” DraftExpress ranks Markkanen as the eighth-best 2017 NBA Draft prospect and Trier at No. 62. Senior guard Kadeem Allen will obviously be gone as well.
However, the addition of talented recruits such as five-star big man DeAndre Ayton and three four-star players in shooting guard Brandon Randolph, power forward Ira Lee and point guard Alex Barcello should help the Wildcats mitigate the loss of their top-two scorers.
Under (Sean) Miller, Arizona has been one of the winningest programs in the country, and he should have the Wildcats in the national mix once again — assuming all the wing scorers don’t leave for the NBA. The addition of Ayton is a game-changer.
Ayton is the No. 1 recruit in the 2017 class according to 247 Sports and features an offensive arsenal that Borzello describes as “impossible to defend at times.”
He also says to “keep an eye on” uncommitted five-star small forward Brian Bowen, who is the No. 15 recruit in the nation and “is considered to be an Arizona lean right now.” Only Kentucky and Duke are currently set to feature two top-15 2017 recruits.
As far as returning talent, Borzello believes guards Rawle Alkins and Kobi Simmons “could be poised for a breakout season if they return.”
Alkins is the top returning scorer in the projections, having averaged 10.9 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists on 46.3 percent shooting this season. Simmons added 8.8 points and two assists on 39.7 percent shooting.
DraftExpress’ top 100 players has Simmons ranked No. 67 and Alkins at 82.
According to Borzello’s predictions, Arizona will field a starting lineup of Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Simmons, Alkins, Ayton and Dusan Ristic next season.
Ristic averaged 10.9 points and 5.5 rebounds this year, while Jackson-Cartwright averaged only 5.9 points per game but led the team with an average of 4.1 assists. All of those numbers were career-highs.
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