NCAA Basketball Recruiting: Pros and cons of Marcus Bagley’s final 3 teams
By Brian Rauf
Arizona Wildcats
Pros
Arizona seems poised to return back to the top of the Pac-12 and into the Final Four conversation this year on the back of freshmen Nico Mannion and Josh Green. The Wildcats present Bagley’s best chance to play for a contender and, although both Mannion and Green are expected to leave for the NBA after this season, they already have a commitment from four-star prospect Dalen Terry in the 2020 class. Of course, if either Mannion or Green return, Bagley would gladly play next to them in the lineup
Sean Miller’s squad also lacks depth on the wing. Bagley would be projected to slide right in and fill that need. There’s also a good possibility that he would be their top offensive option if Green leaves.
Miller has proven he can send prospects to the NBA. Arizona has had five players taken in the lottery over the past decade and 10 players selected overall.
Cons
The obvious potential negative with Arizona right now is any potential punishment that may or may not be coming from the NCAA as a result of the FBI’s findings during their investigation into bribery and corruption in college basketball recruiting. Miller and former assistant Book Richardson were right in the middle of that investigation (Richardson was one of the four coaches arrested) and the program could be facing “significant sanctions” from the NCAA.
Until the school receives their punishment – or if they somehow get away without one – this will be a dark cloud of uncertainty hanging over the program.