USA Today: Arizona has two of college hoops’ top 50 players
Jul 28, 2016, 7:09 AM | Updated: Jul 29, 2016, 10:18 am
Arizona guard Allonzo Trier shoots against Colorado during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 men's tournament Thursday, March 10, 2016, in Las Vegas. Arizona won 82-78. (AP Photo/John Locher)
(AP Photo/John Locher)
After a 25-9 season, the Arizona Wildcats have recruited two new studs.
At least, that’s the consensus from USA Today Sports’ The Big Lead, which put freshmen Kobi Simmons and Lauri Markkanen on its list of college basketball’s top 50 players.
Simmons, No. 42 on the USA Today list, is a 6-foot-6 point guard from St. Francis High School in Alpharetta, Ga. ESPN’s scouting report calls him a “long and quick combination guard that can score and distribute the ball,” with an “excellent first step as he slashes in between defenders.”
He was ranked No. 20 on ESPN’s Top 100 college basketball recruits this year.
Meanwhile, Markkanen is a 7-foot Finland native and big man who averaged 24.9 points and 8.6 rebounds at the 2016 FIBA U20 World Championship. He comes in at No. 31 on USA Today’s top 50.
Allonzo Trier, a sophomore, made the list’s honorable mentions.
Trier, a guard, appeared in 27 contests for the Wildcats last year, averaging 14.8 points and 3.3 rebounds per game. He shot 46.6 percent from three.
