Arizona Basketball: 3 reasons 2019-20 Wildcats can play deep into March

TUCSON, AZ - NOVEMBER 29: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats reacts during the first half of the college basketball game against the Georgia Southern Eagles at McKale Center on November 29, 2018 in Tucson, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

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FORT MYERS, FL – DECEMBER 21: Josh Green (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

1. Freshmen

The 2019 recruiting class for Sean Miller and Co. was nothing short of a success. Ranked 2nd in the Pac-12 and 6th nationally, Miller and his staff set themselves up for a big 2019-2020 season.

The highest and arguably most impactful member of this class for the Cats is 5-star guard Nico Mannion. The #9 overall recruit has made an immediate impact in Tucson and is one of the best point guards in the country. During the preseason he was named to the top-50 list for the John Wooden award, given to the best player in college basketball.

Another 5-star guard in Arizona’s stellar class is Josh Green. The #13 overall recruit played with Mannion on the same AAU team, West Coast Elite, in high school and was seen as one of the most physical guards in the class. The 6’6 guard is averaging 13.0 ppg to go with a 37% 3-point shooting percentage.

We have a 6-point game with 3:35 left. Tune in to ESPN2 to catch the ending. #BearDown

Mannion: 22 points (10-12 FG)
Jeter: 17 points
Nnaji: 16 points
Green: 12 points pic.twitter.com/YYArxnUV87
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) November 30, 2019

One of the sometimes overlooked members of this class is Zeke Nnaji. The 6’11 big man has become one-half of a dynamic frontcourt duo alongside Chase Jeter. Nnaji is averaging 17.1 ppg to go along with 6.8 rpg. While not as highly recruited as Mannion or Green, Nnaji could be the x-factor that the Wildcats need come March.

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