Five-star Phoenix Pinnacle guard Nico Mannion has set three of his four official visits, according to , and the timing of them could be favorable for ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥.
Mannion is scheduled to attend the UA's annual Red-Blue GameÌýon Oct. 14, immediately after visiting Villanova from Oct. 11-13. Mannion's father, Pace, told the Star via text message that his son wanted to be in ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ for the Red-Blue Game the next day after returning from Philadelphia.
Mannion is then scheduled to make his official visit to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ from Oct. 19-21.
To begin his official visits, Mannion will take a trip to Marquette from Oct. 5-7. He is also expected to visit the other of his four finalists, Duke, though that visit has not been set yet.
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Mannion already has visited UA several times already, though he may be curious about meeting the Wildcats' new players and coaches this time. Since last season, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has added five players and two assistant coaches.
Mannion told the StarÌýin Las Vegas last month that he planned to make a decision by January or February so he could catch some of the schools play regular-season games, while also getting the decision out of the way before the final weeks of the high school season.
But Mannion also told Zagsblog that his decision "could possibly be earlier" since he is going on visits in October.
These recruits are considering the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Wildcats for 2019
Top hoops recruits play waiting game with Wildcats
Sean Miller has offered scholarships to several top players in the 2019 recruiting class, but many are playing the waiting game.
As many top basketball recruiting prospects do now, Dallas-area four-star forward Drew Timme posted a top 10 on Twitter in August, complete with logos of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and the other nine schools he is considering.
During a travel-ball tournament in Las Vegas in July, Timme also said he was considering the same sort of things many top prospects are, too.
“Versatility within the program, education is obviously important, and the relationship with the coaching staff,†Timme said. “Those are the things I’m looking for.â€
In the back of his mind, there's one other thing Timme is considering: Whether any NCAA issues could result from the federal investigation into college basketball. The scandal has touched three of the schools on Timme’s list: ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Alabama and Louisville.
“Yeah, I want to go to the (NCAA) Tournament, you know?†Timme said. "That’s what I want: March Madness. That’s obviously quite a factor.â€
However, most of the UA targets the Star talked to in Las Vegas said the investigation was not a factor in their recruitments.Ìý
Here’s a look at the recruitments of top UA 2019 targets heading into the fall recruiting season. All player comments are from interviews with the Star in Las Vegas unless noted:
Nico Mannion
Nico Mannion (3) is considering ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, Duke, Kentucky and North Carolina, among others.
Point guard • 6-3 • 180 pounds • Phoenix • 5 stars
Status:ÌýCommitted to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
He said it:ÌýWith ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, discussions are about “just to have the ball in my hands and let me play my game. I think they want to change their style of play a little bit. I think (coach Sean Miller) wants to get more guards and play faster, which is kinda my style of play.â€
Christian Koloko
Christian Koloko (35) played with incoming UA freshman Devonaire Doutrive in high school at California's Lake Balboa Birmingham.
Center • 7-0 • 195 pounds • Van Nuys, California • 4 stars
Status:ÌýCommitted to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
He said it:ÌýDoutrive “said ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is a good school, it’s a good thing. … I don’t really pay attention to all my college (choices) but I know when the time comes I’ll make my decision. Right now, I just want to focus on basketball and school.â€
Rejean “Boogie†Ellis
Mission Bay’s Rejean “Boogie†Ellis.
Point guard • 6-2 • 165 pounds • San Diego • 4 stars
Status:ÌýEllis added offers last month from Gonzaga and Colorado. He said he'll cut down his list soon, but is expected by 247Sports to be deciding between USC and North Carolina. He visited ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ the last weekend of September.
He said it:ÌýIt’s “who is the most interested, who is showing the most love, stuff like that. To see who I can trust and develop a relationship with.â€
Lester Quinones
Blessed to receive an offer from ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ 🙌ðŸ½âšªï¸ðŸ”´
— Lester Quinones (@Effort_les)
Shooting guard • 6-5 • 180 pounds • Huntington Station, New York • 4 starsÌý
Status:ÌýQuinones' summer play increased his profile, with UA, UCLA, Oregon, Michigan, Michigan State and UConn among those involved.
He said it:Ìý"I feel like ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ are good guys. They check up on me a lot. It's a good program. They’ve been talking to Oz, my coach, a lot to get me on a visit. I like their system, their player development and stuff.†(to 247Sports in July)
Zeke Nnaji
Zeke Nnaji expanding his range for 3 for
— Frankie Vision (@FrankieVision)
Power forward • 6-10 • 215 pounds • Hopkins, Minnesota • 4 starsÌý
³§³Ù²¹³Ù³Ü²õ:ÌýA popular target for Midwestern schools, Nnaji says distance is no factor. The forward said he wants to take unofficial visits in September, then take official visits and make a decision by December.
He said it:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ has "had a lot of success at the next level at developing players, even players you may not have heard of. They just prepare them to play at the next level and that’s my goal to play at the next level after college.â€
Drew Timme
Four-star Dallas forward Drew Timme included ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ in his top 10 list of schools to attend.
Power forward • 6-9 • 210 pounds • Richardson, Texas • 4 stars
Status:ÌýAnnounced a list of 10 schools in August that included the UA, Texas Tech, Texas A&M, Gonzaga, Purdue, Louisville, Illinois, Alabama, Michigan State and Oklahoma. Says he’ll take his official visits during football season because “I’m a Texas guy, I love football.â€
He said it:Ìý“I like (ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥) a lot. They’re a big-time program and coach Miller has had a ton of success there and it’s something you can’t not want if you’re a basketball player. Their track record (is good) with big players like me. They haven’t had one player exactly like me. They’ve had a bunch but they’re all different and if he’s able to utilize different players that definitely means he’s open to utilizing different strengths.â€
Jeremiah Robinson-Earl
Wow it’s getting WILD 😮
— Overtime (@overtime)
Power forward • 6-9 • 235 pounds • Shawnee Mission, Kansas • 5 stars
Status: Reportedly a Kansas lean, Robinson-Earl told that Villanova, North Carolina, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, UCLA Notre Dame, and Wake Forest are also involved. Robinson-Earl said he is unsure when he’ll make a decision.
He said it: "I'm a versatile four who is able to push the ball and really expand my game. I want to see a style like that so I can really play to the best of my potential.” (to in July)
Terry Armstrong
I wanna thank all the other schools that recruited me but this is my final 10 schoolsðŸ™ðŸ½
— Terry Armstrong (@TerryTerry25)
Small forward • 6-6 • 185 pounds • Flint, Michigan • 4 stars
Status:ÌýArmstrong announced a final 10 in August that included UA, ASU, Oregon, New Mexico, Florida State, Xavier, Oklahoma, LSU, Michigan State and Mississippi State. The Flint native is nowÌýplaying for Scottsdale’s Bella Vista Prep.
He said it:Ìý“Every time I go back to Michigan, (Michigan State coaches) have me come down to the games, shoot in their gym.†(to Whistle 2 Whistle Sports in January)
Josh Green
Josh Green played with Deandre Ayton at Phoenix Hillcrest Prep.
Small forward • 6-6 • 190 pounds • Sydney, Australia • 5 stars
Status:ÌýCommitted to ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥
He said it: The Wildcats “have an amazing coach. I've been down there a bunch of times and the atmosphere is crazy. The whole overall program is great. I've been able to talk to Deandre a lot about the program. Deandre is an honest and he really likes Sean Miller and he's been good to be able to talk to.” (to in June)
C.J. Walker
Dreams 2 Reality....personally want to thank every school that took their time to offer me ðŸ™ðŸ™
— Cj Walker (@Cjwalker_14)
Power forward • 6-8 • 200 pounds • Orlando, Florida • 4 stars
Status:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ extended a scholarship offer to the Florida forward and he included the Wildcats on a list of his top 12 in August. That list also included Oregon, Georgia, Texas, LSU, Florida, Mississippi State, Miami (Florida), Alabama, Memphis, Arkansas, and North Carolina State.
He said it:Ìý“The player-coach relationships, player to player relationships, the school’s academics, and how I fit in the environment are all very important.†(to Zagsblog in June)
Jalen Hill
🚀🚨
— Jalen Hill (@Kbj_vi)
Small forward • 6-7 • 180 pounds • Las Vegas • Four starsÌý
Status:ÌýCommitted to Oklahoma
He said it:ÌýÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ and ASU “both have great coaches. They’re close to home and ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ produces a lot of pros and develops players.â€
Jaden McDaniels
Jaden McDaniels
Power forward • 6-11 • 182 pounds • Federal Way, Washington • 5 stars
Status:ÌýYounger brother of San Diego State’s Jalen McDaniels listed Washington,ÌýSan Diego State, UCLA, Texas and Kentucky in his top five.
He said it:Ìý“My dad does it (deals with recruiting), so I don’t even pay attention to it.â€
Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at 573-4146 or bpascoe@tucson.com. On Twitter @brucepascoe
Bruce Pascoe
Reporter
