We continue the recruit and return series with the Arizona Wildcats, whose season ended Thursday with a loss to Buffalo. A look at what the 2018-19 season could hold.
Possible 2018-19 starting five
F/C: Chase Jeter
F: Ira Lee
G: Dylan Smith
Who is lost: The entire starting five. Coach Sean Miller confirmed after the team’s final regular-season game that Deandre Ayton, Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins will make themselves eligible for the NBA draft, in addition to seniors Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Dusan Ristic.
Who is added: This remains mostly a mystery. The Wildcats do not have any players committed for the class of 2018 after three players backed off their pledges in recent weeks following more allegations around the FBI investigation. ESPN 300 PG Brandon Williams allowed for the possibility that he could still end up with the Wildcats but said he would re-evaluate his commitment due to the climate around the program. Smith, Randolph and Akot all started games this season and figure to grow into more significant roles, while Lee and Alex Barcello -- both highly recruited players in the class of 2017 -- could see their playing time more than double next year. The only real addition will be forward/center Jeter, who sat out this season after transferring from Duke, where he started six games in two seasons.
What it means for next season: Without any recruits and a season plagued by off-the-court-issues -- beginning with assistant coach Book Richardson’s arrest in September -- 2018-19 is shaping up to be a major turning point for the program. It’s hard to expect much considering the massive exodus of talent and no clear plan for how to replace it. Furthermore, despite Miller’s defiant statement in which he rejected the legitimacy of an ESPN report that said he discussed paying for Ayton to sign with the Wildcats, it’s fair to question his future with the program. Richardson’s involvement in the FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball was reason enough, and if he’s no longer able to recruit in Tucson, it may be prudent for both Arizona and Miller to move on.
Trending: Down. Arizona is in a much worse spot today than it was a year ago. There’s no other way to look at it. That doesn’t mean the Wildcats can’t put this turbulent stretch behind them and remain one of college basketball’s premier programs, but the immediate future is bleak.