Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats locked down two huge commitments this week, landing point guard T.J. McConnell and big man Matt Korcheck. Neither will play in 2012 -- McConnell will be forced to redshirt after transferring from Duquesne, Korcheck wants to sit out a season to improve -- but they both figure to have a prominent role in Tucson for years to come.
With Arizona's 2012 recruiting class likely wrapped up, it is time to take a look at possible roster turnover and 2013 recruiting. What should we expect in the coming weeks and months?
Point Guard Uncertainty:
Josiah Turner's future with the UA seems more and more shaky by the day. While undoubtably talented, the young guard struggled both on and off the court as a freshman. He was suspended for the Pac-12 Tournament and many feel he will not return come next fall.
There are also talks that Jordin Mayes may not come back due to being relegated to a bench role. Mayes has always been able to score the ball at a decent rate (when healthy), but his defense and ability to be a floor general have been a big cause for concern in his first two seasons.
Should Turner decide to leave, one would have to believe Mayes would return to become the starting point guard next year. Should Turner come back, it is pretty unclear what Mayes would end up doing.
Regardless of who stays and who goes, Nick Johnson and incoming freshman Gabe York should probably work on their point guard skills this summer.
Anyone Else For 2012?
The Wildcats are really only considering adding one more possible player from the 2012 class. Amedeo Della Valle, who played this last season with current UA commit Brandon Ashley at Findlay Prep, projects to be a shooting guard at the next level. He has a long way to go if he hopes to see playing time in the near future, though, and will likely spend most of his freshman season on the bench should he become a Wildcat.
He was scheduled to visit Tucson this weekend, but those plans were cancelled with the recent commitment of McConnell. The chances of his coming to Arizona look pretty slim at the moment.
2013 Recruiting:
Coach Miller and his staff are relentless on the recruiting trail, and their efforts will be rewarded once again come signing day. Arizona is involved with many top-100 prospects for the class of 2013 and should have quite a few scholarships to hand out.
Eric Cooper Jr., a point guard, is the only player committed to UA for 2013. Expect to hear about big names such as Aaron Gordon, Jabari Bird, Keith Frazier and Tyler Ennis in the coming months.