ESPN: Arizona Basketball No. 1 in the Way-Too-Early Top 25
May 25, 2017, 10:06 AM | Updated: 11:20 am
Arizona coach Sean Miller holds up the trophy after Arizona defeated Oregon 83-80 in an NCAA college basketball game for the championship of the Pac-12 men's tournament Saturday, March 11, 2017, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)
There is a new number one in college basketball, well in the preseason rankings at least.
With over five months until the season tips off, the Arizona Wildcats have taken over the number-one spot in the Way-Too-Early Top 25, published by ESPN’s Myron Medcalf.
After adding to their 2017 recruiting this week with the re-classification of 5-star prospect Emmanuel Akot (No. 41 in the ESPN top-100 recruits), Arizona shot up to No. 1 preseason rankings, just a year ago they sat at No.12.
In a 24-hour span this week, Arizona rose up the preseason rankings when Rawle Alkins withdrew from the NBA draft and Emmanuel Akot (No. 21 in the ESPN 60 for the 2018 class) reclassified into the 2017 class. The class was ranked fourth overall before Akot’s move and was already anchored by DeAndre Ayton, the No. 2 incoming prospect in the ESPN 100. Allonzo Trier (17.2 PPG) should earn a spot on most preseason All-American first teams. Dusan Ristic and Parker Jackson-Cartwright give coach Sean Miller a pair of talented vets who will round out a starting rotation unrivaled on the West Coast. Plus, the staff is excited about Brandon Randolph’s potential to evolve into a playmaker in his first season. Yes, Miller is still chasing his first trip to the Final Four, but his roster for next season presents a challenge for any opponent in the country, which means his season might end with a spot in San Antonio in 2018.
Akot is just an addition to Arizona’s already stacked 2017 class, one that boasts four other top-100 recruits including DeAndre Ayton (No. 2 ranked prospect), Brandon Randolph (No. 35), Ira Lee (No. 67), and Alex Barcello (No. 94).
The big-name recruits will contribute to an Arizona roster that’s already bringing back three starters including guard Rawle Alkins, who earlier this week chose to leave the NBA Draft and go back to Tucson for his sophomore season.
Sean Miller, who routinely produces recruiting classes at or near the top of the national rankings, has yet to guide the Wildcats to a Final Four. With a crop of talented returners and this class in place, the pressure to do so in 2017-18 may be at an all-time high in Tucson.
