Arizona Basketball: Recruiting seems to be back on track for Sean Miller
There were many questions regarding whether or not Arizona basketball would secure a commitment for the class of 2018. Yet, now there are two.
Arizona basketball lost a bunch of their former commitments after news of the FBI Investigation involving them was released. This included the de-commitments of top high school recruits Shareef O’Neal, Brandon Williams, and Jahvon Quinerly. In the aftermath of these events, there were many questions regarding the future of the Wildcats. The most common question regarded whether or not the program would be able to secure any class of 2018 commitments.
However, head coach Sean Miller’s recruiting acumen should never be underrated again. Despite all of the negative media around the program, he has snagged two recruits within the last 10 days. First, the Wildcats secured a commitment from four-star shooting guard Devonaire Doutrive on April 7. Out of California, the 6’5″ wing ranks No. 82 in the country according to 247Sports. This seems to have gotten the ball rolling again in Tuscon.
On April 15, Miller added another four-star recruit in the form of Omar Thielemans. The top 2018 recruit out of Belgium, Thielemans is a 6’7″ small forward. He is a lanky wing option with tons of athleticism. He may be a raw prospect but there is hope that he can develop into a highly effective college player. This is evident given his No. 120 ranking in the 2018 recruiting class by 247Sports.
https://twitter.com/OmarThielemans/status/985577003406340097
How does this affect the program moving forward?
With these two commitments, it seems as though Arizona basketball is back on track in terms of recruiting. While these two players are not exactly the top-tier guys that the program has signed as of recent years, this is a step in the right direction. Arizona’s 2018 recruiting class is now ranked No. 46 in the country. The Wildcats are still in the running for several other top high school players as well, leaving open the possibility of them moving up even more.
Most notably, Arizona is among the frontrunners to snag one or both of Brandon Williams (No. 31) and Lukas Kisunas (No. 191). It is unlikely, but the Wildcats can launch their recruiting class into the top-25 nationally if they land both of these players. This, of course, does not even mention the possibility of the program snagging a transfer or two in the coming weeks.
Next: Way-too-early 2019 Bracketology
On the surface, the commitments of Doutrive and Thielemans might not mean that much. However, the potential impact of their signings extends to more than just this year. This shows that Arizona still has powerful recruiting tactics, regardless of the FBI Investigation.
The Wildcats are losing their entire starting lineup from the 2017-18 season but these incoming recruits should help a bit. There are clearly major roles available in the rotation for those willing to commit. The opportunity to play in the Pac-12 under a powerhouse program like Arizona is not something easy to pass up.