Wildcats lose top recruit Terrance Ferguson to Australian team
Jun 30, 2016, 9:22 AM
The Arizona Wildcats’s top-ranked 2016 recruiting class took a major hit on Thursday, as wing Terrance Ferguson announced he is turning pro and will play in Australia rather than play college ball in Tucson.
In a post on “The Players Tribune,” Ferguson said he made the decision to ensure his mom would never have to work again as well as help him progress as a basketball player. He noted how his original plan was to play for the Wildcats, but heading overseas to play for the Adelaide 36ers was just too good of an opportunity to pass up.
He admitted that for a while he never really knew if playing professionally — overseas or in the NBA — was going to be an option, adding that after winning gold medals in various tournaments and being named a McDonald’s All-American he felt the natural next step was to play for a top college.
That’s where Arizona factored in, until the 36ers approached Ferguson at the Nike Hoops Summit.
They really liked how I played, and started talking about how they could develop me even further. That’s what really got my attention.
In terms of development, players from overseas are further along than players here. Just look at the last NBA Draft. In college, you have time limits on your workouts, you have class, you have so many other things taking up your time. Overseas, you’re on your own, playing in a grown man’s league. You’re working out twice a day, just focusing on basketball.
A 6-foot-7 wing who shoots threes and plays good defense, Ferguson was graded as a top-15 recruit by most scouting services, and figures to play a prominent role with next year’s Arizona team. Instead, head coach Sean Miller will have to move on without the Advanced Prep International product.
“Terrance Ferguson informed me earlier this week that he has decided to pursue professional opportunities instead of attending the University of Arizona this fall,” Miller said in a press release. “I hope this next chapter of his basketball career goes well, and his goal of one day becoming an NBA player is realized.”
Sans Ferguson, Arizona still has one of the better recruiting classes and teams in the nation, as five-star players Lauri Markkanen, Kobi Simmons and Rawle Alkins are joining a group that already includes Allonzo Trier, Ray Smith, Dusan Ristic, Kadeem Allen and Chance Comanche.
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