Sean Miller Introduces New Chants to Zona Zoo

The Stakes Have Just Been Raised

When's the last time any Arizona sport got any type of love from the national media? Even this year with football where things are going well, it seems like the press likes to focus on the schools with more tradition like Florida and Texas. But today on the nationally televised show "College Gameday" it was said by multiple ESPN correspondents that if Arizona beats California tonight, then they would host the show down in Tucson next week for the Oregon matchup. This would be the biggest event to hit Tucson in decades and it would give Arizona the national coverage that it truly deserves. At 6-2, Arizona goes into California to play a team that is missing Jahvid Best after obtaining his second concussion in eight days. These last 4 games for Arizona could either make or break them and all of Tucson is starting to feel the buzz. Lets hope that Arizona wins tonight so the rest of the nation can start to feel that same buzz. 

Arizona Wildcats by Position: Power Forward

Jamelle Horne

                                 

           Hometown: San Diego, California 

          6'7 220 lbs. 

       #42

           Junior 

 Coming out of high school, Jamelle Horne was ranked as the 22nd best recruit in the class of 2006. In his first two years at Arizona, Horne has showed flashes of pure brilliance like when he scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds against Kansas. But Horne has also commited some questionable fouls that eventually cost Arizona two games last season. 

This year, Horne has a fresh slate to show Arizona fans what he is truely capable of. After spending the summer working out with now Sacramento Kings guard Tyreke Evans, Horne learned a lot and said “He (Evans) taught me about toughness (and) about being a dog and not letting (an opponent) breath – and taking your heart. That’s the type of player Tyreke is.’’ Toughness is what this young Arizona team will need this season and Horne will be one of the leaders along with Nic Wise. 

Horne will have to post consistent numbers this season. During the first exhibition game, Horne looked like the best player on the court scoring 19 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. If this type of production become consistent, Arizona will be in good shape. Horne is a excellent finisher around the basket and has a tremoundous vertical leap. His perimeter shooting has come a long way and he has no fear about shooting the ball from deep. Expect Horne to be the vocal leader for this Arizona team and Horne know this. “I’ve got to be a guy who gets into us in the huddles and gets into us in timeouts,’’ he said. “When we’re down by 10 I have to be that guy this year.’’ With such high potential, Horne should be one of the better players in the Pac 10 and expect him to contribute much more this season. 

Arizona Basketball Exhibition Recap

76

92

After a long and exciting offseason , the Arizona Wildcats took care of 

Augustana College 92-76. In a game that was full of many ups and downs, Jamelle Horne was a major bright spot and led Arizona with 19 points and 10 rebounds while freshman Derrick Williams finished with 14 points. Nic Wise played only 19 minutes but also added 13 points. 

UP:

• The five freshman all contributed on the offense side of the ball. Kevin Parrom looked sharp with 12 points on 5/9 shooting

•  Garland Judkins looked to be rejuvenated playing 15 min shooting 4/5 for 9 points. 
• With Kyle Fogg out battling the flu, Brendon Lavender stepped into the starting position and played well on defense.                    
• Ten man rotation implemented by Sean Miller showed promise and depth with each person contributing and competing.
• The announced attendance was 13,000. USC had 800 people attend their first exhibition game.  

      DOWN:

• The defense was at times and to quote Sean Miller "alarming" especially concerning the five freshman. The Wildcats were not able to keep the Vikings away from the basket and off the free throw line.
• Although the Wildcats finished plus 7 in rebounding, the Vikings seemed to be in better position to clean up the boards. 
• Wildcats had 15 turnovers and committed 24 fouls.  
• Derrick Williams (right) turned his ankle and will have to wear a boot for a few days but should be 100% for NAU.  

Next Game: Western New Mexico @ Arizona Tuesday Nov. 10th 7pm

Red and Blue Game Recap

Quick Hits:

Star of the Game: 

Lamont Jones was one of the major stars of the day scoring 21 points. He played with intensity but at the same time, he was able to have a good time with his teammates. At one point during halftime, Lute Olson made an appearance at Mckale during halftime and Jones went into the stands and shook hands with the father of Arizona basketball. I can see Jones quickly becoming a star at Arizona and he even took time to shake hands with some fans after the game. 

Comedy Hour: 

Jamelle Horne seemed to have a better shooting stroke but he was more evident on the defensive end where he had 3 blocks and stayed body to body with his opponent. At one point, Kyle Fogg was dribbling the ball past half court and Horne dove for Fogg's legs drawing the intentional foul. It provided good laughter for the fans and the team after Horne was called for two infamous last second fouls last season which cost the team two losses. 

Growing up Fast:

All five freshman looked to be in good shape for the upcoming season which is good news for Wildcat fans. Kyryl Natyazko looked solid inside scoring 14 points and grabbing 10 rebounds at the post position. Solomon Hill had his moments and Kevin Parrom seemed to be wise beyond his years. Derrick Williams had a few flashy alley-oop dunks and with his length, he was able to rebound the ball well.

Veterans Shine:

With Nic Wise nursing an injured ankle, Kyle Fogg and Brendan Lavender showed that they knew what they were doing. Fogg made the shots he took and Lavender hit a couple 3's. Miller never seemed to be yelling at either player and each were smart with the ball. 

Sean Miller Postgame

Injury Update

Nic Wise recently sprained his ankle during practice and will not be able to make the Pac 10 media day on Thursday. He was seen limping around Mckale Center and his status for the Red and Blue game is unknown. 

 

Upcoming Game

Fans should expect a more competitive Red and Blue game this Sunday then in seasons past. Because the starting lineup is not set, each player will be playing to earn one the the 5 spots. Kyle Fogg expects that “It should be a good game,” he said today, when he and Brendon Lavender were made available for media interviews. “It’s not going to be as sloppy as you guys think because we’re really working hard on a lot of five-on-five stuff.”

Arizona Wildcats By Position: Power Forward

            Derrick Williams

Hometown: La Mirada, California

6'9'' 235 lbs. 

#23

Freshman

  Although Derrick Williams may be one of the least known of the five incoming freshman, he may be the most skilled. He was not heavily recruited out of high school but Williams says this was because “I don’t think a lot of people knew about me, to be honest with you, because of where I played high school basketball,” Williams said during media day two weeks ago. “La Mirada is not a big school".

Williams first committed to Tim Floyd and USC but quickly de-committed after Floyd was fired. After reopening his recruitment, Williams picked Arizona over Memphis. Expect Williams to share much of the playing time with junior forward Jamelle Horne and even getting some time at the center position. He has a tremendous ability to dunk the basketball and while watching his high school tapes, one can say he can be an Andre Iguadala type player for Arizona. Williams can rebound the ball and even has the ability to step outside the perimeter hitting close to 40% of his 3's during his senior year. One could expect to see an athletic lineup if Williams was asked to step into the 5 spot and play center with a lineup of Nic Wise, Kyle Fogg, Solomon Hill, and Jamelle Horne. I dont know about you but that would be a fun lineup to watch.

Watch this video if you want to see Williams dunking ability

Breaking News: Rod Odom Deccomitts

Surprising news broke Sunday night out of Massachusetts saying that Rod Odom has decided to withdraw his commitment from Arizona. At first glance, it seems that he wants to go to college closer to his home on the east coast and Vanderbilt would be a better fit for him. Sean Miller will now turn his recruiting attention to point guard Ray Mccallum, forwards Doron Lamb and Terrence Jones and center Adreian Payne.  

Arizona Wildcats By Position: Small Forward

Kevin Parrom

Hometown: Bronx, New York

6'6'' 205 lbs.

#3

Freshman

Because Kevin Parrom is the first Arizona recruit to come out of New York since Khalid Reeves, he has a lot to live up to. Parrom is a role player who does all the dirty work to get his team the win. During his senior year playing for South Kent, he averaged 14 points and 7 rebounds a game. Like all of the incoming recruits, Parrom has said to have a incredible work ethic and Sean Miller has recently raved about him after Saturdays practice saying “Through the first five days of practice, I would say (Parrom) might be the biggest surprise,” Miller said. “He’s performed very well. He can do a little bit of everything. He’s not a great three-point shooter but he can pass and put the ball on the floor. He’s quick to the ball, can guard a number of different positions and really fits a style that I like to coach with.” The fact that Parrom can defend at multiple positions will give him a lot of playing time at small and power forward this season and he should be able to develop a more consistent shot as he gains experience throughout his collegiate career.  

10/22 Basketball Practice Slidshow

Click the link below to see a slideshow of the team in action

http://www.flickr.com/photos/arizonadailywildcat/sets/72157622642736658/show/

Here is a funny video from last year that was played at halftime during a game.

2008 Arizona Basketball - Jinglebell Rock from Arizona Athletics on Vimeo.

Arizona Wildcats By Position: Small Forward

SOLOMON HILL 

AKA: "SOLO"

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

6'6'' 230 lbs. 

#43

Freshman

 

If you are wondering where the points are going to come from this season, look no further then Solomon Hill. Ranked in the top 25 by almost every recruiting website in the nation, Hill is one of the better recruits to come into Tucson in a long time. He has an NBA type physique and he will be able to outmuscle the smaller players at his position. He is capable of putting up 15 points a game as a freshman and will be one of Nic Wise's main targets. Unlike most players his age, Hill prides himself on his defense and should strongly be considered for a starting spot because of that. Hill needs to work on his outside shot but is an above average rebounder and he is able to beat defenders off the dribble. Expect Solomon Hill to be one of the best freshman in the Pac-10 and he will be able to make a difference for this Arizona team.  

Arizona Wildcats by Position: Shooting Guard

Kyle Fogg

Hometown: Brea, California

6'3 185 lbs.

#21 

Sophomore

Fogg was a pleasant surprise for the Wildcats last season. After signing with Arizona in late July, Fogg was not expected to contribute much of anything during his freshman year. He went from playing 10 minutes against Florida Atlantic to playing 30 minutes against Louisville in the Sweet 16. Fogg quickly became a fan favorite because of how he played on the defensive end where his intensity seemed unmatched. Because big time scorers Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill took most of the load offensively last year, Fogg was just asked to play hard defensively and any offense he provided was gravy. But this year is a different story. With questions about where the points are going to come from, Fogg will have to double his points average in order for the Wildcats to have a successful season. He did show flashes of offensive brilliance last season scoring a season high 16 points against the PAC 10 leader Washington. Although just a sophomore, Fogg will be one of the most experienced players on the team and I expect him to continue his defensive prominence and contribute on the offensive end with more consistence. I believe that because of how Fogg plays on defense, he will become a personal favorite of coach Sean Miller. 

Arizona Wildcats by Position: Point Guard

 It seems like just yesterday when Russ Pennell was leading the cinderella 2008-09 Arizona Wildcats into the Sweet Sixteen. But oh how times have changed. A new coach, new players, and a new style of play have all rolled into Tucson with the first full practices starting this Friday. This will be the first of a six part series in which I will review each player at each position  

Nic Wise

After the end of the 08-09 season it seemed as if Wise would not be returning to Tucson. Heading overseas to Europe and entering the NBA draft were both very appealing and the fact that Arizona only had 6 returning players made the first two options seem even more enticing. But then Sean Miller rode into town, bringing with him 5 recruits who all have the ability to contribute during their freshman year. This and the fact that Miller is implementing a run and gun offense persuaded Wise to return for his senior year. The stars are aligned for Wise to have a huge year. He is already being viewed as being one of the best point guards in the nation and he will have the ball in his hands a lot more this year with the departures of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger. He has immediate scoring threats with wings Solomon Hill and Jamelle Horne and a post presence with big bodied Kyryl Natyazko at 6'11 250 lbs. Defensively, Wise is one of the better on ball defenders in the Pac 10. He has an uncanny ability to stay body to body with his opponent but he does tend to be in foul trouble late in games. Wise played tremoundously in the 09 NCAA tournament and if he is able to bring that level of play to each game during this upcoming season, he will be an All American.  

Lamont Jones 

At this time last year, Arizona was getting its heartbroken by Oak HIll point guard Brandon Jennings who decided to play in Europe. This time around, Oak Hill has been kinder to the Wildcats and point guard Lamont "MoMo" Jones has joined the team. Jones has the ability to score every time he touches the ball and he has above average ball handling skills. At almost 200 lbs. Jones has a similar body type to ex North Carolina Tar Heel Ty Lawson. Jones is bound to see a lot of playing time this year and will be asked to provide a consistent number of points per game. He is already used to playing in the limelight because of his time at the prestigious Oak Hill academy so there should be no fear coming from Jones. Anything that Jones can add while Wise is resting on the bench will be a huge bonus because one of the few things that Arizona does not have to worry about is the point guard position. 

Garland Judkins

While Judkins had trouble staying on the court last season because of a number of issues, look for him to have a comeback year under the guidance of Sean Miller. I have seen Judkins around campus and he seems to be bigger (muscle wise) and the fact that he is a sophomore will earn him some playing time if Lamont Jones falters at some point. Although he isn't the most skilled player on the roster, he does have the ability to put the ball on the floor and beat defenders. His shooting ability is not one to scowl at either and look for Judkins to be the one of the most improved players this year.

Does Terrell Owens Fit In Chicago?

Rumors have been swirling about the possibility of superstar wide receiver Terrell Owens being traded to the Chicago Bears. But thankfully for the Bears sake, thats all that this is, a rumor. At this point in his career, Owens needs the Bears a lot more then the Bears need Owens. Pulling in only 12 catches for 200 yards total this season, Owens has gone from being the best wide receiver in football to just an average one. Although Owens would help boost a young group of wideouts in Chicago, the risk is much larger then the reward. Bears quarterback Jay Cutler has done well with this season throwing  for almost 900 yards and 8 touchdowns and it does not seem that he needs a superstar wide receiver in order to be successful. Because the Bears already gave up their 2010 first round pick in the Cutler trade, they need to keep their remaining picks in order to fill some of the holes on their roster so there is no need to send these picks to Buffalo. This trade has almost a 0% chance of happening. 

2009-10 Arizona WIldcats TV Schedule

 2009-10 University of Arizona 

Men’s Basketball Schedule 

 

Day Date Opponent TV Location Time 

 

Sun. Nov. 1 Red-Blue Game None Tucson 1 p.m. MST 

Wed. Nov. 4 Augstana College (EX) Webcast only Tucson 7 p.m. MST 

Tue. Nov. 10 Western New Mexico (EX) Webcast only Tucson 7 p.m. MST 

Sun. Nov. 15 Northern Arizona KWBA/FSAZ Tucson 3 p.m. MST 

Thurs. Nov. 19 Rice FSAZ Tucson 8:30 p.m. MST 

 

  EA Sports Maui Invitational 

Mon. Nov. 23 vs. Wisconsin ESPN2 Lahaina, Hawaii 7 p.m. HST 

Tue. Nov. 24 vs. Colorado/Gonzaga TBA Lahaina, Hawaii 2 or 7:30 p.m. HST 

Wed. Nov. 25 Third Round TBA Lahaina, Hawaii TBA 

 

Wed. Dec. 2 UNLV KGUN/FSAZ Tucson 7 p.m. MST 

Sun. Dec. 6 #at Oklahoma ESPNU Norman, Okla. 6 p.m. CST 

Wed. Dec. 9 Louisiana Tech KWBA/FSAZ Tucson 9 p.m. MST 

Sat. Dec. 12 at San Diego State MWN San Diego, Calif. 7 p.m. PST 

Mon. Dec. 21 Lipscomb FCS Tucson 7 p.m. MST 

Wed. Dec. 23 North Carolina State FSN Tucson 8:30 p.m. MST 

Mon. Dec. 28 %Brigham Young KGUN/FCS Tucson 7 p.m. MST 

Thurs. Dec. 31 *at USC FSAZ Los Angeles, Calif. 4 p.m. PST 

Sat. Jan. 2 *at UCLA CBS Los Angeles, Calif. 10 a.m. PST 

Fri. Jan. 8 *Washington State KGUN/FSAZ Tucson 6:30 p.m. MST 

Sun. Jan. 10 *Washington KWBA/FSAZ Tucson 3:30 p.m. MST 

Thurs. Jan. 14 *at Oregon State TBA Corvallis, Ore. 7 p.m. PST 

Sat. Jan. 16 *at Oregon FSN Eugene, Ore. 1:30 p.m. PST 

Sat. Jan. 23 *at Arizona State FSAZ Tempe, Ariz. 7:30 p.m. MST  

Thurs. Jan. 28 *Stanford FCS Tucson 6 p.m. MST 

Sun. Jan. 31 *California FSN Tucson 1:30 p.m. MST 

Thurs. Feb. 4 *at Washington FSN Seattle, Wash. 7:30 p.m. PST 

Sat. Feb. 6 *at Washington State FSAZ Pullman, Wash. 5:30 p.m. PST 

Thurs. Feb. 11 *Oregon FSN Tucson 8:30 p.m. MST 

Sat. Feb. 13 *Oregon State KWBA/FCS Tucson 6 p.m. MST 

Sun. Feb. 21 *Arizona State FSN Tucson 3:30 p.m. MST 

Thurs. Feb. 25 *at California ESPN Berkeley, Calif. 6 p.m. PST 

Sat. Feb. 27 *at Stanford KWBA/FSAZ Palo Alto, Calif. 5 p.m. PST 

Thurs. March 4 *UCLA &TBA Tucson TBA 

Sat. March 6 *USC &TBA Tucson TBA 

Wed.-Sat. March 10-13 $at 2010 Pac-10 Conference Tournament FSN/CBS Los Angeles, Calif. TBA 

 

Thurs.-Sun. March 18-21 2010 NCAA Tournament First/Second Rounds CBS TBA  

Thurs.-Sun. March 25-28 2010 NCAA Regionals CBS TBA  

Sat.-Mon. April 3 & 5 2010 NCAA Final Four CBS Indianapolis, Ind. 

 

* Pac-10 Conference Game 

# Big 12/Pac-10 Hardwood Series 

% Desert Diamond Fiesta Bowl Classic, Tucson, Ariz. 

$ at Staples Center, Los Angeles, Calif. 

& Wildcard games to be selected by FSN 12 days in advance  

 

FSN Fox Sports Net 

FSAZ Fox Sports Arizona 

FCS Fox College Sports 

KWBA Local to Tucson (Channel 58) 

KGUN Local to Tucson (Channel 9) 

MWN Mountain West Network 

Game times and television carriers are subject to change. 

 

2010 Commit: Daniel Bejarano

Height: 6'5

Weight: 195

PPG: 22

High School: North

Other School Considered: Texas, ASU

Ratings:

Scout: 4 stars

Rivals: 4 stars

Top 150: 57

ESPN: 95/100

Daniel Bejarano committed to the University of Texas during his junior year at North High School in Phoenix, Arizona. All seemed concrete until Bejarano's father was killed during a home invasion in July. This traumatic event forced Bejarano to rethink his commitment to Texas and decided that he would be better off playing college ball closer to home. Arizona State and Arizona quickly jumped at the chance to pull in this 5 star recruit and each set up in home visits. Sean Miller was the first to meet with Bejarano and the two developed a connection immediately. Herb Sendek then met with Bejarano and shortly thereafter, ASU pulled its scholarship offer off the table. Bejarano realized that his best fit would be with Arizona and announced that he would be submitting a solid verbal commitment during a dinner with Sean Miller and his assistant coaches. Bejarano is a dead-eye shooter and some may say that he will be the next Salim Stoudamire who was known for his long range shooting ability. At 6'5, Bejarano has the ability to play the shooting guard and small forward positions. With his fantastic abilities, I would not be surprised to see Bejarano starting as a freshman in 2010.  

Possible 2010 Starting Lineup:

Lamont Jones

Daniel Bejarano

Solomon Hill

Jamelle Horne

Kyryl Natyazko

Bench:

Kyle Fogg

Derrick Williams

Kevin Parrom

Rod Odom

Garland Judkins

Alex Jacobson

Brendan Lavender

DJ Shumpert

Bejarano Mixtape

2010 Commit: Rod Odom

Height: 6'9

Weight: 195

High School: Middlesex

Schools Considered: Vanderbilt, Boston College, Harvard, West Virginia

Ratings:

Rivals: Four Stars 

Top 150: 88

Scout: Three Stars 

ESPN: 93/100

When Rod Odom entered high school, he was a 6'2 point guard. Three years later, he had grown 7 inches and had to convert to the power forward position. Odom is able to hit mid-range jumpers with confidence and crash the board with a vengeance and he will join an Arizona team that will be loaded at the forward position. Odom will have to add some muscle and bulk to his wiry 195 lbs frame in order to handle the power forward position in college. This is a huge get for Sean Miller because Odom is very high on academics and obtaining a college degree which means he will stay all four years. Odom certainly has the potential to develop into an NBA caliber player and he would join the long list of Arizona Wildcats who have made it to the big show. Because of Sean Miller's run and gun offense and intense man to man defense, depth will be key and with the addition of Rod Odom, Arizona basketball has a bright future. 

Arizona Basketball adds two for 2010

After putting together a monster 2009 class in a months time, Sean Miller has taken another huge stride towards building for the future by pulling in 2010 Top 150 players Rod Odom and Daniel Bejarano. One can only imagine the lineup combinations that Miller can play with next year because depth wise, the 2010 Arizona Wildcats will be one of the deepest teams in the nation. Here is a breakdown of the possible depth chart for 2010: (Transfers possible)

Point Guard: Lamont Jones, Garland Judkins, Brendan Lavender

Shooting Guard: Kyle Fogg, , Daniel Bejarano

Small Forward: Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom, DJ Shumpert

Power Forward: Jamelle Horne, Derrick Williams, Rod Odom

Center: Kyryl Natyazko, Alex Jacobson  

The fact that this team can put out 11 players without worrying  if they can play up to the competition is amazing and something that Arizona Basketball has not seen in years. The UofA has reached its scholarship limit for 2010 but that has not stopped Sean Miller from continuing to recruit in case of transfers. In fact, top 20 center Adreian Payne is visiting the UofA campus this weekend. Terrance Jones, another top 15 recruit for 2010, is set to visit Arizona on October 23rd which is the same weekend Arizona football has a huge home game against UCLA. 

Adreian Payne

Terrence Jones

Blackhawks Sign Superstar Forward Marian Hossa

Hossa Scored 40 Goals for the Red Wings in 2009

The Chicago Blackhawks fell just short of making the Stanley Cup in 2009. But with the addition of free agent Marian Hossa, the Hawks seem poised and ready to make a strong run at the Cup in 2010.  Hossa has reportedly signed on for 12 years worth more then 65 million. With a young and extremely skilled core of Patrick Kane, Johnathan Toews, Brent Seabrooke and Duncan Keith, the Blackhawks should be one of the top teams in the entire league next season. 

Arizona Adds Two More Recruits for 2009

                                                                                             

What a difference two months makes. In early April, the Arizona Wildcats did not have a single recruit for the 2009 class. But after adding Sean Miller and company, the Wildcats now have five incoming recruits. After the debacle that occurred at USC, point guard Lamont Jones and power forward Derrick Williams decommited and decided that Arizona would be a place they would like to call home. Adding Williams and Jones to a class that already has Solomon Hill, Kevin Parrom, and Kyryl Natyazko, gives the UofA one of their best recruiting classes in years. 

Heres a breakdown of the 2009-10 rotation :

PG: Wise, Jones, Judkins

SG:Fogg, Jones, Lavender

SF:Hill, Parrom, Williams

PF:Horne, Williams,Parrom, Shumpert

C:Natyazko, Jacobson

Lamont Jones to decide by June 29th

Could Jones join the Arizona 09 recruits?

After de-committing from the University of Southern California, point guard Lamont Jones has decided to reopen his recruitment. Jones has stated Florida and Arizona as his only possible destinations and has visited both schools in the past week. A decision is said to be forthcoming in the next week or so. 

Sammy Sosa Retires from MLB

The baseball career for superstar slugger Sammy Sosa has officially come to a close. After not stepping on the field for more then two years and dealing with numerous steroid allegations, Sosa has officially called it quits. During his 18 year career, Sosa hit 609 home runs and became one of the most feared sluggers in all of baseball. He turned into one of the most beloved Chicago Cubs of all time while entertaining fans with his home run hop and his full out sprint to take his position in right field. Many people will remember Sosa for what he accomplished during the 1998 season in which he blasted 66 home runs and lead the Cubs into the playoffs. To this day, Sosa has adamantly denied using steroids and there has never been any physical proof to say otherwise. In an interview with ESPN, Sosa said "I always played with love and responsibility and I assure you that I will not answer nor listen to rumors. If anything ugly comes up in the future, we will confront it immediately, but with all our strength because I will not allow anybody to tarnish what I did in the field". Although Sosa's numbers are extraordinary, one might wonder if all of these steroid accusations will keep him out of the Hall of Fame. 

Sosa Hits Number 500

Get to Know Your Future Wildcats

Class of 2009

Kyryl Natyazhko

6' 10"

240 lbs. 

Center

Rivals 150: 81

ESPN: 39

With the departure of Jordan Hill, Ukranian born center Kyryl Natyazhko will have a chance to start the minute he steps on campus. Here is ESPN's take on Natyazhko: "Kyryl is a versatile post player that is originally from the Ukraine. He has been in the United States for less than a year. He is comfortable in both the low post and high post position. In the high post he can turn and face and either shoot from 17 feet and in or put the ball on the floor for a couple of dribbles and create offense for himself. In the low post he is developing solid moves including an up and under, drop steps and the ability to score over his left shoulder. Kyryl has a big body which enables him to be a solid rebounder. He runs the court pretty well so he can be effective in transition and is a solid basketball athlete. Defensively he is OK. He needs to improve his aggressiveness and remain consistent with his effort. He has the tools to be a solid defender. He will never be an elite shot blocker but he will block his share on the ball. Kyryl is one of the top 10 center prospects in the 2009 class nationally".

Get to Know Your Future Wildcats

Class of 2009:

Kevin Parrom 

6'6"

200 lbs.

Small Forward

Rivals 150: 122

ESPN: 96

Kevin Parrom was originally commited to Xavier and decided to follow Sean Miller and his staff over to the University of Arizona. Parrom is the first New York City recruit for the Wildcats since Khalid Reeves. ESPN's take: Parrom has very good athleticism and quickness, which allows him to get to the rim almost at will. Once at the tin, Parrom uses his decent amount of strength and very good body control to take contact in the paint, adjust in the air, and still finish off lay-ups. He excels in the open court when he has the chance to build up a head of steam and drive to the rim for athletic finishes. He uses floaters and angles very well to finish off a number of plays around the hoop. Parrom could become an even better penetrator if he improves his ball-handling skills and gets rid of his tendency to over-dribble. He could also benefit from adding a mid-range pull-up jumper to his offensive game. Parrom also needs to improve his consistency from the perimeter. He does a good job of playing passing lanes for steals which creates more fast breaks for his team.Parrom has the ability to get his shot off almost whenever he feels the need. He can operate off the bounce and get into the paint with ease. Once at the rim, Parrom can finish with either hand and convert on difficult shot attempts at the rim due to his amazing body control and ability to adjust in mid-air. Parrom also uses this ability to get finish on the break, especially when a big tries to swat the lay-in attempt. He has an emerging perimeter game and will stick 3s, but he does not rank as a great shooter at this point of career. He falls away just a tad on his perimeter shot and it sometimes negatively affects his jumper. Parrom also needs to improve his ability to connect on the pull-up jumper, which will only enhance his drive game. Parrom exerts good effort on both ends of the court and plays passing lanes for steals very well, correctly anticipating and snaring passes from the opposition. He also does a decent job of passing the ball, but could improve in that area

a

Get to Know Your Future Wildcats

Class of 2009:

Solomon Hill

6'6"

210 lbs.

Small Forward

RIVALS 150: 27th

SCOUT: 13th

ESPN: 50th

Solomon Hill is a future NBA player with tremendous upside. Here is how ESPN sees the game of this future Wildcat: "Hill has had an outstanding spring and summer and as a result he is considered a high-major point forward for the next level. His game has come a long way since his sophomore year and there is still room for improvement. He is an explosive athlete that can finish in traffic with either hand and he has a tremendous feel for the game. He once was an undersized 5-man; however, he has now blossomed into a hybrid 3-man who can play some point guard. He has a very good handle and can break down most defenders off the bounce. Once he gets into the paint area he can either score with a floater or deliver a nifty assist. He is a strong rebounder and is very good in the open court. He gets rid of the ball quickly in transition and is known for distributing quite the clever one-handed bounce pass. In order for Hill to reach his potential he needs to tighten up his jump shot. He shoots a set-shot and his release is very low and slow. He needs to continue to hone that aspect of his game or defenders will back off him and thus taking away the strength of his game which is creating off the dribble.Hill is one of the more unique prospects in the country. Although he is an inadequate shooter from the stripe, he can still dominate a game due to his savvy and skill. He has a very strong handle and despite his big frame he is able to break down defenders off the dribble. He is extremely unselfish and he plays the game like a point guard. His passing is high-level both in transition and the half-court set. In addition, he is one of the better rebounders for his size in the country. He should make an immediate impact for Arizona, but to reach his potential he'll need to tighten up his jump shot".

Jarrid Famous Rethinks Commitment to USF

The 2009 recruiting trail seems to be getting more and more interesting by the day for Arizona coach Sean Miller. Jarrid Famous, the number one rated Junior College prospect in the 09 class, has begun to re think his decision on attending the University of South Florida. After taking a visit out to Tucson in early April, Famous decided that USF would be a better fit because he would be closer to his family. As of this moment, Famous has said to be angry because "the USF staff lost two coaches after Famous committed and the situation is not “stable” said Westchester Community College Assistant Mickey Carey. Famous was said to be meeting with USF head coach Stan Heath on May 31st in order to talk about the current situation. When asked where Famous would go if he were to be let out of his LOI, Carey said "Of course he’s going to look back at the schools that were already looking at  him. He’s looking for a stable situation and the South Florida situation is not stable. This young man only has two years" Famous had previously been looking at Missouri and Arizona. 

Look Back Part Two

Here is a video that I created for fans to reminisce over the 2008-2009 Arizona Basketball season.